Once again Notting Hill Carnival has gone through the humiliating ritual of begging for money in order to go ahead. (1) The only saving grace was that the embarrassing tap dance happened in March rather than the month before the event was scheduled to take place as was case last year. (2) So at its 60th anniversary one of the world’s largest street festivals is still hobbling along in the midst of a media campaign that seeks nothing less than its destruction. (3) It looks like this affliction is spreading with reports that Bristol Carnival, established two years after its west London counterpart, is being scaled back this year due to funding cuts. (4)
A recurring theme is that in spite of the widespread attacks on the event from various elements of the UK establishment, the Notting Hill Carnival organisers seem to be largely missing in action when come to defending it, described as “subdued, defensive and almost apologetic.” In addition, many would assume that the 60th anniversary of the event is a significant landmark but acknowledgement of this is hard to find on the official website (https://nhcarnival.org/). (5)
Increasingly it’s evident that the most strident pro-carnival advocacy is coming from outside official channels. Last former teacher Kayne Kawasaki had a Black History billboard erected to connect the event to it’s activist roots. (6) To address the absurdity of an event that generates £400 million per year struggling for funding on an annual basis Bro. Kelyon Ross has launched a campaign to: “Make Notting Hill Carnival a Protected UK National Treasure – Fund It Forever By Law.” (7)
The petition demands:
“Annual Government funding to secure Carnival’s future.
National recognition of Carnival as a protected cultural tradition.
Respect for the community that built it.” (8)
Another issue that that Bro. Kelyon has explored at some length is whether Notting Hill Carnival still acts as a form of protest. He concludes that it still does but in a way characterised by silence rather than the assertive challenge to the status quo seen in bygone years. (9)
Yet carnival is undoubtedly protested against in a well resourced co-ordinated campaign that can afford to eschew the economic benefits in favour of a culture war victory. (10) This is way Bro. Kelyon makes it clear that “the current position is not sustainable,” concluding that:
“It was built. And anything that is built through struggle, sustained through community, and carried across generations— Deserves more than survival. It deserves protection.” (11)
Consequently, the same energy that it took to build needs to revived, “silence” is no longer sufficient. Points for consideration are what role (if any) the current carnival organisers and the community at large have in recovering the authentic voice.
(1) BBC News (27/03/26) Carnival given £5m to combat overcrowding dangers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8w2l3lyeo
(2) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (27/10/25) Can Notting Hill Carnival survive? Pt 2. https://alkebulan.org/2025/10/27/aswag-560-can-nhc-survive-2/
(3) Soca News Staff (27/05/26) Notting Hill Carnival under 100 Days away as 60th Anniversary approaches. https://socanews.com/news/notting-hill-carnival-under-100-days-away-as-60th-anniversary-approaches/; Susan Hall (13/08/25) Notting Hill Carnival is a ticking time bomb of violence, chaos and soaring costs — how long can we keep ignoring it? https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/notting-hill-carnival-safety-public-disaster-reform-funding-5Hjd8mX_2/
(4) Jack Needham (13/05/26) Bristol’s St. Paul’s Carnival scaled back due to safety concerns and rising costs. https://www.festivalinsights.com/2026/05/bristols-st-pauls-carnival-scaled-back-due-to-safety-concerns-and-rising-costs/
(5) Sephent Spark (21/07/25) Mas, music, money and remembrance – Notting Hill Carnival 2025. https://socanews.com/news/mas-music-money-and-remembrance-notting-hill-carnival-2025/
(6) Sinai Fleary (28/02/25) Notting Hill Carnival to have Black history billboard thanks to former teacher. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/exclusive-news/2025/02/28/notting-hill-carnival-to-have-black-history-billboard-thanks-to-former-teacher/
(7) Vic Motune (02/08/24) EXCLUSIVE: Carnival generates £396 million for London’s economy. https://www.voice-onlin e.co.uk/news/uk-news/2024/08/02/carnival-generates-396-million-for-londons-economy/; Kelyon Ross (14/09/25) Make Notting Hill Carnival a Protected UK National Treasure – Fund It Forever By Law. https://www.change.org/p/make-notting-hill-carnival-a-protected-uk-national-treasure-fund-it-forever-by-law?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=a97db1e0-919f-11f0-aa1e-e354c1b5127a
(8) Ross. Op. Cit.
(9) Kelyon Ross (15/09/25) Does the Nottinghill Carnival still act as a form of protest? https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lWZwgvaTU7NELYvbE5jiEVGSSSvZ6cy5nYPWBp1TkEs/edit?usp=sharing
(10) Sam Bidwell (28/08/24) The truth about Notting Hill Carnival. https://thecritic.co.uk/the-truth-about-notting-hill-carnival/
(11) Kelyon Ross (2025) Caribbean Britain Our Legacy Our Fight: Volume 2: Nottinghill Carnival – 60 Years Strong Why Carnival Must Be Protected. Kelzenterprize. p. 12.
Notting Hill Carnival @ 60: Where does it go from here?
1) Should NHC be funded directly by the state?
2) How should we tackle the campaign against NHC?
3) When and how did NHC lose its voice and become “silent”?
4) What will it take for NHC to regain its voice?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Kelyon “Coach Kelz” Ross: is a cultural educator, legacy writer, and advocate for African-Caribbean heritage in Britain. With a background spanning academia, creative arts, and grassroots mentoring, he is the author of the “Caribbean Britain: Our Legacy, Our Fight” book series and the force behind the Notting Hill Carnival 60th Anniversary campaign. Drawing from his Windrush lineage and Pan-African values, Kelz blends history, lived experience, and strategic activism to challenge erasure, amplify unheard voices, and protect cultural traditions under threat. His mission is rooted in truth, order, and ancestral accountability — to honour the past, confront the present, and secure a future of dignity and ownership for his people.
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