National Children’s Carnival Week
National Children’s Carnival Week is a nationwide celebration of creativity, culture, and community for children and young people. Each July, schools, youth groups, and artists across the UK come together to explore Carnival through costume, music, dance, and storytelling. The week provides opportunities for children to express themselves, develop confidence, and take part in joyful performances that bring their local communities together.
With projects ranging from in-school workshops and parades to large-scale performances and online showcases, National Children’s Carnival Week inspires learning, imagination, and collaboration and everyone can get involved, no matter the size or scope of their school or group.
In 7th –11th July 2025, National Children’s Carnival Week continued to grow, with inspiring projects led in partnership with artists and cultural organisations. A Jungle Book–inspired production at a primary school in Harrow, supported by Mahogany saw 500 children from Years 1–6 perform in spectacular costume, supported by 40 staff members, while 120 parents attended the performance. Another highlight featured beautiful peacock costumes created by Alif for temple celebrations in London, involving over 450 children and an audience of around 400 parents, creating a joyful, shared community experience.
In 8–16 July 2023 , children and young people explored the theme “Coast to Coast.” They created costumes and props that told stories from the magical deep sea to high-flying cliff-top birds. With music and dance at the heart of the celebrations, groups developed uplifting in-school events that helped children reconnect through the arts. Artists worked alongside schools to deliver workshops ranging from single-day activities to longer projects across a term.
In 9–17 July 2022, schools and youth groups marked the week in many different ways — from in-school and in-club Carnival parades, to end-of-project celebrations and online showcases shared across the community.
Get involved
There are many ways to join in National Children’s Carnival Week. You can:
Organise an in-school or in-club Carnival parade
Hold an in-school or in-club celebration to mark the end of your Carnival project
Celebrate online — UKCCA shares schools’ and youth groups’ performances on social media and the website so the wider community can enjoy them
National Children’s Carnival Week continues to inspire creativity, celebrate culture, and give children meaningful opportunities to learn, perform and shine — and you can be part of it!
Stay connected
Facebook: @UKCentreforCarnivalArts
Instagram: @carnivalarts
Artist Lead Workshops
Find out information on artist-lead workshops by contacting organisations in your area, check out our Groups & Artists Page for more information.
Self-lead Resources
There are a range of free step-by-step instructions for making carnival costumes which are perfect for the classroom as part of your self-lead project, or in preparation for an artist-led workshop. Check out our Carnival Resources page for more information.
Arts Mark & Arts Award
Your carnival projects and activities can contribute to your Arts Mark journey or Arts Awards programme. Speak with your local organisations to see how they can support you, and check out our Groups & Artists Page for more information.
CPD Training
Find out information on CPD training by contacting organisations in your area, check out our Groups & Artists Page for more information.
Cost
It is free to for your school or youth group get involved and to access the self-lead resources.
For artist and workshop fees contact organisations in your area. Check out our Groups & Artists Page for more information.
Become A NCCW Delivery Partner
If you are a creative organisation, group or artist and would like to become a NCCW delivery partner please contact,
Janet Skepple
Assistant Learning & Participation Manager
Janet@carnivalarts.org.uk
01582 437100
Groups & Artists
Find out about groups and artist in your area involved with National Children’s Carnival Week.
Free Resources
Access a range of free online resources and activities.
Check out what we got up to in 2021!
July 2021 saw a colourful and joyful celebration all across the UK for the first National Children's Carnival Week. Explore just some of the activities and events of participating carnival groups and schools.
Some worked on carnival projects for weeks leading up to the celebration week, some held their carnivals and celebrations that week, some launched their carnival programmes which will continue through the summer holidays and into the Autumn term 2021.
The aim of the initiative was to bring joy and creativity back to learning after such a challenging year for students and teachers.
