Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival 2023: Dates & Events
The 2023 carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will be dedicated to Studio 54, the legendary New York nightclub, and it promises to bring back the nights of passionate fun and dancing on the streets of Las Palmas.
The carnival in Gran Canaria's capital is usually a great time to visit the city, as it becomes vibrant and full of color, during the many days and nights when the carnival is celebrated.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival 2023 dates: 10 February - 5 March 2023
The theme for the 2023 edition was already announced and it's "Studio 54", the most iconic nightclub in the history 70's decade.
Schedule and events during the 2023 carnival in Las Palmas
What's the carnival usually like in Las Palmas?
In this article, we will present the carnival the way it's usually celebrated, as a multiple-day event that is celebrated on the streets with large crowds and parties.
See the usual schedule, what sort of events are part of the carnival and what you can expect from future editions.
On Saturday, February 4, there will be a presentation of the candidates that will aspire to the title of Carnival Queen.
On Friday, February 10, for the first time, there will be an announcing parade that will depart from La Isleta towards Santa Catalina Park.
On Saturday, February 11th, the children's troupes will open the stage of "Studio 54" together with the adult costume contest. On Sunday, Feb 12th, the children's murgas will take on the stage to celebrate a costume festival and the gala of the Great Lady will crown the first monarch of "Studio 54".
On Monday, Feb 13th, Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th the first, second and third phase of murgas will take place, with the grand finale being on Saturday the 18th. On Friday the 17th the adult comparsas competition will be celebrated. On Sunday, Feb 19th, Santa Catalina park will host the Children's gala.
The Drag Preselection will take place on Monday, February 20th, and a day later, on Shrove Tuesday (February 21), it will be time for the Batucarnaval, the first Daytime Carnival and the International Gala of Body Makeup.
The Carnival of "Studio 54" will crown its Queen on Friday, February 24th. A day later, on Saturday, Feb 25th, the parade with Carnival groups will take place.
On Sunday, Feb 26th, the mascots will parade in Santa Catalina park, and the second Carnival of the Day will be celebrated. On Tuesday, February 28th, the dance floor of "Studio 54" will be for the participants of the Integration Gala.
The Drag Queen Gala, will celebrate in 2023 its twenty-fifth edition and will take place on March 3rd.
The big Carnival parade in Las Palmas will take place on Saturday the 4th, from La Isleta towards Triana. On Sunday the 5th, the Daytime Carnival and the Burial of the Sardine will turn off the lights of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival.
Main events for the carnival in Las Palmas
- Adult Costume Competition
- Vegueta Carnival
- Canine Carnival and Kid's Gala
- Queen Gala
- Daytime Carnival in Triana
- Children's parade
- Traditional Carnival and Drag Queen Gala
- Carnival Tuesday. Daytime Carnival in Santa Catalina
- The Social Integration Gala
- Body Makeup Contest
- Big Carnival Parade in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, followed by Carnival Night
- The Burial of the Sardine
Regarding the daytime carnivals, the traditional carnival and the carnival in the sun are usually celebrated as follows: carnival by day in Vegueta, on Saturday, daytime carnival in Santa Catalina on Sunday; family carnival in Triana and carnival in the sun, both next Saturday; family day carnival on next Sunday; traditional carnival on Monday and daytime carnival in Santa Catalina, on Tuesday.
On the last Sunday, the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria usually says goodbye to the Carnival with the traditional burial of the sardine and the subsequent fireworks show.
The Carnival is usually the largest winter event in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as it's normally celebrated during the tourist high season.
More than forty acts make up an extensive program of three weeks of celebrations, some of the most important being: the Drag Queen Gala and its Pre-selection (one of the most followed events worldwide), the Queen's Gala, the murgas contests, comparsas, corporal makeup or costumes, the Canine Carnival, its horseback riding, its children's carnival and the daytime carnival in the surroundings of Santa Catalina or the historic center of Vegueta.
Where to stay in Las Palmas during the carnival
- Best Hotels: Santa Catalina, Royal Hideaway Hotel (5 stars, Barcelo Hotel) • BULL Reina Isabel & SPA (rooftop pool, free SPA)
The Santa Catalina Park, between the Cruise Ship Pier and Las Canteras Beach, is the nerve center of the main acts of the program, which take place in a large outdoor setting exclusively for the occasion, set in the allegory chosen for every edition. This scenario is in itself one of the main attractions of a party that gathers more than half a million people each year in its celebrations.
If you're on the island during the carnival season, you can also read more about Gran Canaria Carnivals - a page where we gather info about all the island's carnivals.
- Best apartments in Gran Canaria: Monte Feliz (San Agustin)
- Popular hotels in Gran Canaria: Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa (Puerto Mogan) • Palm Oasis Maspalomas (Maspalomas)
- Luxury 5* hotels in Gran Canaria: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa (Puerto Mogan) • Hotel Riu Palace Oasis (Meloneras) • Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort & Spa (Meloneras) • Santa Catalina Hotel (Las Palmas)
- See our dedicated guide for the best places to stay in Gran Canaria.
- Best Tours & Excursions: From Puerto Rico: Dolphin Watching Cruise • Half-Day Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Food
FAQ about Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival
The 2023 edition of the carnival in Las Palmas will be celebrated between February 10th and March 5th.
In 2023, the theme for Las Palmas Carnival will be Studio 54, the legendary New York nightclub.
