Las Palmas de Gran Canaria welcomes Olympic Games themed Carnival festivities
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 27 January, 2025. - This is how it was announced the day the last edition came to a close and, with 2025 under way, Carnival has everything ready in order to celebrate a fiesta which will have plenty of clever allusions to the world of sport.
The machinery of this Fiesta of International Tourist Interest never stops. The year-round preparation shapes a schedule of activities with room for absolutely everyone, and for both the local public and outsiders. Events for children, for families, to enjoy with friends… Many, almost all, are open to all and free. Others, although fewer, are for ticket-holders only. These are the galas when the Carnival Queen and the Drag Queen are chosen, as well as the Drag Queen pre-selection - such is the enthusiasm generated by the world of drag that this earlier round is also ticketed - or the final phase of a competition which gives a prize to the wit and humour of the Murgas, groups which analyse the reality or the activity of the political class with impudence and irony.
These tickets are usually made available to the public via official ticketing platforms and at the box office itself. This is always some days before the actual events, when the enclosure has been measured. And the tickets disappear fast. Especially for anything concerning the Drag Queen, a persona which stamps character on the Gran Canaria capital’s Carnival. An icon of the mischief and tolerance which define the festivities.
The complete programme and the description of each event have been on this web for months, so that anyone visiting the webpage can use the information to trace out a road map for themselves. Yesterday and today’s leading players also have a place on the website. Along with summaries of other editions, and curiosities which will help the visitor understand these Gran Canarian festivities.
The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival embraces its legions of followers and also those from elsewhere who want to become a part of the Carnival sensation. To start with, a large stage is built, the watchword in stages which stands apart from all the rest. This stage is set up in the open air, a real work of ephemeral architecture which is provided for the galas and competitions while highlighting the year’s theme. The 2025 stage will be much more than an Olympus, it will be the temple which thousand of Carnival-goers will visit as they present themselves to their events with the firm ambition of becoming a part of their history.
The island’s capital thus reminds you that, from 8 February to 15 March, Carnival will be the point for this encounter with fantasy, fun and abandon. The city also reminds you that, within that official opening announcement in the evening of 8 February, with the speech and the parade to introduce the leading players, and the burning of the sardine on the beach, on Sunday 16 March, the symbol of farewell and rebirth, the world of Carnival will hold dozens of international concerts, with particular stress on Latin music. Stars like Maluma, Olga Tañón, La India, Guaynaa and a long list of big names from the world of salsa and reggaeton are part of the list of musical performers who will bring the beat to Carnival-goers both during the day and at night.
For anyone who wants to immerse themself in the universe of Carnival, the organisers give you the same advice as the anthem which the iconic Sindo Saavedra gave the festivities: “get into your best costume”.