“Carnivals of the World”, an authentic homage to the way in which Carnival is celebrated in places such as Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Barranquilla, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: this was the theme for Carnival 2024. The theme was confirmed in the month of June, having received the most votes from the various actors involved in the Fiesta.

The poster, a work by designed Fernando Saavedra Roca, of Estudio Reglade3, sought to break down barriers and smile out at the world, with a nod to the twin festivals elsewhere.

A collage which drew from the icons of all the carnivals, because those symbols are also present in the Gran Canaria capital. The mosaic of motifs from Rio de Janeiro, Venice and other carnivals fused together into a smile reflecting diversity, cultural wealth and the ways to enjoy life and enjoy Carnival.

Set designer Alberto Trujillio, the designer who has made the most designs in Carnival’s recent history (from 1995-2007 and 2012-2016), took on the challenge.

The “Carnivals of the World” stage also welcomed the different Carnival cultures on the planet. It did so through fantastic beings representing the icons of the Carnival celebrations, spread around the imposing structure that was erected next to Belén María Square.

Bands have enlivened the fiestas in all the island’s towns and villages. And so it was too for the Carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the organisers wanted to recognise the importance of their work in energising and transmitting the spirit of the Carnival celebrations, by granting them the honour of being in charge of the opening proclamation. The proclamation was marked by musical compositions and there was an abundance of rhythm and emotion, with homage paid posthumously to one of the greats of street parties: Miguel Jorge Moreno, also known as Miguel “Harmony”, the founder and soul of the Armonía Show band.

The bands sharing the time and memories afforded by the proclamation were Armonía Show itself, Combo Dominicano, La Mekánica by Tamarindos and Star Music.

Katia Gutiérrez Thime was crowned queen of the “Carnivals of the World” under the affectionate gaze of her predecessor, Lola Ortiz, and that of the queens of great and renowned carnival celebrations: Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Barranquilla and Santa Cruz de Tenerife: it was a historic occasion for all of these queens to gather together in the Gran Canaria capital. The ”Midas’s Treasure” costume, designed by Manuel Encinoso and sponsored by Dormitorum, fulfilled the prophecy and took Katia directly to the throne.

It was third time lucky: Drag Elektra became the Drag Queen of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the third try. She did it with the show entitled “It’s outrageous”, sponsored by MOW hotels, with a design by Nancy Henríquez González, and she achieved the prize exactly ten years after competing for the first time: her first attempt, in 2014, didn’t reach the classifying round, and in 2019 she got through the pre-selection.

The hum of the presentation of her fable in the classifying stage must have been convincing because even before her number began, the ovation made itself heard in the Belén María venue, to the extent that the other contenders chanted her alias right before the name of the 2024 Drag Queen was revealed. Days earlier, in the classifying stage, Elektra had won the special jury’s prize for the best costume design.

Eva Costa Santiago received the title of the Carnival Grand Dame. For a whole year she will show off a reign which she achieved thanks to the Light of the Adriatic costume designed by Isidro Pérez Mareo and Daniel Rivero Suárez in representation of the Ciudad Alta District.

The “Carnivals of the World” began sharing out the thrones with the choice of the Junior Carnival Queen. Ten contenders paraded around the new La Isleta venue, excited at the possibility of ascending a throne that was eventually assigned to Liah Guardia Suárez, who was sponsored by DIHOVA, Distribuciones Hoteleras Valido, and with the experience of Grisela Guardia Gómez, the designer of a gastro-costume called “Hey kid, get your spoon into the dish!”

At only eight years old, Liah, her mother told us, “has been part of the creative process”: she is the niece of Grisela Guardia Gómez, who, as the little girl’s aunt, took note of the ideas and requests of the current monarch.

Performance:

Los Nietos de Sarymanchez conquered not only the hearts of the audience, but also of the judges of the Murga contest, who gave them the first prize for performance in the “Carnivals of the World”.

With this prize, these contestants from the Teide, have notched up four first prizes in the Gran Canaria capital. They also won first prize in this category in 2015, 2017 and 2020. In 2024, the 97 members directed by “Pitu” Rubén Santana, took the prize again, with an energetic staging and their two songs: “Bien común” and “Sopita y pon”. These songs also earned them the “Benito Falcón” prize awarded by Los Melindrosos.

Costume category:

On this occasion, the first prize for costume was awarded to Las Despistadas; second and third prize were for Los Legañosos and Los Sernquenquenes, respectively.

The “Carnivals of the World” Comparsas contest ended in a way hitherto unknown: no performance prizes were awarded, but the maximum value award of the contest was given to each of the participating Comaprsas: 3,000 euros to each Comparsa.

Prizes were, however, given for costume: the first prize went once again to Baracoa for the design “Wear your heart on your sleeve”, by Sebastián Betancor, Carmen Rosa Domínguez and Omar Cejudo.

Make-up artists Silvia Vitali, Glenda Palloti and Federica Lalle, creators of the work “The Force of Light”, modelled by Samantha Dona, and sponsored by Pintando el Mundo, were awarded first prize in the International Body Painting Contest. The prize for the Canary Island based Italian artists includes their participation in the next edition of the International Body Painting Contest.

The work was carried out with sponges and paintbrushes over a period of seven hours, and Samantha Dona offered a production which filled the stage with light. A proposal which, as the model stated after receiving the prize, sought to reflect the “strength awoken by all souls”.

Hassan Tejera won first prize in the individual category with the costume entitled “For New Beginnings” designed by Neftali Betancor and sponsored by the Baracoa Comparsa.

Uniks de Escuela, from Danza Urban Family, won First Prize for Costume and Third Prize for Choreography with the design “From India, Namaste to the Carnival”.

Enseñanzas Artísticas Alexia Rodríguez won the Choreography category with the entry “To the Beat of the Carnival”, a design by Carmen Elías.

Arepa’s charm conquered the jury of the Dog Carnival. The little mixed breed took first prize in the pet contest with the costume “From Venice, with love, comes a tasty arepa”. The little dog paraded alongside her owner, Rosmi Yurena Quesada, a self-confessed Carnival fan.

Wit and ability brought added value to the costume: the little dog acted charmingly and followed her owner’s requests willingly.