The Notting Hill Carnival has been cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic, the carnival’s board announced.
For the first time in more than 50 years, the August bank holiday event on the streets of west London will not take place, but the board said they are working on holding a celebration on the same weekend in an alternative form.
It is the latest in a string of summer calendar events to have been postponed as a result of Covid-19, including the Glastonbury festival and the Tokyo Olympics.
In a statement on Twitter, Notting Hill Carnival said they have “no wish to place extra strain on our colleagues St John Ambulance and the NHS”. It said:
We, of course, work very closely with them for carnival and want to take this opportunity to express our utmost respect, admiration and gratitude for their work.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the streets of Notting Hill in 2021.
Last year more than one million people had been expected to attend the August festival which has been held since 1966.
NHC PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
We have an update for you regarding NHC 2020.
Please see our official statement from the NHC Board of Directors. pic.twitter.com/owjdchFcz1— Notting Hill Carnival (@NHCarnivalLDN) May 7, 2020
