Notting Hill Carnival moves entirely online for 2020

The celebrations usually take place across two days in August in the Notting Hill area of London.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Carnival fans won't be able to attend the official street celebrations this year, so instead, Notting Hill Carnival will be providing an online experience for the first time in its 54-year history.

Notting Hill Carnival: Access All Areas will take place across three days (29-31 August), and will be streamed for free across four separate channels.

The three-day digital event will include steel bands, sound systems, Mas bands, Brazilian bands, Calypso and Soca performer, food and drink shows, Q+A's, and much more.

Notting Hill Carnival: Access All Areas is being filmed over a month-long period. Matthew Phillip, Executive Director of Notting Hill Carnival says, "This year we faced the ultimate challenge of being unable to gather on the streets to celebrate our Carnival. But, now, more than ever, it’s important to keep the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival alive, giving an outlet to the thousands of people that spend all year creating incredible costumes and music for Europe’s largest event."

He continues, "Carnival is such an important part of people's lives and key celebration of the multiculturalism of the UK, and we have a responsibility to our community and pioneers to honour that. We also have a responsibility to protect the black community and our elders by respecting social distancing and taking Carnival away from the streets for this year. So this is a fantastic solution for 2020. We may not be able to celebrate together on the streets as usual, but we can all come together to celebrate one of the UK’s great cultural events online."