Did you know that the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the best Carnival in the world?

Generally considered second only to Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, it takes place every year in February and lasts for about a month filled with parties, parades, carnival groups and various celebrations.

Due to the fact that the main celebration takes place in the capital of Tenerife, it is generally referred to as the “Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.”

However, cities such as Puerto de La Cruz, Los Cristianos (in the south of Tenerife) and other locations around the island also hold Carnival celebrations and various events in the following weeks.

If you love Carnival celebration and fancy visiting the Canary Islands, than Tenerife in February of next year will be the perfect place to be!

History of Tenerife Carnival

The Carnival of Tenerife traces its origins to the early 1900s and reached its heyday around 1930 thanks to the contribution of Tenerife residents who emigrated to South America and returned full of inspiration and ideas for Carnival festivities.

After a few decades of a ban on celebrations during Franco’s regime, it was not until 1977 that Carnival returned in all its glory, becoming one of the most beautiful and important carnivals in the world today.

To learn more about the Carnival of Tenerife, I strongly suggest you to visit “La casa del Carnaval”, a museum dedicated to this tradition, in the very center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

How Tenerife Carnival takes place

Carnival in Tenerife is a month-long celebration. Music, dances, masks, games and performances make the atmosphere cheerful and fun, especially in Santa Cruz, where the main festivities take place.

The event is divided into two parts: The Official Carnival, a unique experience in which only selected carnival groups of performers take part, and the Street Carnival, in which everyone participates.

The street Carnival is insane. During Carnival days and nights the streets of Santa Cruz and its city centre are packed with people from all over the world, everyone dressed up, with a lot of stages with different live music and djset, street parties, bars and so much fun.

Also, during Carnival season, in Santa Cruz you will have daytime Carnival (more suitable for families) and nigh time Carnival which goes ahead until the morning of the next day!

The main actors in the Tenerife Carnival (official) are three:

-Murgas: musical groups of political satire and social denunciation

-Rondallas: lyrical-musical groups that perform classical songs

-Comparsas: groups of South American-style dancers.

The main carnival events of the Santa Cruz Carnival of Tenerife

The main event of Carnival is the election of the carnival queen, who is chosen from among several candidates (usually 15), all beautifully masked in elaborate costumes and accompanied by floats.

Carnival has daytime events and evening events, and the party continues in the streets all night with music, street food, stalls and dancing.

Check out what to see in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1 day!

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026 dates

When will the Carnival of Tenerife take place in 2025?The scheduled dates are from January 16th to February 22nd.

The inauguration will be on January 16th with the opening parade while it will end on Sunday February 22nd with the traditional Pinata and fireworks.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 program

The theme of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 will be “Ritmos Latinos (Latin Rythms)”.

 

Tenerife Carnival 2026 schedule

Below you can find Tenerife Carnival 2026 program!

Puerto de la Cruz Carnival

Puerto de la Cruz also boasts an important and colorful Carnival, the second of Tenerife’s Carnival. The dates will be from February 1st to February 28th. The main events will be:

Feb 6th – Gala del Rey

Feb 12th – Gala de la Reina Adulta

Feb 14th – Día del Carnaval en la Calle

Feb 16th – Entrecalles

Feb 18th – Entierro de la Sardina

Feb 20th – Mascarita ponte tacón

Feb 21st– Gran Coso Apoteósico

Where to sleep in Tenerife

BEST HOTELS IN PUERTO DE LA CRUZ

High budget: Hotel Botanico y oriental spa garden – luxury hotel with ocean view rooms, gardens, 3 outdoor pools and free spa for guests. BOOK HERE.

Medium budget: Hotel Don Manolito – 3-star hotel 350 m from Jardin beach, with outdoor pool and fitness center. BOOK HERE.

Low budget: Puerto Nest Hostel – Hostel on the Puerto de La Cruz waterfront with breakfast included and evening entertainment. BOOK HERE.

BEST HOTELS IN SANTA CRUZ

High budget: Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey – Beautiful hotel in downtown Santa Cruz inside a colonial-style mansion – BOOK HERE.

Medium budget: Hotel Adonis Capital – Hotel in the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with panoramic harbor view bar – BOOK HERE.

Low budget: Tenerife Experience Hostel – Hostel 1 km from Caleta de Negros beach with free WiFi in all areas and family room options – BOOK HERE.

If you want to spend Carnival in Tenerife and participate in the festivities, starting to look for accommodation early is very important, because there are so many requests and prices tend to rise during this period.

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