The Queen of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026, Carla Castro, took a very large piece of Tenerife to London this week.
Castro appeared in the famous Notting Hill Carnival during the Adult Day parade, wearing Icónica, the spectacular fantasy designed by Alexis Santana.
And when I say spectacular, I mean it. The costume stands at more than five metres tall.
Not exactly something you pop into a suitcase.
From Santa Cruz to London
Icónica was originally presented during the Gala de Elección de la Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026, where Carla Castro was crowned Carnival Queen.
The huge creation involved the work of more than 30 artists, including illustrators, architects, craftspeople and florists.
Getting it from Tenerife to the UK was another job in itself. The costume had to be dismantled before being transported and then carefully reconstructed in London ahead of the parade.
It then took its place among the music, colour and Caribbean influences that make Notting Hill Carnival one of London’s biggest annual celebrations.
Two very different carnivals
There are obvious differences between the two events.
Notting Hill Carnival has its roots firmly in Caribbean culture, while Santa Cruz de Tenerife has its own distinctive traditions, particularly when it comes to the enormous and elaborate costumes created for its Carnival Queens.
But there are plenty of things they share too.
Music, creativity, diversity and the simple ability to turn streets into one enormous party.
The visit was also seen as a cultural exchange rather than simply a tourism promotion exercise.
Tenerife Cabildo vice-president and tourism councillor Lope Afonso said the Queen’s participation brought together two internationally recognised cultural celebrations.
Santa Cruz mayor José Manuel Bermúdez also highlighted the opportunity to promote the capital’s Carnival beyond the Canary Islands.
A growing connection
This isn’t the first time the two Carnivals have crossed paths.
Back in February 2026, Ian Comfort, president of Notting Hill Carnival, travelled to Tenerife to take part as a member of the judging panel for Santa Cruz’s Queen election.
He was therefore able to see the Tenerife Carnival at close quarters and was there when Carla Castro was crowned with Icónica.
A few months later, the winning creation turned up in London.
It seems only fair. If you’re going to build a five-metre-tall Carnival costume, you might as well get some use out of it.
Showing another side of Tenerife
There is also something useful about seeing Tenerife represented this way in London.
The British market is hugely important to the Canary Islands, but when people think about Tenerife, the usual images tend to involve sunshine, beaches and holidays.
All perfectly valid, of course.
But there’s considerably more to the island.
Carla Castro’s appearance at Notting Hill put the spotlight on Tenerife’s culture, craftsmanship, creativity, music and traditions, as well as the people who spend months creating these extraordinary Carnival costumes.
For one day at least, one of Santa Cruz’s most recognisable creations left Tenerife behind and became part of one of the world’s best-known street carnivals.