Carnival might still feel a few months away, but for the groups taking part, September means one thing: rehearsals are back.
You know the phrase. “I can’t, I’ve got rehearsal.”
The city’s carnival groups are already getting to work, while the organisers prepare for the 2027 edition of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival. And this time, things are happening a little later than usual.
When Is Santa Cruz Carnival 2027?
The 2027 carnival, themed around Imperial Rome, will take place several weeks later than the dates traditionally linked to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
The reason is fairly practical. Organisers felt that the usual schedule was too close to the Christmas holidays, leaving limited time for both the Department of Festivals and the carnival groups to prepare everything.
So, rather than rushing around immediately after Christmas, the festivities have been moved further into February.
Here’s the planned schedule.
Santa Cruz Carnival 2027 Programme
January
Friday 22 January
- Official opening of Carnival 2027
Saturday 23 January
- Musical groups competition
Friday 29 January
- First round of children’s murga groups
Saturday 30 January
- Second round of children’s murga groups
Sunday 31 January
- Choreographic groups competition
February
Monday 1 February
- First round of adult murga groups
Tuesday 2 February
- Second round of adult murga groups
Wednesday 3 February
- Third round of adult murga groups
Thursday 4 February
- Fourth round of adult murga groups
Saturday 6 February
- Adult murgas final
Sunday 7 February
- Gala to elect the 2027 Children’s Carnival Queen
Wednesday 10 February
- Senior Carnival Queen gala and performance by Tenerife’s senior groups
Friday 12 February
- Canción de la Risa
Saturday 13 February
- Comparsas stage competition
Sunday 14 February
- Costume competition at the Recinto Ferial in the morning
- Rondallas competition at the Auditorio de Tenerife in the afternoon
Wednesday 17 February
- Gala to elect the 2027 Adult Carnival Queen
Friday 19 February
- Opening parade
Saturday 20 February
- Ritmo y Armonía comparsas event along Avenida de Anaga
Sunday 21 February
- First Carnival Day
- Performances by Ni Fú-Ni Fá and Los Fregolinos at Plaza del Príncipe
Monday 22 February
- Fourth Dragnaval gala
Tuesday 23 February
- Performances by Ni Fú-Ni Fá and Los Fregolinos at Plaza del Príncipe
- Main Carnival parade
Wednesday 24 February
- Burial of the Sardine
Thursday 25 February
- Rondallas festival and exhibition
Friday 26 February
- Children’s parade from Méndez Núñez
Saturday 27 February
- Carnival Day featuring international artists
Sunday 28 February
- Performances by Ni Fú-Ni Fá and La Zarzuela at Plaza del Príncipe
- Senior Carnival and closing celebrations
A Carnival That Runs Into the End of February
With the final events scheduled for 28 February, Santa Cruz Carnival 2027 will keep the capital busy for much of the month.
There will be murgas, comparsas, rondallas, parades, concerts and enough sequins to probably be visible from space.
As always, dates and activities may be subject to change, so it’s worth checking the official programme closer to the event.