Carla Castro Castellano has just been crowned Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026.
And if you’ve ever been anywhere near the Recinto Ferial on gala night, you’ll know this isn’t just “winning a pageant”. This is serious business.
Carnival in Santa Cruz isn’t a side event. It’s not a village fête with a few sequins and a sound system. It’s the biggest show on the island. Some would argue it’s the biggest show in Europe. The production, the costumes, the drama… it’s on another level.
The dresses alone are madness.
We’re talking structures the size of small apartments. Feathers, crystals, metal frameworks. Weeks of design. Months of work. Teams of people behind one woman who then has to glide across the stage as if she’s wearing a summer dress from Zara.
No pressure then.
To be crowned Reina is a huge honour. It’s prestige for her, for the designer, for the sponsoring company, and for Santa Cruz itself. It’s a cultural moment. People here take it seriously. Families gather to watch it on TV. Opinions are strong. Very strong.
I’ve lived here long enough to know that Carnival isn’t just a party season. It’s identity. It’s pride. It’s history mixed with glitter and very loud music.
And yes, from the outside it can look slightly bonkers.
But that’s Tenerife. A bit dramatic. A bit theatrical. A lot of heart.
For anyone thinking the island is just beaches and all-inclusive wristbands, Carnival week is the reminder that this place has deep roots and its own rhythm. The south might sell the sunshine, but Santa Cruz brings the culture.
So congratulations to Carla Castro Castellano. For one year, she’s not just wearing a crown. She represents one of the biggest traditions on the island.
And I imagine she’s probably still trying to recover from the weight of that costume.