In this unprecedented year and for the first time in its 54 year history, Notting Hill Carnival will not be on the streets and has moved entirely online, opening up to a global audience that can now share in the second biggest Carnival in the world. Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas, powered by global experiences platform letsgodo.com, will take place over the August bank holiday weekend – 29, 30 and 31 August and is available for free at www.nhcarnival.org. 

Spread over four separate channels, the weekend’s entertainment will have over 200 videos showing in excess of 36 hours of original content that will display the flamboyance and sound of this iconic Carnival whilst celebrating and telling the story of its history and its cultural importance. They have been filmed all over the world as well as at venues across London including the Royal Albert Hall, Abbey Road Studios, Theatre Royal and The Tabernacle.

A full list of the bands and artists involved are listed below. Simply select what you love about Carnival, choose your channel(s) and enjoy. The weekend’s schedule looks like… 

Channel One: Culture

Saturday 29 August streaming 6pm – 9pm

Hosted by Jason Lewis and Reema Samuel

The Panology Steelband Show featuring performances from Delphina James and Justin Russell – backed by the Tabernacle Crew.

There will also be performances from Ebony Steelband, Endurance Steelband, Mangrove Steelband and Metronomes Steelband – recorded at two iconic London venues The Royal Albert Hall and The Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Each band will play a 2020 Soca tune and a ‘Bomb Tune’ (any genre of music played in a Calypso or Soca rhythm)

Saturday 29 August streaming 9pm – Midnight 

Hosted live by Coco P and Giselle Carter

A.C.A.S.A Calypso and Groovy Soca Monarch Competition 

Featuring pre-recorded performances recorded at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

Viewer voting available on the NHC App – Apple and Android

Sunday 30 August and Monday 31 August streaming 9am – 12pm

Hosted by Aurie Styla and Claire Clottey

Interviews and Conversations with the pioneers and voices of Notting Hill Carnival to celebrate its rich Heritage and History and what goes into putting on the world’s largest community-led event.

Expect Food & Drink, Carnival poetry, Soca Warm Up Workouts and more

Wonderful Video

From 10am – 10.45am 

Chef Defour’s live ‘Chill & Grill’ cook-along and Cocktail making with ‘The Rum Ambassador’ Ian Burrell 

Please note the Sunday and Monday schedule is the same across both days.

Channel Two: Parade

Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August streaming 12pm – 8pm

Hosted by Giselle Carter and Martin Jay 

Featuring performances from Mas bands, Steelbands and Brazilian bands with the Sunday focusing on the future of Carnival – the children.

Saturday’s Channel One A.C.A.S.A Calypso and Groovy Soca Monarch Competition winners will be announced and replayed.

Channel Three: Sound Systems 

Sunday 30 and Monday 31 streaming 12pm – 8pm

From 12pm – 4pm hosted by Capital XTRA’s Shayna Marie and Ras Kwame

From 4pm – 8pm hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Nadia Jae and Reece Parkinson

Exclusive sets from your favourite Notting Hill Carnival Sound Systems, with a line-up that promises to suit every taste.

Please note the schedule is the same across both days.

Channel Four: Main Stage

Sunday 30 August streaming 8pm-11pm

Hosted by Ace and Remel London

International artists’ performances from around the world, including Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Grenada.

Monday 31 August August streaming 8pm-11pm

Hosted by Ace and Remel London

UK based artist performances from venues all over London including Abbey Road Studio

To help expand the understanding, knowledge and importance of Notting Hill Carnival, organisers have partnered up with Google Arts & Culture, a non-profit initiative that works with cultural institutions and artists around the world. Their mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere. This ongoing endeavour will be a continuously developed platform that will display not only the current beauty and sounds of Notting Hill Carnival in the present day, but also the reasons why it exists, the struggles it has faced and the reasons why it has to exist. The page went live today and is available to view at g.co/nottinghillcarnival. 

Special versions of the Bob Marley Classic ‘One Love’ are contributed by Amplified Music in partnership with The Marley Family (Tuff Gong International) and UNICEF.  They reimagined Bob Marley’s iconic song ‘One Love’ featuring global artists, musicians from crisis zones & indigenous tribes and children from all corners of the globe. Proceeds from the One Love initiative will go to UNICEF’s ​#Reimagine​ campaign.  The video for the performance and an acoustic version performed by Bob’s daughter Cedella and grandson Skip Marley will also be shown.

This year’s online celebrations will kick off with a lively countdown on the biggest screen in the UK.  Official partner Samsung will be facilitating a unique live launch event which will see the online celebrations start via the huge digital screen at Piccadilly Circus. Samsung has created a series of mini-films featuring artists performing over the weekend which have all been shot in 8K using their flagship Galaxy S20 phones. Each film celebrates Carnival by shining a spotlight on its vibrancy and energy through dance, food and music. 

The mini-films include:

– The acclaimed chef and Carnival ambassador, Levi Roots – whose famed business originally flourished at Carnival – and his guide to creating the ultimate Carnival feast over the bank holiday weekend

– Soca dancers, who are true Carnivalists from the NHC community (Fiona Compton, Andrea Wallace, Donna Cupid-Thuesday and Janine Thomas),  are wearing the incredible Carnival costumes of designer Melissa Simon-Hartman who has designed costumes for Beyoncè’s Black is King visual album

– Award winning Samba drumming troupe Batala – winners of the Notting Hill Carnival samba category in 2016

– Dancer and Notting Hill Carnival regular Elisangela Mahogany, who performs her stunning routines around the world

– Music from NHC ambassador and the UK’s biggest soca star Triniboi Joocie

– A Carnival trailer soundtrack from award-winning UK soca duo Sundivas

Samsung’s mini-film series will play out throughout the day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday as part of the full Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas schedule.

Samsung have also released an official preview trailer that gives a first look at what to expect from this weekend’s virtual Carnival.

The trailer, which aims to capture the essence of what this year’s special virtual Carnival will offer, highlights Samsung’s 8K technology which enables you to ‘Shoot in 8K’ with Galaxy S20 and ‘Watch in 8K’ with QLED 8K, celebrating the vibrancy and colour of Carnival.

The artists and performers

The magnificence of Calypso and Soca comes courtesy of Ms Desire, Brown Sugar, Rev B, G-String, Triniboi Joocie, De Admiral, Clivus, Muffinman, Batch, Dansa, Alexander D Great, Helena B, DeeVine, Soca Kidd, Sunshine & Nadiva, D’Alberto, Masterlink, Nigel Isaacs and The Divette’s.

The incredible sound of the Steelpan comes from Panash, CSI, Panectar, St Michaels and All Angels, Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra, Stardust Arts, Steel Pan In Motion, UFO, Nostalgia, Ebony, Mangrove, Metronomes and Brazilian bands Baque De Axe and Tribo.

The colour and panache of Mas is brought to you by Notting Hill Carnival bands The Bride Outreach, Calabash, Flamboyan, Colours, Burrokeets, Tempo Mas, Funatiks, Urban Touch,  Ebony Mas, Island Mas, D Riddim Tribe, Karnival Mania, Soca Massive, Jamaica Twist, Vibrance, Cocoyea, Elimu, Mahogany, Elevate, Flagz, Gemz, Saga Boys, Hot Wax, Genesis, CAPCA, Mangrove Mas, Tropical Fusion, IDF and Designers Tiffany Thompson and Edrahil Lucifer.

Exclusive sets are from legendary Sound Systems of Notting Hill Carnival and includes Volcano, Arts-A-Light, Disya Jeneration, Gaz’s Rockin Blues, Seduction City, KCC & The Rockin Crew, King Tubby’s, Love TKO, Rampage, Rough But Sweet, G T Flex Roadshow, CMC Matrix, Saxon Sound System, Sir Valdez, Latin Rave Street Band and Channel One.

Performances from artists all over the world include Africa’s Davido, Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade. Trinidad and Tobago’s Olatunji, Iwer George, Patrice Roberts, Nessa Preppy, Nailah Blackman, Adana and Swappi. Grenada’s Mr Killa, Big Red, Lavaman, V’GHN and Tallpree. Barbados’ Alison Hinds, Lil Rick, Lead Pipe & Saddis, DJ Puffy and Edwin Yearwood. And finally from the UK, but from all over the world, TriniBoi Joocie, Ras Asheber, Junior, Cuttie Williams, Janet Kay, Carol Thompson, Victor Romero Evans, Don-e, Terri Walker, Omar, Wstrn, Ms Banks, Stylo G, Amaria, Ms Desire, Batch and Sundivas.

Carnival kicks off on London’s Piccadilly screen with an exclusive trailer before the full schedule starts at www.nhcarnival.org.