The Carnival Route: Key Dates by Municipality

Carnival Main Parade in Los Cristianos 2024 - Photo Arona Town Hall

If anyone thought that the end of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival meant it was time to pack away their costumes, they were wrong. The island is preparing for another wave of celebrations that will sweep through various municipalities in the coming weeks. From San Cristóbal de La Laguna to the spectacle of the Los Cristianos International Carnival, Tenerife is still in carnival mode. The variety of themes and the overlapping dates in several locations across the island will require even the most enthusiastic carnival-goers to organize their schedule well. Tenerife proves, once again, that Carnival is not just a date on the calendar, but a feeling that refuses to end.

For those who don't want to miss a single dance, here is the itinerary for the coming weeks: 

Candelaria

The town will be dressed up from February 25th to March 1st under the evocative theme "Journey to Japan." It will be five days of festive intensity, with the main event taking place on Saturday, February 28th. That night, at 10:00 p.m., the venue next to the Town Hall will make history with a free concert by Óscar D'León. The "Sonero del Mundo" will be accompanied by El Morocho and the Acapulco and Caracas Latin Brother orchestras.

The closing event, on Sunday, March 1st, will have a strong family focus:

• 12:00 p.m.: Start of the children's parade "El Cosito".
• 2:30 p.m.: Grand Daytime Carnival with the Corinto Band Orchestra.
• 6:15 p.m.: Headlining performance by El Combo Dominicano.
• Finale: Burning of the Sardine and a grand finale with the Nueva Línea Orchestra

Los Cristianos

One of the most anticipated events in the south will take place from March 5th to 16th. The Los Cristianos International Carnival will dedicate twelve days to the theme of space. This event is establishing itself as the main festive epicenter of Arona, transforming the tourist hub into an intergalactic stage that attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The Daytime Carnival, in 2026, will be held on two key dates: March 7th and 14th. These daytime events are designed to make it easier for families and visitors to attend, with a program that includes concerts, workshops, and activities for all ages. For their part, the Opening Parade and the Grand Finale Parade once again become two of the main attractions, thanks to the procession of floats and the participation of troupes from various locations, showcasing the festival's inclusive spirit.

The program also emphasizes diversity and social participation, with initiatives such as the Inclusion Parade, aimed at bringing carnival to all groups, and the now-traditional Drag Queen Show, which adds a touch of irony and spectacle. The festivities will conclude on March 16th with the Burial of the Sardine, a symbolic act that bids farewell to the celebrations with a blend of satirical humor, popular tradition, and a communal atmosphere.

Full program: Carnaval Internacional de Los Cristianos 2026

Granadilla de Abona

With the theme, ‘Beautiful and Beloved Mexico’, on Saturday, February 28, starting at 5:30 p.m., the highly anticipated Grand Carnival Parade will take place, beginning on Avenida Mencey de Abona and ending at Parque de Los Hinojeros. The parade will feature the comparsas Kuliquitacas del Sur, Guajeiros, Aborasau, Joroperos, and Cariocas, as well as the batucadas Baraberé and Tamatimba.

On Friday, March 6, the Plaza de la Cultura in San Isidro will host the Murguero Gathering, starting at 7:00 p.m., with performances by the murgas Guachinquietas, Diablos Locos, and Irónicos.

The grand finale will take place on Saturday, March 7th with the El Médano Daytime Carnival 2026, which will include the inaugural parade and children's day carnival from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with DJ David Pérez and Olga González; and from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., in the Plaza de El Médano, Grupo Nueva Ilusión, Orquesta Los Ideales, DJ Fabrizio Salgado, El Combo Dominicano, Rafael Flores “El Morocho”, Orquesta Nueva Línea and The Boys Machine will take to the stage. The traditional Burial of the Sardine will also take place, starting at 7:00 p.m., departing from the town square and ending at the football field, thus bringing the 2026 Carnival to a close.

The Carnival Route: Key Dates by Municipality

• Garachico February 20 to March 8
• Los Gigantes February 26 to March 8
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna February 27
• Granadilla de Abona February 27 to March 7
• Adeje February 28
• Santa Úrsula February 28 to March 1
• Guía de Isora February 28
• Tegueste March 5 to 7
• Arafo March 6

Si te quedaste con ganas de más, no guardes el disfraz: guía completa del Carnaval en Tenerife por municipios

Santa Cruz bids farewell to a historic Carnival with no dates or theme set for next year

The final carnival party in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Sunday 22 Feb 2026

If the liturgical calendar, which sets the dates for Easter, were applied, the festivities would begin on January 8th, leaving no time to set up the stage.

The celebration of the third edition of the Senior Carnival in Plaza de la Candelaria, organized by the Government of the Canary Islands, brought a successful edition to a close, particularly due to the splendour of the second Daytime Carnival, which drew 425,000 people on Piñata Saturday. It evoked memories of epic events, such as Celia Cruz's Guinness World Record in 1987 - when 250,000 revellers danced outdoors - or Juan Luis Guerra's edition in 2019, when it was reported that more than 400,000 carnival-goers participated. Santa Cruz bid farewell to Carnival this Piñata Sunday. True to tradition, the festivities began in García Sanabria Park with a classic car show, whose roaring engines and honking horns then filled the air as people strolled through the heart of the city. Almost simultaneously, the Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá was singing the final songs of the Latin Rhythms Carnival in the bandstand in Plaza del Príncipe.

Reflection for Next Year

Looking ahead to next year, the organizers have decided to take a period of reflection. If the traditional calendar, which is regulated by Holy Week, were followed, the opening ceremony would have to be held on January 8th, two days after the visit of the Three Kings, and the first phase of the children's carnival group competition would take place on January 15th. This would mean there wouldn't even be a week to set up the stage at the Tenerife International Centre for Trade Fairs and Congresses, where the Tenerife Children’s Play Centre (PIT) is open until the 6th.

Carnival 2027 Planning

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival organizers are taking their time with planning for next year. 

Generally in recent years, on the final day of the carnival, the Department of Festivals would announce the results of the vote to choose the theme for the following year's Carnival. This year, however, the organizer, Javier Caraballero, decided to embrace the common phrase that in Santa Cruz, it's Carnival all year round.

This is what the 2027 Carnival calendar would look like, if the traditional dates are maintained.

The reality is that the short time required for the next edition necessitates a reflection process, one in which even the mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, wants to include other stakeholders connected to the festival, both representatives of groups and other long-time carnival participants.

The main decision will be whether to ratify a schedule that prevents the stage from being set up at the fairgrounds on time or to deviate, at least for one year, from the traditional calendar dictated by the Church. This would mean that the street carnival dances would be held after Ash Wednesday and opens the door to the desire of some, such as the Councillor for Festivals, to establish a fixed date for the carnival celebrations—a hypothesis that the mayor, who maintains that the festival should continue to follow the traditional calendar, would accept given the current circumstances.

The vote on the theme is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, while the organization is immersed in preparations for the May Festivals, including the Pope's visit to Santa Cruz de Tenerife on June 12th.

Along with structural decisions, such as the date of the celebration, other significant artistic matters remain to be decided. The Councillor for Festivals has set aside these decisions so as not to diminish the success of the Latin Rhythms Carnival.

The only point of significant disagreement this year centres on the format of the queen's election gala, which could lead to a change in artistic direction, currently held by Daniel Pagés. Javier Caraballero faces a difficult task in an election year. The search for a gala like the one at the 2023 Carnival dedicated to New York could mean the return of Enrique Camacho at the cost of jeopardizing the team that Caraballero has assembled this year. The Councillor for Festivals has a lot of work ahead of him to define the new edition, of which, for now, the only certainty is that it will be held at the beginning of 2027.

Santa Cruz despide un Carnaval histórico sin fechas ni motivo para el próximo año | El Carnaval de Santa Cruz 2027 podría no depender de la Cuaresma por primera vez en la historia | El Carnaval de Santa Cruz podría romper con la tradición: el motivo que obligaría a cambiar las fechas

NB: This could all turn out to be a storm in a teacup, because this is NOT without precedence, because in 2008, the carnival was FOUR DAYS earlier. The normal dates of carnival in the streets in 2027 would be Fri 5 Feb - Sun 14 Feb. In 2008, they were Fri 1 Feb - Sun 10 Feb. In 2027, they're concerned about an inauguration on Friday, 8 Jan 2027, but the equivalent date in 2008 would therefore have been Friday, 4 Jan 2008 - two days BEFORE the Three Kings. The PIT has been held for 34 years; the congress centre had opened and used for galas in 1996 and I don't recall this fuss being made then.

PROVISIONAL Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2027

Last Saturday of Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Searching for information on the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife Carnival or Karneval Teneriffa 2027 then you've come to the right place.

WARNING: There are currently doubts being cast over the dates of carnival in 2027, but we'll update as soon as we hear that decisions are made.

These are the dates that Santa Cruz Carnival 2027 should take place, based on many previous years' timetables: After the inauguration on Friday, 8 January 2027 and the long list of contests (below), Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2027 in the streets should begin on Friday, 5 February 2027, with the Opening Parade and run through to Sunday, 14 February 2027.

Everything here is still subject to official confirmation or change:

• Friday, 8 January: Inauguration of Carnival 2027
• Thursday, 14 January: 1st Phase of the Junior Murgas Contest
• Friday, 15 January: 2nd Phase of the Junior Murgas Contest
• Saturday, 16 January: 3rd Phase of the Junior Murgas Contest
• Sunday, 17 January: Festival of Choreographed Groups
• Monday, 18 January: 1st Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Tuesday, 19 January: 2nd Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Wednesday, 20 January: 3rd Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Friday, 22 January: Final of the Murga Contests
• Saturday, 23 January: Contest of Musical Groups
• Sunday, 24 January: Gala Election of the Junior Carnival Queen
• Wednesday, 27 January: Gala of the Senior Carnival Queen
• Thursday, 28 January: Comedy Song Contest
• Saturday, 30 January: Comparsas Contest
• Sunday, 31 January: Costume Contest and the Rondallas Contest
• Tuesday, 2 February: Los Fregolinos Concert
• Wednesday, 3 February: Gala Election of the Carnival Queen
• Thursday, 4 February: Festival of Zarzuela
• Friday, 5 February: Opening Parade
• Saturday, 6 February: Rhythm and Harmony Comparsas
• Sunday, 7 February: Daytime Carnaval
• Monday, 8 February: Carnaval Monday and Dragnaval
• Shrove Tuesday, 9 February: Carnival Main Parade
• Wednesday, 10 February: Burial of the Sardine
• Thursday, 11 February: Festival of Rondallas
• Friday, 12 February: Children's Carnival Parade
• Saturday, 13 February: Daytime Carnaval
• Sunday, 14 February: Exhibition and parade of vintage and classic cars, end of carnival party and carnival closes with a firework display

Many of the events can be watched live on CarnavalTVC

This carnival is one of the earliest ever, starting only 2 days after Los Reyes.

The year 2027 is an important anniversary for Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as it is forty years since the first time the carnival had a theme - in 1987 that first theme was "Rome". That was also the year that Santa Cruz Carnival got into the Guinness Book of Records when the late Celia Cruz with the Sonora Matancera and Billo's Caracas Boys led the line up of an unforgettable Carnival Tuesday night with more than 240,000 attendees. (That number was since greatly exceeded, but not officially recorded.)

In 1987 the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for the first time, had a theme and listed here are all of the themes and carnival queens since then.

Look back over 40 years of Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 

Santa Cruz en Carnaval 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, Guardians of the Sceptre 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Forty years ago: Santa Cruz en Carnaval 1987

Thirty years ago: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 1997

Twenty years ago: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2007

Ten years ago: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2017

Puerto de la Cruz Carnival 2027

• Thursday 4 February - Election of the Carnival Queen
• Saturday 6 February - Proclamatory Parade
• Wednesday 10 February - Burial of the Sardine
• Friday 12 February - Mascarita Ponte Tacón
• Saturday 13 February - Main Parade

Los Gigantes Carnival 2027

The start of carnival in Los Gigantes is usually on the Friday ten days after Shrove Tuesday, which would be on Friday 19 Feb 2027. Their Carnival Main Parade is usually held on the Sunday, which would be 21 Feb 2027.

Los Cristianos Carnival 2027

As ever, we won't even guess when Los Cristianos carnival will be held. Once available, the dates can generally be found within the relevant year's Calendario de Fiestas del Municipio (Calendar of the municipality's festivals). However ... Even if Arona publish dates ahead, they are in the habit of changing the dates at the very last minute and these changes have not been advertised nor reported in the media, so it requires constant manual watching of their site (above) to know.

All dates are subject to changes that are beyond our control

Why is the Last Weekend of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Called Piñata Weekend?

At Carnival on Piñata Saturday 2026

The term "Piñata Weekend" originates from an old custom that prolonged Carnival beyond Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, well into Lent.

Carnival officially ended on Ash Wednesday, and Santa Cruz already mourned during the Burial of the Sardine. But the festivities still have one last push with Piñata Weekend. After Carnival comes Lent, a time historically dedicated to reflection, from which these last two days of celebration are taken. But what is the origin of its name?

The term "Piñata Weekend" originates from an old custom that extended Carnival beyond Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. "In various parts of Spain and in the Canary Islands, the festivities continued during the first days of Lent, in what was known as Little Carnival or Piñata Carnival," explains Julio Torres, a historian from La Laguna, citing researcher Pedro Manuel Grimón González.

Italian Pignatta

The word comes from the Italian word pignatta (fragile pot), because it was traditional that before the start of Lent, a period of fasting and abstinence, the game of breaking a clay pot or pignatta filled with sweets was celebrated.

"The piñata resembled a large orange, covered in colourful fabrics and adorned with numerous colorful ribbons. One of these ribbons opened the mechanism through which the objects inside fell out: nuts, flour, candies, gofio (a type of flour), eggs, sweets, and perhaps a small mouse or rabbit."

Piñata Dance

The piñata was broken as part of a choreographed dance, the Piñata Dance: "Couples began to dance, circling the piñata. The leader kept order so that all the couples took turns pulling the ribbons. When the piñata broke, the music stopped."

Today, carnivals like the one in Santa Cruz de Tenerife maintain Piñata Saturday and Sunday as days of intense festive activity. These dates are located after the Burial of the Sardine and are part of the calendar that marks the end of the celebrations in the city, but the festivities continue in other parts of the island.

¿Por qué se llama Piñata al último fin de semana del Carnaval?

(A pignatta (or pignata) is an Italian term for an earthenware cooking pot, historically used to cook beans in fireplaces. It is the origin of the Spanish word "piñata", referring to the fragile, clay containers used in European and, later, Mexican celebrations. It's derived from the Latin pinea ("pine cone"), referencing the original shape of these pots.)

Winter Olympics Carnival Style on Piñata Saturday in Santa Cruz 2026

• Santa Cruz de Tenerife drew over 425,000 people on Piñata Saturday
• 291 Photos at Piñata Saturday on 21 February 2026

Carnival Main Parade in Santa Cruz 2026

Carnival Queen in the Carnival Main Parade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Santa Cruz Carnival reached its climax on Shrove Tuesday, 17 Feb 2026, with a massive four-hour parade. More than a hundred groups, led by the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting, participated to the beat of batucadas and Latin rhythms in the grand, multi-coloured parade that filled Santa Cruz.

Radiant sunshine accompanied yesterday's grand, multi-coloured parade featuring over a hundred groups and organizations from the Santa Cruz Carnival, the queens, and their courts of honour. Thousands of people packed the stands and seating provided by the Santa Cruz City Council along Francisco la Roche and Marítima avenues to enjoy a spectacular afternoon.

The Coso, an unmissable event and one of the most traditional and popular parts of Tenerife's most internationally renowned festival, was a resounding success. It began promptly at four in the afternoon and was characterized by high participation from both the Carnival groups and the thousands of spectators who gathered to enjoy the spectacle.

Once again, the large number of tourists and visitors who wanted to take advantage of their stay on the island to witness one of the most important hallmarks of Carnival was striking.

Comparsas, rondallas, murgas, musical groups, dance troupes, floats, decorated cars, Carnival characters, and the queens, accompanied by their ladies-in-waiting, dazzled with their costumes and performances, accompanied throughout the parade by music, batucadas, and murga marches, in a parade that signalled the approaching end of the quintessential Santa Cruz de Tenerife festival.

Las Celias de Tenerife, a group of men paying tribute to the late singer Celia Cruz [Source]

As a major novelty this year, the popular group Las Celias opened the parade, celebrating 30 years of participation in the Carnival. Its members wanted to pay special tribute to their president and founder, Javier García, who was unable to attend the festivities. To commemorate this happy anniversary, the group brought out every single costume they have worn throughout these thirty years, creating a live exhibition in a moving parade.

Members of the Afilarmónica Nifú Nifá in the Carnival Parade 17 Feb 2026

Following Las Celias, the Afilarmónica Nifú Nifá (the grandfathers of carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife) took to the streets and was greeted with applause, demonstrating the enormous affection that Carnival veterans inspire wherever they participate.

The winners of the Costume Contest and the comparsa Bahía Bahitiare then gave way to the adult Carnival Queen, Carla Castro, with her iconic costume.

PHOTOS: Click for another 280 photos of the Coso Apoteosis (Grand Parade)

Following the monarch, the various Carnival groups paraded, including the ladies-in-waiting, the children's and adult queens, and their respective courts. 

Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the parade is the opportunity to observe up close and in broad daylight the work of the designers and their teams, who create spectacular costumes worn not only by the Carnival Queen candidates but also by the groups, troupes, and satirical musical groups, brimming with originality, which manage to surprise everyone each year.

The strong family atmosphere of the parade was evident once again throughout the entire route, both among the participating groups and the large crowds who gathered to applaud the creativity and talent of the Carnival performers.

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council installed a total of 6,500 free chairs for the public along the entire parade route, in addition to the bleachers set up along the city's coastline, with a capacity for another 1,300 people.

Many of the seats were filled by tourists, largely from the south and north of the island, where they are spending their holidays. According to the Santa Cruz City Council, around 250 buses carrying tourists arrived in the city yesterday to enjoy the Coso Apoteosis (Grand Parade).

The parade proceeded smoothly and without incident, in a family-friendly atmosphere, with the haze almost dissipated and the participants showing off their elaborate costumes and designs amidst dancing and singing. After about four hours of enjoyment, as the sun began to set, this grand parade came to an end, serving as a prelude to a grand finale that promises to be equally spectacular. Today, Wednesday, the event will take place at 10:00 p.m., when the popular Burial of the Sardine will begin, officially bidding farewell to Carnival, although there will still be one last weekend to enjoy before its final closing next Sunday.

El Carnaval de Santa Cruz vive su apoteosis con un Coso multitudinario de cuatro horas

VIDEO: Coso Apoteosis Carnaval S/C de Tenerife | 2026

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2026

Carla Castro Castellano, Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

The most anticipated announcement of the year arrived on the evening of Wednesday 11 February: Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a new Carnival Queen. Carla Castro Castellano is the new sovereign of the Santa Cruz Carnival 2026 with "Icónica" (Iconic) a design by Alexis Santana, representing McDonald's and El Día newspaper. That's two in a row for both the designer and sponsors, who were also winners in 2025.

Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, together with Queen of 2025, Elizabeth Ledesma Laker, presented the sceptre to the new sovereign.

Now, the festivities can take to the streets with the Opening Parade this Friday, February 13th, bringing the events at the Tenerife International Centre for Trade Fairs and Congresses for this year to a spectacular close.

Ladies-in-Waiting

The new queen will be accompanied by her four ladies-in-waiting. The first lady-in-waiting is Arlena Rubí Mantecón Hernández with “Luminis” (of the light) by Santi Castro, representing the Añaza Carrefour Shopping Centre.

Arlena Rubí Mantecón Hernández with “Luminis,” by Santi Castro

It's been a pretty good year for Santi Castro, with his designs winning both the Junior and Senior Carnival Queens and now the first lady-in-waiting. Santi's name has been familiar to me for as long as I've been following the Santa Cruz Carnival - for which he's been designing since 1980 - and with no need to be impartial in my retirement, I can now reveal that he's always been my favourite. There have been times when I've felt he was robbed of a win, because the judges perhaps weren't brave enough to go with his avant-garde designs, but this time, as his candidate paraded first at the gala, we were struck by how "conservative" it seemed, comparatively at least. 

Then we disolved into fits of giggles at the mere idea of applying the word "conservative" to any of these, frankly ridiculous, if fantastic, creations.

Cecilia Esther Díaz Hernández, with ‘Sueños de Cristal’, by Sedomir Rodríguez de la Sierra

Cecilia Esther Díaz Hernández was chosen as second lady-in-waiting with her fantasy “Sueños de Cristal” (Crystal Dreams), by Sedomir Rodríguez de la Sierra, representing Dormitorum and Diario de Avisos.

Daniela Sánchez Padilla, with ‘Atamande‘, by Team Santana Carnaval

The third lady-in-waiting is Daniela Sánchez Padilla, with “Atamande”, from Team Santana Carnaval, representing Repsol Grupo González Canarias.

Alianara León Hernández, with ‘De tu infierno a mi cielo’, by Yosué Riverol

The court is completed by Alianara León Hernández with “De tu infierno a mi cielo” (From your hell to my heaven), by Yosué Riverol, representing the Island Council of La Palma and the Illustrious City Council of El Paso.

This year's gala has not been without criticism, with El Día newspaper listing among the worst parts, the designers' musical choices - we also felt that the music chosen for many of the candidates seemed to bear no relation to their designs and definitely no relation to carnival - and the sound problems. 

Well, the worst of the sound issues wasn't so much the failure of the sound during the performance by Los 4 (somewhat ironic, as there were 5 of them) group from Cuba, so much as that it didn't fail during the turn of Manny Manuel, Puerto Rican singer, of whom one commentator opined, "Manny Manuel no longer sings like he used to, or he was drunk." We thought so too. The most generous said that the artist, once considered as "the king of merengue", wasn't having his best night. Lots of people agree that there are better Latin acts, but it seems very apparent it's a matter of budget.

There was also aesthetic debate. Several comments agreed that silver and gold predominated this year, with very little chromatic variety.

Diario de Avisos even went as far as to draw parallels with the gala of 2007, with their headline “Not even Amargo dared to go this far”, recalling the bitterly contentious event, when Rafael Amargo presented a gala that eliminated the essence of Carnival to turn it into an empty television show, without rhythm and that left the candidates in the background. Disagree, NOTHING could be that bad. To be fair, it wasn't it's best year either.

The Queen representing the Hogar Canario Venezolano (Venezuelan-Canarian Home) did not participate in the Gala for the first time this year, breaking a 42 year old tradition. This news was shared by the mayor of the capital, José Manuel Bermúdez, who confirmed the group's absence due to 'bureaucratic difficulties' due to the current situation in the country.

VIDEO: Gala Reina adulta Carnaval S/C de Tenerife | 2026

233 images from the Carnival Queen Gala in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Carla Castro, Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife: la representante de McDonald's y El Día gana con la fantasía 'Icónica' de Alexis Santana

Carla Castro Castellano, Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Minuto a minuto, la Gala de la Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz

Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz 2026

Dominga Jiménez Pérez, Senior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026

Dominga Jiménez Pérez was chosen on Wednesday night, during the Gala held at the Tenerife International Centre for Trade Fairs and Congresses in which eleven candidates participated, as Senior Carnaval Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026. Dressed in the costume "Y llegaste tú" (And You Arrived), by designer Santi Castro, Ms Jiménez arrived at the Santa Cruz Carnival representing the Santiago del Teide City Council.

Her court of honour was headed by María Félix Ramos, who wore "La cosecha" (The Harvest), by Dani Mena, representing Halcón Viajes and Elige Tu Viaje; while María Cristina Fariña was designated as second lady-in-waiting, with "Reina de dos mundos" (Queen of Two Worlds), by Juan Carlos Armas, representing the Arafo City Council; María Ángeles Ramos, wearing "A mi ritmo" (At My Own Pace), by Borja Abreu, representing the La Laguna City Council, was placed as third lady-in-waiting, the court was completed by María del Carmen Hernández, with a creation by Dailos Rodríguez "Eternum Regnum" (Latin phrase meaning "eternal kingdom," "everlasting realm," or "perpetual reign") representing the Tenerife Canarian Wrestling Federation and Petarditos Fiesta.

Around 5,000 spectators gathered to witness the two-and-a-half-hour show, directed by Paula Álvarez and hosted by Victorio Pérez. The Gala featured musical performances by King África, Pepe Benavente, El Morocho, and Jhonny Maquinaria.

The Gala jury consisted of Héctor León, a Fine Arts graduate and costume designer for film and theatre; María Encarnación Ibáñez, a pattern-making and sewing professor in the textile department of Las Indias; Marielba González, director of MG Medical Group clinics; Marta Cairós, director of News Services for Televisión Canaria; Patricia Hodgson, a Fine Arts graduate, painter, and art curator; Carmen Suárez, PhD in Arts and Humanities, conservator and restorer of cultural heritage; and Inés Domínguez, the audience jury member.

The Gala, broadcast live on Televisión Canaria, was also the Senior Citizens' Groups Festival, which this year featured performances by Con Nuestra Gente Chincanayros, Volcanes del Teide, Reconecta2, Tercera Edad Tegueste, Las Incansables de Icod, Antón Guanche Candelaria, Mayores del 2000, Fraisa, Monte Nevado, and Rondalla Las Nieves, in that order.

VIDEO: Gala Reina de los Mayores Carnaval S/C Tenerife | 2026

Dominga Jiménez fue proclamada esta noche Reina de los Mayores del Carnaval 2026

Dominga Jiménez Pérez, with designer, Santi Castro