Maspalomas raises the tent for its 2026 Carnival: circus, families and the Lighthouse as the main protagonist

 

 

The Department of Tourism, Festivities and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council presented in the Sala Scala the calendar and the poster announcing the International Carnival of Maspalomas 2026, an edition that will be held from March 10 to 22 and that will once again place the municipality as one of the great carnival references of the Canary Islands and of the international tourist field.

 

The presentation event was attended by the mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Marco Aurelio Pérez; the councilor for Tourism, Festivities and Events, Yilenia Vega; the artistic director of the 2026 Carnival, Josué Quevedo; and the author of the poster, Kirian Jesús Sánchez Alemán, and was hosted by the communicator Roberto Herrera.

 

 

 

During the presentation, Yilenia Vega outlined the official schedule of events, highlighting that the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival will take place from Tuesday, March 10th to Sunday, March 22nd. This reorganization of dates compared to the previous edition will allow for improved planning, greater citizen participation, and enhanced tourism. In this regard, the councilwoman explained that the Queen's Gala will be held on the first Sunday of the carnival, allowing the Children's Parade and the Family Carnival to be moved to Saturday. This change was implemented in response to requests from numerous families.

 

“This is a request that many families made to us last year, since it was difficult to extend the festivities because it was held on a Sunday. We're talking about children who have school the next day and parents who have to return to work,” said Yilenia Vega, who emphasized that this change aims to facilitate work-life balance and reinforce the family-oriented nature of the Maspalomas Carnival.

 

The festivities will kick off with the opening float and the presentation of the candidates, followed by the Grand Dame Gala, the Children's Queen Pageant, and the Queen's Gala. Throughout the week, events such as the Barrier-Free Gala, the Choreographic Festival, the Canine Carnival, and the Drag Queen Gala will take place, in addition to the nightly celebrations. The most popular events will be concentrated over the weekend with the Children's Parade, the Grand Parade, and, as the carnival's closing event, the traditional Burial of the Sardine, accompanied by a final concert.

 

Furthermore, another important development is that, starting tomorrow, all the rules for participating in the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival will be available on the municipal website. The requirements and conditions for participating in the various galas, the pageants, the installation of beach bars and food stalls, the participation of floats, and all other carnival-related activities will be available there. “In this way, we are facilitating access to information and guaranteeing a clear, organized, and transparent process for everyone interested in participating,” Yilenia Vega emphasized.

 

Once the calendar was presented, the poster for the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival was unveiled. The poster had been selected through a public competition. This year, 30 proposals were received, and 1.200 votes were cast in the public voting process.

 

 

The winning poster is the work of Kirian Jesús Sánchez Alemán, 22, from Agüimes (Gran Canaria), who entered a Carnival poster competition for the first time. The young designer received the news with “great excitement for everything that lies ahead with the next Carnival,” and especially valued the participatory aspect of the contest.

 

 

The design, created using vector illustration, offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the circus. Far from the classic concept where the big top is the central focus, the artist wanted to highlight the Maspalomas Lighthouse as an icon and landmark of Gran Canaria, integrating it as a key element of the composition. The scene features acrobats, jugglers, and tightrope walkers, moving beyond the traditional circus and embracing a modern vision in which animals are no longer used as an attraction, reflecting current cultural and social values.

 

 

 

The poster's dominant red contributes to an epic atmosphere associated with the circus world and, at the same time, alludes to the sunset near the Maspalomas Lighthouse, "the favorite time for tourists, visitors, and residents to stroll through the area," as the artist himself explained. Kirian Sánchez Alemán also emphasized the importance of public voting in these types of competitions, noting that "it's a starting point for gauging where I am as a designer," and added that "it's an honor to be the designer of the poster for the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival, especially having been chosen from among so many candidates, even at the national level."

 

For his part, the artistic director of the 2026 Carnival, Josué Quevedo, explained that this year's theme will revolve around "The World of the Circus," with the aim of offering an immersive experience to both residents and visitors. "This year we want the Maspalomas International Carnival to be an immersion in the authentic magic of the circus: a spectacle of joy, color, and creativity that invites everyone to be part of a big top of emotions," he said. Quevedo added that the circus functions as a metaphor for life, where "dance, acrobatics, humor, and fantasy intertwine to celebrate diversity and artistic expression in all its forms," ​​and emphasized that the carnival aspires to become "a space where imagination takes center stage and where Maspalomas becomes the grand stage for fun and culture."

 

 

 

With this presentation, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council kicks off preparations for the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival, a Festival of Tourist Interest in the Canary Islands; and reaffirms its commitment to this celebration as one of the main cultural, social and tourist drivers of the municipality, consolidating it as an essential event within the festive calendar of the Canary Islands and with national and international projection.