The future of one of Britain’s most iconic festivals is hanging in the balance, with organisers warning that Notting Hill Carnival could be cancelled unless the Government provides urgent support.
Millions descend on London each year for the annual celebration of Caribbean culture, but now the world-famous street party is under threat, reports The Sun.
In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, seen by the BBC, Carnival Chair Ian Comfort pleaded for emergency funding to safeguard the event’s future.
He wrote: “The April 2025 London Assembly report highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events.
“Limited resourcing has restricted the police service’s ability to respond to growing operational pressures.”
Mr Comfort warned that more money was “essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event.”
It follows a safety review which identified “critical public safety concerns” that organisers say they cannot address without extra financial help.
The findings of the £100,000 review – commissioned by Carnival chiefs and funded by the GLA and two London councils – have not yet been made public.
With around 2 million revellers attending each year, the festival is one of the largest in Europe, but its reputation has been marred by incidents of violence in recent years.
Last year saw eight stabbings, with 104 people arrested on the Sunday and a further 230 arrests made on the Monday.
Tragically, 32-year-old Cher Maximen died after being caught up in a violent fight just off the parade route on Sunday 25 August 2024. She was with her daughter and friends when she was stabbed. She died in hospital six days later.
The shocking scenes raised urgent questions about security and crowd control at the event, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend in West London.
Now, organisers say they need immediate government help to keep the public safe.
Mr Comfort’s letter reportedly asks for money to improve stewarding and crowd management, though no specific amount has been requested.
If agreed, it would be the first time that Notting Hill Carnival has received direct funding from central government.
Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, Matt Twist, told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in September: “While we acknowledge that crime often gets the headlines, the thing that worries me most is the crowd density and the potential for a mass casualty event.”
Last year, around 7,000 officers were deployed across the carnival weekend.
While councils and the Greater London Authority have previously contributed to stewarding operations, organisers say they can no longer rely on the same level of local support.
Unless the government intervenes, the capital’s most vibrant celebration of culture and community could be at risk.