Whitstable Carnival 2026 – the photos

The day at this year’s Whitstable Carnival — from the floats setting up in the back streets long before the crowds arrived, through the judging and the official welcome, to the parade itself. Here’s the whole day in photos. Help yourself: they’re free to look through and to share, and see if you can spot yourself.

Whitstable Carnival Association volunteers make final adjustments to the giant Tudor figure before the procession sets off.

A performer in Tudor costume photographed against a fence before the Whitstable Carnival procession.

The Sea Scouts marching band plays its way down the hill during Whitstable Carnival.

Before the parade

The back streets before the crowds — Cap’n Sam being dressed as Henry VIII on a stepladder, the Carnival HQ, and the Lord Mayor of Canterbury meeting the entrants and judging the entries.

Two volunteers walk the giant Tudor figure down the middle of the road towards the start of the Whitstable Carnival procession.

Volunteers work from a stepladder to dress a giant Tudor figure before the Whitstable Carnival procession. Black and white.

A volunteer carries one of the giant figure's arms across the road during preparations for Whitstable Carnival. Black and white.

Carnival entrants in period rustic costume wait in the afternoon sun before the Whitstable Carnival procession sets off.

A group in bee costumes passes the judges as the Whitstable Carnival procession gets under way.

Entrants in bee costumes make their way along the pavement towards the start of the Whitstable Carnival procession.

A walker in a blue and sequinned dress makes her way along the pavement as the Whitstable Carnival entries line up.

A model horse loaded with baskets of fruit and greenery, carrying a hand-painted Garden of England sign, waiting to join the Whitstable Carnival procession.

A carnival entrant in a black hooded robe passes a lifeboat float waiting to join the Whitstable Carnival procession. Black and white.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury talks with Whitstable Carnival Association crew beside the trophy table before the procession.

A performer in Tudor costume stands with the Lord Mayor of Canterbury and Whitstable Carnival Association crew before the procession.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury among guests gathering before the start of Whitstable Carnival.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury in a vintage US Army jeep during Whitstable Carnival.

The Whitstable Carnival Association's orange jeep, banner up for Saturday 1 August, waits with entrants as the procession forms.

Two Whitstable Carnival Association volunteers in the Off The Wall jeep before the procession sets off.

A rainbow flag flies from a decorated carriage waiting for the Whitstable Carnival procession to begin.

A group in scarecrow costumes and sunflowers waits beside their decorated van before the Whitstable Carnival procession.

Behind the road closure barrier as Whitstable Carnival prepares to set off.

The parade

And then the parade itself — every float and walking group as they came past, shot from one spot on the route so you get the whole procession in order. If your group’s here and you’d like the full-resolution versions, get in touch and we’ll send them over.

The Sea Scouts marching band leads a section of the Whitstable Carnival procession.

The giant Tudor king leads costumed queens carrying placards along the Whitstable Carnival route.

The Henry VIII entry at Whitstable Carnival, with the giant king, costumed queens and placards reading Survivor, Love not hate and Down with the patriarchy.

A queen in black and gold carries a Survivor placard past the giant Henry VIII at Whitstable Carnival.

A queen carries a Survivor placard beside the giant Henry VIII as the Whitstable Carnival procession comes down the hill.

The giant Henry VIII with two of the queens, collection buckets in hand, during Whitstable Carnival.

Entrants wearing giant oyster shells and carrying painted oyster banners on the Whitstable Carnival route.

Carnival entrants in fish headdresses cross the road during the Whitstable Carnival procession.

A collector with a Whitstable Carnival bucket leads the sea creature banners down the road.

Painted fish banners and a green sea monster make their way along the Whitstable Carnival route.

A large green sea creature puppet, carried by several people, makes its way along the Whitstable Carnival route.

A walker in a flower-trimmed straw hat crosses the road during Whitstable Carnival.

A brass band plays its way along the Whitstable Carnival route, sousaphone leading.

A carnival entrant in a giant eyeball headdress, labelled Wayne See-More, Lady-in-Waiting, walks with the band at Whitstable Carnival.

A decorated carriage carries riders waving flags along the Whitstable Carnival route.

A collector in a green leaf costume holds out a Whitstable Carnival bucket, the procession stretching away behind him.

Two entrants in bee costumes work the crowd with collection buckets at Whitstable Carnival.

A rider on the decorated lorry float throws her arms up as it moves along the Whitstable Carnival route.

An entrant in a green dress and sash walks the Whitstable Carnival route.

An entrant rides a mobility scooter decorated with Union flags and butterflies along the Whitstable Carnival route.

A stilt walker in a sunflower costume waves to the crowd on the Whitstable Carnival route.

A decorated tricycle hung with banners and feathers rides the Whitstable Carnival route.

A scarecrow collector raises a bunch of sunflowers, her group spread out along the road behind her.

Five entrants in scarecrow costumes walk abreast with Whitstable Carnival collection buckets.

A scarecrow in dungarees and straw hat walks the kerb with a collection bucket at Whitstable Carnival.

Visiting carnival royalty wave from a decorated float at Whitstable Carnival.

Costumed collectors work the crowd with Whitstable Carnival buckets as the procession passes.

Whitstable Museum's Farms of the Past entry, a hand-painted cart naming the old farms of the town, on the Whitstable Carnival route.

A football-themed entry with goal net, flag and cards makes its way along the Whitstable Carnival route.

Entrants hand out programmes as a tractor and trailer follow down the road at Whitstable Carnival.

The Whitstable Oyster Festival entry, fishermen in oilskins and riders waving from a tractor trailer, at Whitstable Carnival.

A collector in yellow oilskins hands out Whitstable Oyster Festival leaflets during the carnival procession.

A skateboarder rides alongside a college float decorated with paper flowers at Whitstable Carnival.

A homemade helicopter float built for the Air Ambulance charity makes its way along the Whitstable Carnival route.

Children in felt hats walk the Whitstable Carnival route through a cloud of bubbles, carrying collection buckets.

A collector carries a Whitstable Carnival bucket beside a decorated bicycle during the procession.

Young performers in sequinned costumes and feathered headdresses take part in the Whitstable Carnival procession.

A performer in a white suit and feathered headdress leads a carnival troupe along the Whitstable Carnival route.

A rabbit costume waves to the crowd as a samba band follows behind at Whitstable Carnival.

Samba drummers in pink and blue play their way along the Whitstable Carnival route.

Walkers in sunflower and flower costumes dance along the road at Whitstable Carnival.

A collector in a flower garland and lei laughs as she works the crowd at Whitstable Carnival.

A vintage US Army jeep carries a hand-made mental health awareness placard along the Whitstable Carnival route.

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Carnival is one day a year, but there’s something on most weekends here. The Whitstable events page has everything we know about, and it’s kept up to date.

These photos were taken in a public place at a public event, and are shared here for the town to enjoy. If you’d like a photo of you or your child removed, just email us and we’ll take it down straight away.

If your group is in these photographs, the full-resolution files are yours free — just get in touch. Prints are available too.

Whitstable Carnival 2026 – the photos

Before the parade

The parade

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