Hackney Carnival groups present Our Carnival Our Story
Dates: Friday 12th & Saturday 13th December 2025
Venue: Chats Palace, Hackney
Global Carnivalz, on behalf of 17 Hackney Carnival groups, is proud to announce Our Carnival Our Story — a vibrant celebration of the Mas Bands (Costumed groups) and artists who bring Hackney Carnival to life.
Supported by Hackney Council, the two-day programme will showcase performances, workshops, and exhibitions, giving the public a rare chance to see behind the scenes of Hackney’s Carnival arts. The event will take place at Chats Palace — a venue with deep historic links to Hackney Carnival since the 1980s — now brought back into focus as a true “Carnival House” for this special occasion.
The programme includes:
Exhibitions & displays presented by Carnival groups, plus photography from Sean Pollock (long-time official Hackney Carnival photographer) and Pax Nindi, alongside archive images from Chats Palace, on show throughout both days
Friday daytime (12th Dec 10am-6pm): Workshops & family sessions with Carnival artists and musicians
Friday evening showcase (12th Dec 6:45pm-11pm): performances in costume, dance, steelpan, and Mas by Hackney’s Carnival groups
Saturday daytime (13th Dec 10am-4pm): workshops, “Let’s Talk Carnival” symposium, and open access activities
Saturday night (13th Dec 6:30pm-12:00am): Carnival DJs and Samba performances recreating the road experience indoors
Participating Carnival Groups, Artists and Bands include:
Para Carnival
Pantonic Steel Orchestra
Pan Vibration
Unity No Nonsense
Dimensions Entertainment
Jun Mo Generations
People of Paradise
BLEMA
Soca Massive
Soca Saga Boys through R Consultancy
Gahu Dramatics
Yaram Arts
Mi Viejo San Simon
Taru Arts
Urban Touch
Jamboulay Carnival Arts
OUR CARNIVAL OUR STORY SCHEDULE
FRIDAY DAY
Time Activity / Notes Group Space
10-11am Mask Making for schools Unity No Nonsense Main Hall
10-11am Carnival Dance for shools Dimensions and Jamboulay Space 1
11-12 noon Mask Making for schools Unity No Nonsense Main Hall
11-12 noon Carnival Dance for shools Dimensions and Jamboulay Space 1
12.30 -1.30pm Getting Your Carnival To Tour – Carnival Talk by Pax Global Carnivalz Main Hall
2-3pm Workshop on Djing for Carnival or Para Samba Workshop Urban Touch Main Hall
12 -6pm Public View Exhibition and Workshops participation Public FOYER/WALLS
FRIDAY NIGHT
Time Activity / Notes Group
6:45–7:00 Steelpan welcome Pan Vibration MAIN HALL
7:00–7:15 MC welcome, Council remarks, short film clips Opening MAIN HALL
7:15–7:25 Chinese Dragon Demonstartion Jun Mo Generation MAIN HALL
7:30–7:45 Youth and adult carnival dance performance Dimensions and Jamboulay MAIN HALL
7:50–8:05 Gahu Drummers and Yaram Zimba Lion GAHU and Yaram MAIN HALL
8:10 – 8:25 Inclusive Mas performance Para Carnival MAIN HALL
8:25 – 8.50 Steelband performance Pantonic Steelband MAIN HALL
8:50- 9:05 Dance & costume presentation Unity MAIN HALL
9:10-9:25 Bolivian Carnival Dance Mi Viejo San Simon MAIN HALL
9:45 – 10:00 African dance and movement BLEMA MAIN HALL
10-10:15 Changeover MAIN HALL
10:15- 11pm Traditional Mas finale Soca Massive MAIN HALL
Ongoing Static displays in Chats Soca Saga Boys, Soca Massive and more TBC MAIN HALL
SATURDAY DAY
Time Activity / Notes Performer / DJ
10 -11am Drumming Circle (Samba) TARU ARTS MAIN HALL
12-1pm Drumming Circle (Samba) TARU ARTS MAIN HALL
2-4pm Our Carnival Our Story Symposium All members and the public MAIN HALL
Time Activity / Notes Performer / DJ
6.30pm Drumming Welcome Taru MAIN HALL
7:00–7:30 Opening DJ set – Soca classics & heritage Soca Saga Boys MAIN HALL
7:30–7:50 Samba performance (interlude) Taru MAIN HALL
7:50–8:30 Carnival dance set – Soca/Calypso/Fusion Unity DJs MAIN HALL
8:30–8:50 Latino Carnival Music and Mix DJ Green Pappi MAIN HALL
8:50–9:30 African Mix Yaram Dj MAIN HALL
9:30–9:50 World Mix and Hackney Carnival Tunes Dj Nindi MAIN HALL
9:50-10:10 Open set Open set
10:10–11:00 Soca & Mas vibes Soca Massive DJs MAIN HALL
11:00–12:00 Back-to-back finale / ‘Carnival Clash’ All DJs / Rotation MAIN HAL
