It’ll support Carnival in its 60th anniversary year
Notting Hill Carnival, which has happened annually since 1966, is one of the world’s biggest street parties, attracting over two million attendees every year and boosting the economy by nearly £400 million.
Following a leaked letter from Carnival chair Ian Comfort to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy last summer, where he requested “urgent funding” that was “essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event”, the 2025 nearly didn’t happen, until almost a £1 million was given by City Hall, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and the City of Westminster to enhance security.
Now it’s been announced that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has made an additional £4.66 million worth of funding available for this year’s event to help organisers deliver additional security and deal with potential crowding. He said: “The community-led event has become one of the world’s largest street festivals, boosting our economy by nearly £400m each year and symbolising how our capital celebrates our diversity.
“However, as identified in an independent review, its incredible growth has meant that changes are needed to improve safety and security for all those involved. As organisers prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary this August, I’m stepping in with the support that they need to meet their requirements and ensure that this hugely important event for our capital can take place, as we build a better London for everyone.”
A 2024 independent safety review of the festival, commissioned by the organisers and paid for by the Greater London Authority (GLA), Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster Council at a cost of £100,000, identified “critical public safety concerns”. There were about 7000 officers on duty for that year’s event and the Met Police’s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist had previously voiced concerns about a “mass casualty event” due to crowd density. Speaking at City Hall on 19th June 2025, Sadiq Khan echoed those sentiments, saying “I’ve seen images of some of the crowds at some parts of the day and watching that made me frightened”.
Speaking about the funding, Ian Comfort, chair of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said: “On behalf of the community, I welcome the Mayor’s vital support, which ensures that we can deliver a safe, spectacular and sustainable Carnival in this 60th anniversary year. From its beginnings in September 1966, when Rhaune Laslett sought to bring unity to a neighbourhood marked by racial tension, poor housing and social division, Carnival has grown from a small local street party into a global cultural institution. The funding announced today will allow us to introduce the enhanced safety and operational measures required at this scale. It will also enable us to assume specific operational responsibilities that have historically been managed by the Metropolitan Police, allowing them to focus on their core policing duties during the event. Carnival’s scale brings with it both opportunities and responsibilities. Through close collaboration with our partners and the community, we will continue to deliver Carnival in a way that honours the legacy established by Rhaune Laslett while ensuring its future for generations to come.”
