Carnival in Tenerife 2026: dates, Coso parade and burial of the sardine
February 11, 2026, Santa Cruz de Tenerife chooses the queen of the carnival. This is the first big evening of the two-week celebration: Recinto Ferial opens its doors, and the center of the capital is closed to cars (as of 09/2026, Tenerife tourist office).
The carnival runs in two locations at once. In the capital, it means gala evenings, competitions, and the big Coso parade. In Puerto de la Cruz in the north of the island, the celebration starts later and runs until the end of February.
Below you will find both day-by-day programs, an explanation of the sardine ritual, and practical details for your trip. Plus answers to the questions people ask most often before a February trip.
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How the carnival in Tenerife works
💡 In short:
- Two cities share the celebration: the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz in the north.
- The program opens with the election of the carnival queen and closes with the burial of the sardine.
- During the parades, streets and squares are closed off, so book accommodation in the center well in advance.
- Dates and program: 09/2026, verified on the official website of the Tenerife tourist office.
The carnival in Tenerife is considered the second largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro. In scale it even surpasses the carnivals of the Rhineland in Germany, where the festive tradition is just as strong.
It is celebrated not only in the capital. From the smallest village to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the nights are filled with dancing, music, and costumes. Even during the years when it was banned, the carnival never disappeared: it was held under the guise of a "winter festival."
For you, this means one simple rule. You build your itinerary around the city and its dates, because the schedules in the capital and in the north of the island do not match and change every year.
Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
While the carnival is on, the political life of the capital comes to a halt. Plaza de España is decorated, and dozens of tents and kiosks are set up on and around the square for days of festivities. The role of prince and princess here is played by the carnival queen: as soon as she, the children's queen, and their entourage are chosen, parades take to the streets.
© Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SAPhoto: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe following week is devoted to music and costume competitions. Samba groups and masked participants move through the whole city, and the parades include historic carriages. The gala evening for choosing the queen starts at 9:30 PM at Recinto Ferial (as of 09/2026, RTVC report).
The climax falls on Tuesday. During the day, the big Coso Apoteosis del Carnaval parade takes place in Santa Cruz, the finale of the street program. The gala evenings and competitions at Recinto Ferial require tickets, while the parade itself you watch from the streets.
Carnival in Puerto de la Cruz
In the capital, the celebration is already winding down, while in the north of the island the main days are still ahead. In Puerto de la Cruz, the carnival opens on February 6, but the main days fall after the burial of the sardine (more on the ritual below). That is why it ends later than the one in the capital.
The big parade here traditionally takes place on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, which in 2026 is February 21. The festive days are scheduled through February 28, and the city council dedicated the theme to Mexico: "¡Carnaval con sabor a México!" (as of 09/2026, carnival program in Puerto de la Cruz).
© karel291 · CC BYPhoto: karel291, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsMusic groups, masked participants, and historic carriages move through the city center, and international delegations add variety to the samba. The format in the north is more family-oriented than in the capital, which is convenient if you are traveling with children.
Ash Wednesday and the burial of the sardine
On Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the island says goodbye to carnival. The ritual is called Entierro de la Sardina, the burial of the sardine, and it is celebrated in all parts of Tenerife. Besides the capital, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos and La Orotava stand out (as of 09/2026, report on the procession).
The sardine is made from rags and papier-mache: it is a huge effigy of a fish. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife it is carried through the city on a throne. Behind it come "widows", mourners and even "pregnant" men, who see the festival off with tears and laughter.
The meaning of the ritual is irony. Carnival is buried in front of everyone, but the festival itself does not end there: the final weekend and the closing are still ahead.
Carnival dates 2026
Both cities operate in February, but on different schedules. In the capital the main days run from February 11 to 22, in the north the festival ends on February 28 (as of 09/2026, program in the north of the island, festival calendar).
City | 2026 theme | Main days |
|---|---|---|
Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Ritmos Latinos | February 11-22 |
Puerto de la Cruz | Mexico, ¡Carnaval con sabor a México! | February 6-28 |
The theme of the 2026 capital edition: Latin American rhythms, that is Ritmos Latinos. The north of the island sounds Mexican this year, and it is already visible in the stage design and costumes.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife program 2026
The 2026 capital edition started back on January 16 with the inaugural gala (as of 09/2026, El Día chronicle). Then come competitions, gala evenings and street parades, and the main events are collected in the table.
Date | Event |
|---|---|
January 31 | Murgas competition final at Recinto Ferial |
February 11 | Gala evening: selection of the 2026 carnival queen |
February 13 | Opening parade and start of the street carnival |
February 14 | Carnaval de Día, a daytime celebration for families |
February 15 | Continuation of street events in the center |
February 17 | Grand parade Coso Apoteosis del Carnaval |
February 18 | Burial of the sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) |
February 21 | Second Carnaval de Día with music and stages |
February 22 | Official closing of the carnival |
Dates and order of events: Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival program, verified 09/12/2026.
Puerto de la Cruz program 2026
The carnival in Puerto de la Cruz is called international: rhythms, colors and traditions, and in 2026 all of it in Mexican style. The first big evening is the royal gala, then the queen is chosen, the street carnival opens and recorridos take place (as of 09/2026, schedule of events in the north).
Date | Event |
|---|---|
February 6 | Royal gala, grand opening |
February 12 | Gala for choosing the carnival queen |
February 14 | Start of the street carnival |
February 16 | Recorridos and street events |
February 18 | Burial of the sardine |
February 20 | Mascarita ponte tacón, "little mask in heels" |
February 21 | Grand apotheosis of the carnival |
The full schedule with all gala evenings, competitions and dance blocks is in the official program. Check individual dates there as well, because the order of events sometimes changes (verified 09/12/2026 on the Puerto de la Cruz carnival poster).
Practical tips: where to stay and what to keep in mind
Choose the city based on the dates. If you want the main parade and gala evenings, book accommodation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. If you prefer a family-friendly format and the sea nearby, look at Puerto de la Cruz: the festival lasts longer there.
Book accommodation in both cities for the carnival dates in advance. Check hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Trip.com or browse options in Puerto de la Cruz.
Check three things before your trip. First, the official program, because the order of the acts changes. Second, the dates of the summer carnival in Puerto de la Cruz, which have not been officially announced yet. Third, the transport schedule, because the center is closed off during the parades (verified 12.09.2026 on the Tenerife tourist office website).
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When is Carnival in Tenerife in 2026?
The main days run from February 11 to 22, 2026. On the evening of February 11, the Carnival Queen is chosen, on February 17 the big Coso parade takes place, and on February 22 the festival officially closes. The calendar in the capital opened with the inaugural gala on January 16 (as of 09/2026, capital carnival program).
How much does it cost to watch Carnival in Tenerife?
Street parades and daytime Carnaval de Día events take place on the streets, no separate admission is needed. Tickets are required for gala evenings and contests at Recinto Ferial. Gala evening prices change every year, check the official program for current prices.
What is the difference between the carnivals in Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital carnival with a queen, contests, and the Coso parade. Puerto de la Cruz celebrates later and ends the season at the end of February (as of 09/2026, carnival dates in the north of the island).
What is the burial of the sardine?
It is an Ash Wednesday ritual, February 18, 2026: a huge sardine effigy made of rags and papier-mâché is carried through the city, followed by "widows" and mourners. It is celebrated in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, and La Orotava (as of 09/2026, parade chronicle).
When is the summer carnival in Puerto de la Cruz?
Official dates for the summer carnival have not been announced yet. Announcements are published in advance, usually a few weeks before the start. Watch for announcements on the Tenerife tourist office website.
In short: what to book
If you are going for the main spectacle, choose Santa Cruz de Tenerife. If you want a relaxed celebration and the sea nearby, go for Puerto de la Cruz at the end of February (as of 09/2026, Tenerife tourist office).
Short on time? Come for one evening: the Queen selection on February 11 in the capital or the big parade on February 17. If you want to see the whole ritual, plan for Ash Wednesday in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Accommodation for these dates gets booked up quickly, so reserve early: find a hotel in Santa Cruz on Trip.com.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.