Our Carnival Our Story

Hackney Mas Bands present Our Carnival Our Story
Dates: Friday 12th & Saturday 13th December 2025
Venue: Chats Palace, Hackney

Tickets: no tickets required for Friday and Saturday daytime. Please book free tickets in advance (below) for Friday and Saturday evenings.

Global Carnivalz, on behalf of 17 Hackney Carnival stakeholder 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 *no tickets required
• Friday evening showcase (12th Dec 6:45pm-11pm): performances in costume, dance, steelpan, and Mas by Hackney’s Carnival groups *advance tickets required
• Saturday daytime (13th Dec 10am-4pm): workshops, “Let’s Talk Carnival” symposium, and open access activities *no tickets required
• Saturday night (13th Dec 6:30pm-12:00am): Carnival DJs and Samba performances recreating the road experience indoors *advance tickets required

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

Additional contributions include static Carnival displays and exhibitions presented by the groups, together with photography by Sean Pollock and Pax Nindi, plus archive images provided by Chats Palace.