A Look Back At Barking Carnival 2026

🎉🌈 11 July 2026 Barking and Dagenham Carnival 2026 🌈🎉

One community. One celebration. A whole day of colour, culture, creativity, music and joy! ❤️💛💚💙

On Saturday 11 July 2026, Barking Park came alive as residents, families, performers, artists, community groups and visitors from across Barking and Dagenham came together for a spectacular celebration of Carnival, culture and community.

The 2026 Theme: Birds Of Paradise 🦜🌺 celebrated colour, movement and self-expression, bringing together Carnival traditions, creativity, cultural pride and our connection with the natural world. Through costume, music, dance, visual arts and performance, people of all ages were encouraged to explore their creativity and discover connections between creativity, wellbeing and environmental awareness.

Rooted in Caribbean Carnival traditions, Barking and Dagenham Carnival celebrates the many cultural influences that shape our borough, including Caribbean, African, European and British heritage. At the heart of the Carnival are people and participation. It creates opportunities for residents, artists, performers, community groups, volunteers and emerging talent to take part, learn, create, perform and share their creativity with the wider community.

The 2026 celebration was the culmination of months of activity involving schools, community organisations, Carnival performers, mask makers, creative practitioners, volunteers, families, young people and older residents. From creative workshops and costume making to cultural activities, music, dance and community engagement, the journey to Carnival Day brought people together, developed creativity and built the excitement that filled Barking Park.

In this blog post, UKON Careers takes us through the journey towards the Barking and Dagenham Carnival, sharing highlights, updates and videos from the range of creative sessions and activities delivered as part of the Carnival Arts Project.

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Marsh Green Primary School Dance Project Continues to Inspire Young People – 16 May 2026

In May we held the fourth dance session at Marsh Green Primary School as pupils continued preparing for their performances at the Barking and Dagenham Carnival and the school’s Annual Awards and Performance Ceremony in July.

Over the past four weeks, the children have demonstrated remarkable progress, developing their confidence, creativity and performance skills with every session. Today’s workshop highlighted just how far they have come, with pupils showing excellent focus, enthusiasm and teamwork as they continued refining their routines.

The project is providing valuable opportunities for young people to express themselves through dance while building confidence, communication skills and resilience in a supportive and engaging environment. It has been encouraging to see the children’s commitment and enjoyment grow each week as they prepare for their upcoming performances.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Red Fox from BDYD for delivering another inspiring session and to the staff at Marsh Green Primary School for their continued support and commitment to the project.

This programme has been made possible through funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England. Their support enables UKON Careers and its partners to provide meaningful creative opportunities that enrich the lives of young people and encourage personal development through the arts.

With the Barking and Dagenham Carnival and the Annual Awards and Performance Ceremony fast approaching, we look forward to celebrating the children’s achievements and seeing the results of their hard work on stage.

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Senior Citizens Creative Session at Rosa Nosa Foundation – 15 June 2026

UKON delivered a highly successful creative arts session with senior citizens at Rosa Nosa Foundation as part of preparations for the upcoming Barking and Dagenham Carnival.

Participants worked together to design and create their own carnival sashes. The session focused on supporting creative expression, developing confidence and encouraging peer support through collaborative making. Participants selected their own materials, cut fabrics and assembled their designs with guidance from facilitators and support from one another.

These handcrafted sashes will be worn with pride as the group opens this year’s carnival alongside their steel band performance. The activity formed an important part of their creative journey and celebration of community participation.

Although some participants were initially hesitant about engaging in the design process, they quickly became more confident and fully involved once the session progressed. Staff observed a clear shift from uncertainty to enjoyment, with many participants demonstrating creativity, focus and enthusiasm as their ideas developed.

Participant feedback reflected the positive experience of the session:

• Really enjoyed today
• Good morning doing art
• Today was fun for everyone; we made our sashes for carnival, which will be a happy day
• I really enjoyed the session. I have not drawn for a very long time. Thank you

UKON would like to extend sincere thanks to the National Lottery through Arts Council England for their continued support, which makes this work possible. We are also extremely grateful to the staff at Rosa Nosa Foundation for their ongoing partnership, collaboration and support in delivering high-quality community-based creative activity.

This session highlighted the importance of creative engagement in promoting wellbeing, social connection and intergenerational participation within the community.

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Carnival Flags Workshop Encourages Creativity, Confidence and Community Engagement – 18 June 2026

An engaging Carnival Flags Workshop at John Smith House provided participants with the opportunity to explore creativity while developing valuable personal, social, and employability skills.

Inspired by the rich traditions of Carnival, the workshop encouraged participants to learn about the cultural significance of flags as symbols of identity, storytelling, heritage, and pride. Participants were invited to create a flag that reflected their own experiences, aspirations, interests, and personal identity, demonstrating that a flag can represent far more than nationality. It can celebrate individuality, resilience, achievements, hopes for the future, and the things that matter most to each person.

While the workshop focused on creative expression, it also supported a range of wider outcomes that align with UKON Careers’ commitment to improving wellbeing, building confidence, and supporting personal development. Throughout the session, participants strengthened a variety of transferable skills, including communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, resilience, and self-confidence. These are all essential skills that support progression into education, employment, volunteering, and wider community participation.

The workshop also provided a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where participants were encouraged to express themselves freely, connect with others, and take time to focus on their wellbeing through creativity.

Participant feedback highlighted the positive impact of the session:

“It was very relaxing for my mind.”

“It provided me with a space to relax by taking time out to do some art, which really relaxed my mind.”

“It helped me to be more social.”

“I loved exploring my creative side. It has brought out my fun side.”

These reflections demonstrate the important role that creative engagement can play in supporting emotional wellbeing, reducing social isolation, and encouraging positive participation within the community.

We are delighted that the flags created during the workshop will be proudly displayed at this year’s Barking and Dagenham Carnival, providing participants with the opportunity to see their work celebrated as part of one of the borough’s largest community events. Showcasing their creations not only recognises their achievements but also reinforces a sense of belonging, pride, and community ownership.

UKON Careers remains committed to delivering creative and inclusive programmes that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and develop the confidence and skills needed to thrive. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the workshop and our partners for their continued support in making opportunities such as these possible.

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Carnival Costume Mentoring Programme Continues to Inspire Creativity, Confidence and Community – 18 June 2026

Over the past two months, participants have worked alongside experienced carnival artists and mentors to develop their costume making skills while building confidence, resilience and creativity in a welcoming and supportive environment. This week marked an exciting milestone as participants completed the construction stage of their carnival costume pieces and began the process of decorating their designs, bringing their creative visions to life.

Throughout the programme, participants have demonstrated exceptional focus, commitment and determination. Every session has provided opportunities to develop practical creative skills while strengthening transferable skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving, decision making and self confidence. These skills are essential for personal development, employability and active participation within the community.

A key strength of the programme has been its intergenerational approach. Adult participants have naturally taken on mentoring roles, supporting and encouraging younger creatives throughout the sessions. At the same time, children attending the crèche have been inspired to explore their own creativity alongside the group, creating a positive and inclusive environment where learning, encouragement and shared achievement have flourished.

Participant feedback continues to demonstrate the wider impact of the programme beyond the development of carnival arts skills.

One participant shared:

“This project has helped me gain more focus and calmness, even whilst under pressure. I am enjoying the process and love how the adults positively encourage and help the young children.”

Another participant commented:

“It has helped build my confidence and allowed me to express myself creatively. I love everything about Carnival.”

Others reflected on how the programme has supported their personal development, with one participant stating:

“It has helped me have more confidence in myself and my decision making.”

Another added:

“I am smiling all the time and feel motivated and inspired to create.”

These reflections demonstrate how creative participation can improve wellbeing, increase confidence, encourage self expression and strengthen social connections. The programme has created a safe and inclusive space where participants feel empowered to learn new skills, support one another and develop a genuine sense of belonging.

As the project progresses towards completion, participants are looking forward to showcasing their finished carnival costume pieces as part of this year’s Barking and Dagenham Carnival. Seeing their work celebrated within one of the borough’s largest community events will provide a lasting sense of pride and achievement while highlighting the value of community led creative engagement.

UKON Careers would like to thank all participants, mentors, volunteers and the team at Barking Learning Centre for their continued support and commitment to the programme.

This project has been made possible through public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Their support enables UKON Careers to deliver creative programmes that strengthen communities, improve wellbeing, develop employability skills and create opportunities for people of all ages to thrive through arts and culture.

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Marsh Green Primary School Pupils Prepare to Take Centre Stage – 23 June 2026

Pupils at Marsh Green Primary School are entering the final stages of their creative journey as they prepare to perform at the Barking and Dagenham Carnival and their Annual Awards and Performance Ceremony this July. This week marked the sixth dance session, bringing together movement, creativity and carnival traditions in an inspiring celebration of culture, confidence and self expression.

Building on the previous week’s creative workshop, the children incorporated the bandanas they had designed into their dance session while exploring their significance within carnival culture. Through this process they have not only developed their artistic skills but have also gained a deeper understanding of the traditions, identity and community spirit that are at the heart of carnival.

Each weekly session has encouraged the children to express themselves creatively, work collaboratively and build confidence in preparation for performing in front of live audiences. Their enthusiasm, imagination and commitment have been evident throughout the programme, creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every child has had the opportunity to shine.

The excitement is now building as the pupils look ahead to their Annual Awards and Performance Ceremony next week, followed by their participation in the Barking and Dagenham Carnival. These performances will provide a wonderful opportunity for the children to celebrate their achievements with families, friends and the wider community while showcasing the creativity and talent they have developed over the course of the project.

UKON would like to extend its sincere thanks to Red Fox from BDYD for delivering another engaging and inspiring dance session and to the staff and leadership team at Marsh Green Primary School for their continued partnership, enthusiasm and commitment to providing meaningful creative opportunities for their pupils.

Projects such as this demonstrate the transformative power of arts and culture to inspire young people, nurture confidence, encourage self expression and strengthen community connections. By embedding creativity within the school environment and celebrating the rich traditions of carnival, the project is enabling children to develop new skills, broaden their cultural understanding and create lasting memories through shared artistic experiences.

This project is proudly supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Their investment continues to make high quality arts and cultural experiences accessible to children and young people, ensuring that creativity remains at the heart of learning, participation and community engagement.

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Dance and Movement Session with Rosa Nosa Foundation – June 2026

We recently delivered a joyful and engaging dance and movement session with our senior participants from the Rosa Nosa Foundation as part of our ongoing creative programme in preparation for the Barking and Dagenham Carnival.

The session was filled with energy, excitement and connection, with participants actively engaging in movement, creativity and shared expression. It was inspiring to see such enthusiasm and joy throughout the group, highlighting the positive impact that arts and movement can have on wellbeing and community connection.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Red Fox through our partnership with BDYD for their support in helping to make this work possible.

This project is funded using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

These sessions form an important part of our wider commitment to inclusive community engagement and creative participation across Barking and Dagenham, as we work towards delivering a vibrant and accessible carnival for all.

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Traditional and Contemporary Carnival Exhibitions at Dagenham Library and Barking Learning Centre – July 2026

UKON, in collaboration with We Mas, presented two complementary carnival exhibitions this year, one at Dagenham Library and one at Barking Learning Centre. Together, the exhibitions explored the breadth of carnival as an art form, from its visual and contemporary expression to its historical, cultural and educational significance.

The exhibition at Dagenham Library focused on Contemporary Mas, showcasing the vibrant and elaborate carnival costumes that many audiences are most familiar with. The exhibition at Barking Learning Centre offered a broader exploration of carnival, bringing together Traditional Mas, Contemporary Mas and the creative outcomes of the Children’s Carnival Programme at Marsh Green Primary School.

A key focus of the Barking exhibition was Traditional Mas. Traditional Mas is distinct from Contemporary Mas and represents an important, yet increasingly less understood, part of carnival culture. It is an art form rooted in storytelling, history, character, symbolism and cultural expression. By presenting Traditional Mas alongside Contemporary Mas, the exhibition provided audiences with an opportunity to explore how carnival has developed over time, whilst recognising the traditions and histories that continue to shape it.

The Barking exhibition also explored the historical figure of Mansa Musa, creating an opportunity to use carnival as a starting point for wider conversations about history, identity, power, wealth and representation. This demonstrated the ability of carnival to move beyond celebration and spectacle and become a powerful tool for learning, questioning and debate.

At its heart, the exhibition asked audiences to consider what carnival can communicate and what questions it can raise. Carnival has the ability to bring history into the present, challenge established ideas and encourage people to look at familiar subjects from different perspectives. Through the story of Mansa Musa, alongside Traditional Mas, Contemporary Mas and the work of young people, the exhibition demonstrated how carnival can create meaningful connections between history, culture, education and contemporary life.

The two exhibitions therefore presented carnival not simply as a celebration, but as a dynamic and evolving art form that can educate, preserve cultural knowledge, inspire creativity and encourage challenging conversations. UKON’s work at Dagenham Library and Barking Learning Centre demonstrated the breadth of carnival and its continued ability to engage audiences, connect generations and create space for important dialogue about both the past and the world we live in today.

Feedback on the Exhibition:

“Absolutely brilliant & insightful to see & learn such a treasure. Thanks for sharing.”

“Interesting, knowledgeable presentation. Thank you for showcasing our history to the world. Rest in peace to our ancestors, Mansa Musa, Nefertiti and others. Keep our history alive.”

“The Exhibition was mind-blowing. So much hidden knowledge about the value of Africa. I am definitely going to attend the carnival to learn more.”