Cabalgata Maspalomas: 350,000 celebrate the biggest carnival parade in the Canaries — despite storm delay

Southern Gran Canaria delivered. A week after Storm Therese prevented the biggest carnival parade in the Canaries, 108 floats rolled through Avenida de Italia, Avenida de Gran Canaria and Avenida 8 de Marzo to the Maspalomas Lighthouse on Saturday afternoon. An estimated 350,000 people lined the route — families, tourists, carnival-goers in circus costumes.

Fewer floats, same magic

Originally 115 floats were registered, but ten pulled out after the postponement. The remaining 108 made up for it with creativity: acrobat wagons, clown rafts, a walk-through lion cage made of papier-mache. The El Circo theme was visible everywhere — from participants' costumes to the decorations on the chiringuitos.

Record-level security operation

First Deputy Mayor Alejandro Marichal had announced a security operation matching the scale of the event. Reinforced police presence, paramedics at every section of the route, special transport from Avenida de Tirajana. The event passed without major incident.

TV broadcast and mogollones

TV Canaria and RTVE broadcast the first hours of the Cabalgata live — unprecedented at this scale for Maspalomas. After the parade, the mogollones took over at the Yumbo: Rafael Caso, Brian de la Cruz, Star Music, Toni Bob and Leyenda Joven on the main stage, DJ sets in the chiringuito zone into the early hours.

Today: Entierro de la Sardina — carnival finale

On Sunday the Entierro de la Sardina at 7pm closes the 2026 carnival. A Juan Luis Guerra tribute concert follows at 9pm. This ends a carnival shaped by Storm Therese, crowned by Drag Avalon and celebrated by 350,000 Cabalgata spectators.