Rotterdam’s Zomercarnaval returns for its 42nd edition on July 24 and 25, 2026, featuring a street parade, a competitive Battle of the Drums, and a festival market on the Coolsingel. The city expects over 2,500 dancers and 25 carnavalsgroepen to participate in the celebration.
Royalty and the Return of the Street Parade
The spirit of the 2026 edition was set into motion a month ago at Theater Zuidplein, where Mireyna Richardson and Shayron Tremus were crowned Queen and King Zomercarnaval. As the faces of this year’s festivities, the pair will lead the street parade on Saturday, July 25. The event, which has been on the map for 42 years, is designed as a celebration of diversity.
Battle of the Drums: Competition on the Coolsingel
The festivities kick off on Friday, July 24, with the Battle of the Drums. Between 17:00 and 21:30, three brass bands—Rhythm Allstars Brassband, S.L.R BrassBand, and LatinMusicBrassband—will march along three distinct routes through the city center. Each group will converge on the Coolsingel for a final performance, where they are allotted 20 minutes to showcase their talent and vie for the title. The winner of this musical showdown is scheduled to be announced at the end of the evening.
Festival Market and Cultural Programming
On Saturday, the focus shifts to the Mercado festival market on the Coolsingel, opening at 12:00. The market serves as a central hub for food and culture, featuring a variety of international cuisines including Surinaams, Hindoestaans-Chinees, and Antilliaans offerings. In addition to food vendors, the market will host stalls selling clothing, merchandising, and various goods. For those looking for more active participation, organizers have scheduled dance workshops throughout the day, allowing attendees to burn off energy before the festival concludes at 20:30.
Broadcast and Viewing Options
For those unable to attend the events in person, coverage of the festival is available through national broadcasters. Highlights of the Zomercarnaval will be aired on NPO 1 on July 25 from 19:30 to 20:30, with presenters Evita Mac-Nack and Larisa da Veiga providing live reporting from the parade and the Battle of the Drums. Viewers can stream the program via services like NPO Start.
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