Counting to Barnstaple Carnival 2026 – everything you need to know

With less than two weeks to go to Barnstaple Carnival organisers are busy putting together the finishing touches and urging as many people as possible in the town to get involved.

The historic carnival and parade will take place on Saturday, September 19 and as ever is part of Fair Week, with the opening of Barnstaple Fair on Wednesday, September 16.

Organisers are keen to hear from anyone who would like to enter the carnival parade, with entry forms available on the Barnstaple Carnival website.

Volunteers are also very welcome if anyone can spare a couple of hours on carnival day to help set up and to act as marshals around the town during the parade.

The Saturday will see Carnival Village on the Strand and the Square open at 2pm with entertainment for all ages on The Mosaic Stage happening throughout the afternoon.

The Devon Army Cadet Corps of Drums will perform on The Square at 3pm as part of their second visit to Barnstaple and the band will also lead the parade, which is due to leave the Square at 6pm.

This will follow the crowning of Barnstaple Carnival royalty at 5.30pm and the results of this year’s winners will be announced at 5.45pm. This year’s royalty are Abigail Williams, Molly-Rose Browning and Gracie Roper.

The parade route will see it will the Square at 6pm, proceed up Belle Meadow Road, turning left into Queen Street and proceeding to the junction with Boutport Street and turning right, passing the Queen’s Theatre, where the final part of the ‘Performance Class’ will be judged.

The procession will then move down towards Mermaid Walk and onto North Walk where the parade will end at the old Barnstaple Town Station.

There will be entertainment on the Strand from 6.30pm to welcome the parade ‘home’ with the Supreme Champion and Performance Class Cups awarded just before a crowd-pleasing fireworks finale scheduled for 8pm, which this year will be fired by former British Fireworks Championship winners Sonic Fireworks from Willand.

Parade marshal Kev Behan urged the community to be a part of it and added: “Onlookers are encouraged to make the most of the space along the route as the Square can get quite congested and we’ve found in the past that people don’t get the best view of the entries as they feed into the procession.

“We would still welcome some more entries to the 2026 parade as well and it doesn’t have to be an elaborate 40 foot arctic - a tractor and trailer, pick up truck, car and trailer, mobility scooters, bikes and wheelbarrows and of course those on foot, we look forward to welcoming them all.”

Scott Cleverdon, carnival business manager also urged local companies to take part. He said: “For a fairly minimal outlay, businesses in the town can take full advantage of the focussed audience on the day to advertise what they offer to the community. It doesn’t matter what your business is, everyone can do with a few more customers these days.

“It’s a great showcase and who knows what lucrative returns may result?”

For more information, to find out how to enter Barnstaple Carnival, volunteer or sponsor, please go to https://www.barnstaplecarnival.org.uk/