The Edinburgh Festival Carnival took place this year taking a new route after the fire on Princes Street closed the part of the road outside the former Debenhams store.
The Edinburgh Festival Carnival is a vibrant multicultural celebration which uses music, dance and costume and involves local and international artists. Edinburgh is a city which celebrates its diversity and the people who have come to live here.
The 2026 parade took a new route using a different part of Princes Street. There were thousands of people lining The streets on the Mound and on Princes Street.
A fire on Princes Street on 9 July has left the building unsafe, and no pedestrians or vehicles can travel along it between South Charlotte Street and Frederick Street. The street is expected to remain closed until August.
Trams are currently only able to operate between the Airport and Shandwick Place but all options are being explored to re-establish operations along the full route as soon as possible.
Council officers are working with Voi Bikes who provide the city hire bikes to provide additional capacity, particularly in and around Leith, and will be expanding the fleet from 800 to 1000 bikes by the end of the week. Additional bike parking infrastructure is being arranged in the city centre to accommodate those travelling into the city from Leith and Newhaven.
A dedicated page on the Council website has been set up to provide up-to-date information and guidance, with relevant links to partner sites and a Q&A. This will be updated regularly as and when new information becomes available.
The list of participants was:
- Achu’s Rhythmic Souls
Alba Cuba dance
Alma Latina Dance Project
Baila Venezuela
Bombrando
Bora Brasil
Caporales Centralistas San Miguel
Clan Colombia
Clan Macondo
Colombia Dance, El Encanto
Conga Caledonia
Dance Ihayami
Dominican Republic Association of Scotland
Drummond Salsa Club
Ecuatorianos en Edinburgh
Edinburgh Belly Dancers
El Salvador
GDFL Brassband
Goodtrees
Neighbourhood Centre
Grupo de danza
Jaiva
Las Heroinas
Latin Dance Inclusive
Latino Dance Project
Mextli
Moko Somõkõw Carnival Band
Nepal Scotland
Nikkan Dance Academy
Otra
Passion4Fussion
Preston Caribbean Carnival
Project X
Pulse of the Place
Quisqueya La Bella
Rumba by Lu
Scottish Association of Marathi Regional Arts and Tradition
Scottish Indian Arts Forum
SK Dance UK
Soles del Peru
Street Mash
Sunshine Arts International
Talentos Dance School
Tartan Rhythms
Tazumal Dance
The Edinburgh Samba School
Tinkus Puros Miskis
Touch of Love
Usnis
WHALE Arts
Zarif At Toul-As Samer Palestinian Dabke Troupe
