This year’s Notting Hill Carnival drew close to one million visitors over the bank holiday weekend, filling west London with music, colour, and culture. The Metropolitan Police confirmed 423 arrests and two non-life-threatening stabbings, though they noted there were “far fewer incidents of serious violence” than in recent years. Sunday featured the family-friendly Children’s Day Parade, while Monday brought the event to its peak with elaborate floats and booming sound systems. Crowds gathered in their thousands, many in feathered headdresses, sequins, and national flags, to watch dancers and performers parade through the streets.

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Despite a strong police presence, Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said officers had successfully reduced violence: "This year we have proactively targeted those who have attempted to come to carnival to cause harm to others. We have used live facial recognition, knife arches and our stop and search powers to identify and arrest more than 400 suspects. These arrests have prevented some of the serious violence we have seen at previous carnivals." He thanked organisers for reinforcing that Carnival stands for joy and community, not confrontation, adding: "All of this joint effort has helped to make this year's carnival a safer event for all."

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Police records show 200 arrests were made on Sunday and 223 on Monday. Of the total, 52 came through Live Facial Recognition technology, which uses drones to identify individuals from up to 80 metres away. Arrests included 32 for assaults on police, 46 for carrying weapons, 70 for cannabis possession, 32 for Class A drugs, 44 for drug supply, 18 for sexual offences, and 5 for robbery. Two stabbings took place, in Powis Terrace and Oxford Gardens, but neither caused life-threatening injuries.

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The British Transport Police also confirmed 30 arrests across the two days and praised the weekend’s largely positive atmosphere. Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan said: “The vast majority of people came together to enjoy the celebration and I am pleased to say the weekend passed without any serious incidents on the railway network.” Around 7,000 officers were deployed across the capital for the event. Last year’s Carnival was overshadowed by tragedy, when Cher Maximen, 32, was fatally stabbed in front of her young daughter, and chef Mussie Imnetu, 41, later died after being attacked nearby. Both of their killers were jailed this year.

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A Carnival spokesperson said: "The rise in arrests at Notting Hill Carnival 2025 was the result of a successful, proactive police operation. We worked with the Metropolitan Police to free them up to concentrate on crime prevention, by taking more of the crowd management responsibility. Arrests still represent a vanishingly small number of those who attended a fantastic event. This community put on a spectacle revered the world over and attended by up to two million people who enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and smells for themselves. Carnival generates incredible community and joy, which we cannot put a price on."

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Performers across the weekend included Caribbean groups such as Bajan Raw Licquer, Mahogany, Mas Africa, Vincy Alliance, and United Kreyol, along with Brazilian acts like Paraiso Samba School and Batala. The festivities began at dawn on Sunday with J’Ouvert, where crowds covered each other in paint, powder, and chocolate before the parades, which featured steel bands, brass, flutes, and giant winged costumes. Festival chairman Ian Comfort told attendees he was relieved the Carnival went ahead after funding struggles earlier this year put its future at risk. Emergency support from Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster City Council, and the Greater London Authority allowed organisers to meet safety recommendations after government funding was refused.

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Each afternoon, the crowds observed a 72-second silence to remember those lost in the Grenfell Tower fire and others who have died at past Carnivals. Meanwhile, Kensington and Chelsea Council reported clearing 150 tonnes of rubbish after the first day, with the clean-up expected to reach 300 tonnes by the end of the weekend. Teams of 180 staff and 45 vehicles worked overnight to return the streets to normal by Tuesday morning.

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