New Carnival is a pioneering arts organisation on the Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Dark Skies Festival

New Carnival

Our Vision: Affect positive change for the future.

A happy, enriched, bold, creative community.
People together.

Our Mission: Engage communities through celebratory
outdoor arts.

Creating exciting, vibrant art projects which are inspired by the natural environment, heritage and the world we live in. Cultivating a sense of pride, place and belonging.

About Us

We are based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, an island with a quirky carnival tradition dating back to 1887. New Carnival is a small not for profit company with global ambition and reach.

We deliver vibrant, exciting, and inventive carnival-based art projects inspired by the natural environment, heritage, and the world we live in. We showcase creative expression, cultivating a sense of pride, place and belonging.

New Carnival was formed in 2011 with the aim of providing excellence in learning and raising the aspirations of adults and children through carnival and celebratory arts. This continues to this day; our vision is to spark creative possibility, enrich communities and
enhance lives.

We aim to make a positive statement through innovative, dynamic, and sustainable carnival arts events.

What We Do and Why?

We work closely within our local community providing opportunities to learn creative skills, build confidence, foster wellbeing, and to present work publicly.

We work with our community, likeminded arts organisations and freelancers, the national and international carnival sector, promoting the artform, championing the artists and collectively addressing environmental responsibility.

We are proud to be part of Arts Council England’s National portfolio.

News, Press Releases OUR WORLD – its OUR FUTURE! IW Mardi Gras theme launched this week!

The New Carnival Company’s annual Mardi Gras parade is back on the streets after two years of absence due to the pandemic. It will take place in Ryde on Saturday [...]

27 Jan 2022 Full article

News, Press Releases Join the Biosphere Island Mardi Gras celebration

On Saturday June 29 from 3pm, more than 1000 participants will take to the streets of Ryde for New Carnival Company’s (NCC) spectacular IW Mardi Gras. The local Biosphere Island [...]

25 Jun 2019 Full article