The Arrecife City Council has decided to move the 2026 Carnival galas and contests to the old Fairgrounds due to administrative and legal problems that have prevented the planned programming from being held at the Agramar venue. This was announced by the deputy mayor and councilor for Festivals in a letter addressed to the carnival-goers of the capital of Lanzarote.
According to the councilor, **the collapse of the framework contract** that covered the scenario, along with the impossibility of processing a new one within the available deadlines and the administrative overload of the City Council due to the Prosecutor's Office's requirements, have forced a decision that was "undesired" but necessary to prevent the Arrecife Carnival 2026 from being suspended.
Full Letter:
Dear Carnival-goers of Arrecife,
I want to address you directly and sincerely to apologize for a decision that I know is not what anyone wanted, neither you nor I, but that this year we have been forced to make.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Arrecife Carnival 2026 will have to move its galas and contests to the old Fairgrounds. This is not a comfortable or desired decision. The collapse of the framework contract that covered the stage, coupled with the legal impossibility of processing a new one within the available deadlines —considering that the Carnival begins on February 6 and that the setup requires at least 15 days— has placed us in an exceptional situation.
To this scenario, a complex administrative situation at City Hall has been added, with various information requests from the Prosecutor's Office that have meant a very significant, unforeseen, and urgent workload for municipal employees. This extraordinary burden has necessitated reviewing files, addressing unavoidable priorities, and has directly impacted the Carnival's planning.
I want to make it clear that until yesterday we have been working intensely on finding alternative formulas that would allow the galas and contests to be held at the Agramar venue, always within the law. During this time, both options have been worked on in parallel, exploring all possible avenues, but ultimately none of these alternatives have proven viable from a legal and administrative standpoint.
For several weeks, the celebration of Carnival was in serious jeopardy. These have been days of great concern, intense work, and difficult decision-making. Finally, and after evaluating all possible options, returning to the old Fairgrounds has been the only real way to save Carnival this year.
I am fully aware that this is not the space you want. Nor is it the one I wanted. Improving the Arrecife Carnival has been a personal commitment from day one, convinced that our city, as the third capital of the Canary Islands, deserves a Carnival worthy of its people, its groups, and its history. Precisely because of that commitment, today we must be responsible, even if it means taking this small step back.
That said, I want to send you a clear message: **we are already working to make the change of venue as unnoticeable as possible.** We will take care of every detail, putting in all the care and all the human, technical, and economic resources necessary so that the venue looks good, functions well, and allows each group to shine and show the enormous work they have been preparing for months. The programming will be top-notch, because Arrecife and its Carnival deserve it.
I want to thank you for your patience, understanding, and the constructive attitude you have always shown. I have tried to maintain constant contact, listen to you, and count on you in decision-making. That is why we promoted the Carnival forums and that is why I firmly believe in dialogue and joint work. Much progress has been made in the last two years, and that path is not lost due to a specific difficulty
Today I ask for your support and collaboration. It is not the ideal venue, but it is the only possible option for the Arrecife Carnival 2026 to be held. Governing also means knowing how far you can go without putting the institution at risk, and from that responsibility, continue defending the Carnival with work, dialogue, and commitment.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you contribute to this festival, which is a hallmark of our city's identity. We move forward, together, to celebrate the best possible Carnival
A big hug