40 Years Summer Carnival

The exhibition 40 years of Summer Carnival in Kunsthal Rotterdam marks the fortieth anniversary of one of the largest and most exuberant celebrations in the Netherlands. Every year, more than 2,500 dancers, 25 carnival groups and many floats decorate the center of Rotterdam during the street parade and traditionally the elected Queen and - since 2022 - King are presented.

Summer Carnival was first celebrated in the Netherlands in 1982 as the Antillean Carnival in Utrecht. After two years, the Summer Carnival found its home in Rotterdam, where it evolved into a multicultural celebration. Today, groups from twenty-five diverse cultural backgrounds participate in this colorful event. The archive of Summer Carnival Rotterdam forms the starting point for this anniversary exhibition, which is created in collaboration with Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival. The exhibition connects the past and the present and shows the creativity of the community as a driving force behind the event.

Friday Night LIVE x Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival

Every third Friday of the month, the Kunsthal offers a stage to a Rotterdam cultural partner with Friday Night LIVE to organize a vibrant evening program. On Friday, July 19, Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival is in charge. Between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM you can visit the Kunsthal for bites & drinks, music & performances and, above all, a stimulating and inspiring program with a good dose of art.

About Summer Carnival

The organization of Summer Carnival is in the hands of the Summer Carnival Foundation and Bureau Vermaeck under the name Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival and is an event that focuses on bringing different cultures together through carnival expressions, similar to those in the Antilles. The first editions of the event took place in Utrecht in 1982 and 1983, where a number of Antillean carnival associations from Rotterdam, Utrecht and Amsterdam held a parade across the Jaarbeursplein. Summer Carnival has been held in Rotterdam since 1984 and the event has grown into an important part of Rotterdam. Since December 2023, the Rotterdam Summer Carnival has been on the international UNESCO list of intangible heritage. This year the annual Royalty Election will take place on July 6. The Mercado and Street Parade will take place on July 27.