Correos continues its series dedicated to POPULAR FESTIVALS in 2026 with a stamp commemorating the carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is one of the oldest festivals, with the most history and character of its own in the capital of Gran Canaria, to which Correos pays tribute on the 50th anniversary of the revival of its celebration. The origins of Carnival date back practically to the founding of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; historical texts refer to masked balls and banquets held during the days of Carnival since its earliest decades. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that more than five centuries of history have witnessed the celebration of masquerades, imposture... and flesh.
Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2023, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has survived and changed throughout history to become the massive, open, and cosmopolitan celebration it is today: the festival with the greatest social and economic impact on the island of Gran Canaria and one of its main tourist attractions.
The stamp, part of the Popular Festivals series, highlights carnival icons: images of queens, drag queens, murgas, comparsas, mascaritas, and popular characters from the history of the capital's carnival appear from inside a magic number its 50 years to celebrate a festival that has managed to adapt to the new demands for leisure, entertainment, and spectacle of a media-driven society while retaining all its popular flavor.
This is recognition for 50 years in which the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has proven itself to be a festival capable of reinventing itself in keeping with the times, incorporating new acts and events that enjoy a large presence on social media and a great showcase on its website, lpacarnaval.com. Thus, beneath the anthem Invitación al Carnaval (Invitation to Carnival) by Sindo Saavedra lies a popular phenomenon that knows nothing but fun in a city of Carnival.
