Santa Cruz Unveils "Best Ever" Carnival Stage for 2026

The Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, and the Councillor for Fiestas, Javier Caraballero, recently visited the main stage being set up for the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026. This stage, located at the Tenerife Fairgrounds, will host various competitions and galas, starting next Friday with the Children's Murgas competition.

Designed by set designer Sergio Macías, the stage is inspired by Latin rhythms. It's imagined as a big city square where Caribbean, South American, and Canary Islands cultures meet. The design mixes old colonial architecture with a modern, street-style feel. It features large structures, vibrant colors, and a strong festive theme, aiming to make performers, groups, and the audience feel fully immersed in the celebration.

Mayor Bermúdez expressed his satisfaction with the stage. "We are very happy with this stage, which will be the heart of our carnival – for the groups, the queen elections, and the galas – right from the first competition," he said. "It perfectly matches what we expected when we first saw the plans. It looks exactly as Sergio and his team described, with all the shapes and textures as promised."

The Mayor described it as "clearly a Latin village in Santa Cruz," featuring colonial-style elements like a grand square and impressive doors. He also noted its modern touches, including six LED screens. The stage is huge, measuring 74 meters wide and covering 1,450 square meters. Bermúdez emphasized that while the performances are key, they need a strong setting.

He added that this stage is "possibly the best stage we've had since I became mayor, in terms of what we wanted." He praised how well the large structures blend with the screens, which are important for broadcasts and for the audience. He confirmed that the venue's capacity remains the same as last year.

Finally, Mayor Bermúdez congratulated Sergio Macías, his team, and the construction companies. He also praised Councillor Caraballero and the Fiestas team for their excellent work and innovation this year. He believes the stage, with its balanced use of technology and design, gives people what they want.

The design breaks away from traditional stage layouts to create a lively and engaging environment. Urban details like balconies, lampposts, graffiti, flags, and colorful buildings add visual energy and depth. Technology is a key part of the design, with LED screens integrated into the artistic look to boost the visual impact during shows.

New features this year include a fully decorated area for the jury and an extended set design that goes beyond the main stage. A platform in the middle of the audience will make the shows more dynamic, and a rotating element will extend further into the audience for greater interaction.

Javier Caraballero, Councillor for Fiestas, remarked, "I don't think we've had a stage like this in the 30 years we've been using these Fairgrounds." He highlighted its artistic detail and encouraged people to visit the Fairgrounds multiple times to enjoy the different competitions, as they will discover new details each day.

Caraballero confirmed that the Fairgrounds will hold nearly 7,000 people. He concluded by congratulating Sergio Macías and his team and inviting everyone to buy tickets for the shows, which go on sale this Wednesday and Thursday.

Sergio Macías explained that working indoors was a benefit given the weather, but it also brought construction and size challenges. He called the stage a "giant puzzle" of nearly 300 pieces, requiring precise coordination for timely assembly.

Macías said the biggest challenge was combining so many different "cities" and styles into one compact space. The design starts with a colonial square but incorporates elements from nearly ten cities, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Bringing these together logically and harmoniously, without clashing colors or styles, was complex. He also mentioned the impressive main entrance, a large gate resembling a small palace, from which the carnival queens will emerge.

Macías confirmed that only minor adjustments were made, mostly to measurements or some paintwork. He stated that if compared to the original plans, the stage looks exactly as designed, with only slight artistic changes by the teams and some color variations.

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 stage covers 1,450 square meters and reaches a maximum height of 13.5 meters. It is 73 meters wide at the front, with a distance of 27.5 meters from the central door to the stage opening, fitting the Fairgrounds' ceiling. Performers will access the stage via four ramps, each nine meters wide.

The stage design includes 175 square meters of LED screens placed strategically to enhance the visual show and aid television broadcasts. The entire setup is designed to highlight the queen candidates' parades and the performances of various Carnival groups, creating a flexible and lively space that fully integrates into the festive experience.