Reflection • Sustainability • Legacy • Vision
Carnival in Leeds has been part of the City’s cultural landscape for 59 years and worldwide, Carnival continues to evolve.
Hosted by RJC Dance in partnership with Mango Arts and Global Carnivalz, Taking Stock 2026: Carnival Futures Symposium brings together Carnival artists, practitioners, academics, community leaders, young people, cultural organisations and international Carnival networks to reflect on the past, explore the present and shape the future of Carnival Arts.
Building on the collaborative RJC Dance & Mango Arts Sustainable Trilogy programme (2023–2025), the event will celebrate its achievements and learning while examining the wider contribution of Carnival Arts to cultural sustainability, artistic innovation, heritage and community futures.
Through panel discussions with local and international speakers, live performance and intergenerational voices, the symposium will explore Sustainable Carnival Arts Practice, including sustainable costume and production techniques, global environmental responsibility, cross-sector ethical practice, long term funding strategies, legacy and leadership and preservation of heritage and culture.
Hosted by Pax Nindi FRSA, founder of Global Carnivalz and Junkanew, the symposium will create a space for reflection, dialogue, knowledge exchange and collective visioning, positioning Carnival as a living archive, creative practice and essential cultural ecosystem.
