Huddersfield Carnival cancelled in 40th year due to lack of funding

Organisers say any money for this year;s carnival would go towards the event in 2025

Huddersfield Carnival will not be returning to mark its 40th anniversary year due to a lack of funding.

The event, which celebrates Caribbean culture, made a comeback in 2023 after a five year absence, with thousands of people watching the parade.

However, organisers said it had failed to attract sufficient funds to enable it to go ahead this year.

They said Kirklees Council had been unable to offer any support due to financial pressures.

Organisers said they were dependent on grants and sponsorships to make the event a reality, but had only received the backing of one organisation this year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In a statement on social media, the Huddersfield African Caribbean Cultural Trust and its subgroup Huddersfield Carnival Management Committee said the team were "so proud of the hugely successful event in 2023" but that 2024 had been "significantly challenging".

They said "As communicated to you all, there has been no support from the council given the current financial pressures. Despite our best efforts contacting many local and national companies and businesses, we only secured funds from one local organisation."

The carnival parade takes place in the town's Greenhead Park

The groups said they were unable to make a profitable income from last year's carnival "due to restrictions on the Arts Council England funding received".

The statement continued: "Monies made from the bar and fairground went to the council as reimbursement towards their financial support.

"We have reached out to the community through social media, via WhatsApp, posters and radio, however, our fundraiser has not garnered the support we needed.

"Sadly, without the financial support of the Huddersfield and wider carnival community, we have been unable to raise the funds needed."

Organiser said they were going to take a "much-needed but very short break" before starting to plan for the 2025 carnival and any funds donated would go towards that.