Head to Quay Arts and step inside the world of carnival and discover the creativity behind New Carnival’s annual IW Mardi Gras, a children and young people–focused parade that takes place each July in Ryde.
Rooted in environmental responsibility and collective creativity, the parade is a joyful celebration of community, imagination and making together.
Rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of IW Mardi Gras
This exhibition offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of IW Mardi Gras, giving visitors the chance to see costumes and giant puppets up close and to learn about the craft, design, research and teamwork involved in bringing the parade to life.
From initial ideas to final performances, it reveals how carnival becomes a powerful learning journey for young people and communities across the Island.
‘Folktastic Isle’
The exhibition explores New Carnival’s current two-year theme, ‘Folktastic Isle’.
The 2025 parade, The Wheel of the Year, celebrated the Isle of Wight’s rich seasonal traditions and cycles of nature. Highlights from the six-month creative learning journey will be on display, featuring work created by over 25 schools and community groups, alongside contributions from New Carnival’s Creative Volunteers including several spectacular giant puppets.
Looking ahead to 2026, the exhibition also introduces the next IW Mardi Gras theme, ‘Stories, Myths and Legends’, inspired by lesser-known Isle of Wight folklore.
Visitors will discover how these tales will be researched, interpreted and transformed into carnival costumes, sculptures and performances, bringing local stories into the public realm through carnival, itself a living folk tradition.
Ray: Now feels like the right time to share this work more widely
Hannah Ray, Director of New Carnival, said,
“We want to bring the folk stories of the Isle of Wight into sharper focus. Many of these stories are barely known, and at a time when the Island is continuing to redefine its identity as a Biosphere Island and a Creative Island, it feels like the perfect moment to explore our cultural roots.
“The Isle of Wight is often associated with Queen Victoria or Jimi Hendrix, but that only scratches the surface.
“With the UK’s commitment to the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which includes folk stories, traditions and carnival itself, now feels like the right time to share this work more widely.
“This exhibition allows people to see not only the creativity and participation behind our projects, but also the research, learning and care that goes into developing each year’s theme.”
Free family drop-ins and creative adult workshops
To coincide with the exhibition, New Carnival has programmed a range of free family art drop-ins, including Costume Making, Make Your Own Carnival Backpack, and an Easter Headdress workshop.
There will also be creative workshops for adults, including Embroidered Folk Waistcoats and Using Natural Materials in Costume Design, offering hands-on opportunities to explore carnival skills and sustainable making practices.
About New Carnival
Based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, New Carnival is a small not-for-profit organisation with a big vision.
The Island has a quirky carnival tradition dating back to 1887, and New Carnival builds on this legacy through contemporary, environmentally conscious celebratory arts.
Founded in 2011, New Carnival delivers vibrant, inventive carnival-based art projects inspired by the natural environment, local heritage and the world we live in. We work with children, young people and communities to raise aspirations, nurture creativity and strengthen a sense of pride, lace and belonging.
Our vision is simple but powerful: to ignite creativity and unite community, making bold, positive statements through innovative, dynamic and sustainable carnival arts events.
Key details
- Exhibition Duration: Saturday 28th February – Monday 6th April 2026
- West Gallery, Quay Arts
- FREE entry to all exhibitions, open daily 9am – 4pm
- Coinciding Free Family Drop-Ins and Courses and Workshops, more information and booking on the Quay Arts website
- New Carnival website
News shared by Alicia on behalf of Quay Arts. Ed
