ROTTERDAM, 25 July 2025 – Rotterdam’s streets will come alive this Saturday with the Summer Carnival, locally known as Zomercarnaval. The parade will be broadcast live from Witte de Withstraat by NOS.
Summer Carnival 2025 broadcast live from Rotterdam
On Saturday 26 July, Rotterdam’s city centre will host the annual Summer Carnival, commonly referred to as Zomercarnaval. The large-scale street parade will fill the city with music, dancing, and colourful costumes over the course of seven hours.
Later that evening, Dutch broadcaster NOS will air highlights in a special programme, presented live from Witte de Withstraat. The broadcast will run from 20:28 to 21:18 on NPO 1 and can also be streamed via NOS.nl and the NOS app. International viewers in the Caribbean and worldwide can tune in via BVN from 23:30 (NL time).
Former Carnival Queen joins the NOS team
Presenter Evita Mac-nack will guide viewers through the live coverage. She will be joined by Larisa Da Veiga, last year’s Carnival Queen. Da Veiga, of Cape Verdean-Dutch descent, will offer personal insight and context to the cultural meaning of the celebration.
Stories from behind the scenes
The NOS programme will include pre-recorded segments that give viewers a closer look at the people behind the event. Among the featured participants are siblings Oneal and Céline Rodgers, who were crowned King and Queen of Summer Carnival 2025 earlier this month.
The broadcast aims to provide both an overview of the parade and a window into its diverse community of performers.
Follow the parade online
Between 12:15 and 15:00 on Saturday, a fixed camera on Witte de Withstraat will livestream the full parade on NOS.nl and the NOS app.
In addition, a video will be published that follows the Cape Verdean group Cabo Verde Chegou as they prepare for the parade. Their appearance coincides with Cape Verde’s 50th anniversary of independence, adding symbolic weight to their participation.
About the Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval)
The Summer Carnival in Rotterdam is a two-day cultural festival inspired by Caribbean traditions. Since 2023, it has been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The 2025 edition marks the event’s 41st year.
The parade will include around 25 groups and 2,500 dancers, representing over 170 nationalities. The event has grown into one of the most visible expressions of Rotterdam’s multicultural identity.
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