The actual Carnival in Mindelo begins on Friday, February 13, 2026. That morning, we visit Vanina Dias from “Informacao Turistica” in Parque Nhô Roque. She is very friendly and helpful, and she always gives us good advice.
Later, we walk the route where the parades will take place. The parade turns around at Praça Amílcar Cabral and then takes the parallel street back to Rua de Liberdade de Africa.
For organizational reasons, the 2026 carnival in Mindelo featured fewer groups than in previous years (excluding the pandemic period).
Nevertheless, the festival has lost none of its luster. Today, it is dominated by youth and school groups.
We focused on two groups: ESCOLA DE ESPANIA and AGRUPAMENTO VII (E. João José dos Santos, Luís Morais, and Jovino Santos).
In the evening, we had dinner at the restaurant La Pergola, which also offered musical entertainment.
On the way home, we encountered the Delegacia de Saúde, who were rehearsing for the following day.
