The vibrant colours of Notting Hill Carnival descended on London’s Piccadilly Circus today as an exclusive preview of the weekend’s first virtual event played out on the UK’s biggest digital screen.

A troupe of Caribbean soca dancers dressed head-to-toe in Carnival costume started the live countdown down on the big screen ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Commuters were left stunned as Notting Hill Carnival performers Fiona Compton, Andrea Wallace and Donna Cupid-Thuesday paraded across London’s most famous landmark in full carnival dress and regalia.

The trio were styled in costumes created by Melissa Simon-Hartman, who designed costumes for Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’ visual album.

The new trailer, which aims to capture the essence of what this year’s special virtual Carnival will offer, has been created by official partner Samsung to showcase their unrivalled 8K technology.

The film aims to bring to life all the ‘Colours of Carnival’ and features content from Notting Hill Carnival: Access All Areas’ digital schedule including leading dancers, including Soca, Mas, Steelpan, Calypso and Sound Systems and chefs intercut with extracts from a series of mini films shot in 8K by Samsung, designed to bring to life the ‘Colours of Carnival’ in glorious detail.

Samsung’s mini films feature content from Caribbean chef and Notting Hill Carnival ambassador Levi Roots kicking up a Carnival inspired feast, Brazilian Samba-Reggae band, Batala’s impressive beats and Soca dancers wearing the incredible Carnival costumes of London based designer Melissa Simon-Hartman with music from the UK’s biggest soca star, Triniboi Jooci, and award-winning UK soca duo SunDivas.

Dan Hastings, Director of TV /AV at Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is one of the UK’s most loved and prestigious events and another that has been knocked by the uncertainties of this year.  We’re delighted to be collaborating with the team to further shine a spotlight on this year’s digital carnival using our 8K technology.”

Matthew Phillip, Executive Director of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said: “Not having Notting Hill Carnival on the street this year was an incredibly sad but vital decision that was unavoidable for the safety of millions that attend. With Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas we wanted to ensure that the vibrancy, sounds and culture was still given an opportunity to flourish in 2020. Samsung’s countdown to the largest event in Europe on the largest screen in the UK is the perfect way to celebrate a unique year for this great event.”

The full schedule starts at www.nhcarnival.org and for those wanting to ‘Watch in 8K’ the Samsung mini-series will play via QLED 8K at Samsung KX in Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross over the whole Bank Holiday weekend and across the Notting Hill Carnival YouTube channels.

Samsung and Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas have released a preview trailer that gives a first look at what to expect from this weekend’s virtual Carnival.

The trailer, which aims to capture the essence of what this year’s special virtual Carnival will offer, has been created by official partner Samsung to showcase their unrivalled 8K technology and to whet people’s appetites for a full bank holiday weekend of Carnival content.

The spot aims to bring to life all the ‘Colours of Carnival’ and features content from Notting Hill Carnival: Access All Areas’ digital schedule including percussionists, steel drums, dance performances and parades intercut with extracts from a series of mini films shot in 8K by Samsung, designed to bring to life the ‘Colours of Carnival’ in glorious detail.

The teaser content features Caribbean chef Levi Roots kicking up a Carnival inspired feast, Brazilian Samba-Reggae band, Batala’s impressive beats and Soca dancers featuring the incredible Carnival costumes of London based  designer Melissa Simon-Hartman who has designed costumes for Beyoncé’s Black is King visual album.

Carnival will kick off on London’s Piccadilly screen with the exclusive trailer and a live countdown before the full schedule starts at www.nhcarnival.org.  For those wanting to ‘Watch in 8K’ the Samsung mini-series will play via QLED 8K at Samsung KX in Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross over the whole Bank Holiday weekend and across the Notting Hill Carnival YouTube channels.

London, UK – 19th August. Samsung Electronics UK Ltd have announced that they will be an official partner for the very first ‘virtual’ Notting Hill Carnival. The tech brand is set to showcase the unrivalled capability of their 8K proposition via a series of short films which will bring to life the colours, tastes and sounds of Carnival in incredible 8K detail over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Samsung are also set to create a unique preview event which will witness Notting Hill Carnival launch with specially shot 8K content on the UK’s biggest screen in Piccadilly Circus as the Carnival moves to a digital platform for the first time in its 54-year history.

In the week building up to Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas, official partner Samsung will release a series of mini-films, including an exclusive trailer that captures the essence of this year’s virtual Carnival.

The suite of mini-films will be created using the impressive 8K capabilities of both the Galaxy S20 and their leading QLED 8K TV range.  The films celebrate Carnival by shining a spotlight on the festival’s vibrancy and energy through dance, food and music. The videos will launch Carnival with a live countdown directing viewers to tune in via Notting Hill Carnival’s official site www.nhcarnival.org.

The ‘Colours of Carnival’ films tell the story of this year’s event from the perspective of some of its key performers including leading dancers, percussionists and chefs.

Featured artists include:

• The acclaimed chef and carnival stalwart, Levi Roots – whose famed business originally flourished at Carnival – and his guide to creating the ultimate carnival feast over the bank holiday weekend
• Award winning Samba drumming troupe Batala – winners of the Notting Hill Carnival samba category in 2016

• Soca dancers featuring the incredible Carnival costumes of designer Melissa Simon-Hartman who has designed costumes for Beyoncè’s Black is King visual album

• Dancer and Notting Hill Carnival regular Elisangela Mahogany, who performs her stunning routines around the world

Dan Hastings, Director of TV /AV at Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is one of the UK’s most loved and prestigious events and another that has been knocked by the uncertainties of this year.  We’re delighted to be collaborating with the team to further shine a spotlight on this year’s digital carnival using our 8K technology.”

Matthew Phillip, Executive Director of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said: “Not having Notting Hill Carnival on the street this year was an incredibly sad but vital decision that was unavoidable for the safety of millions that attend. With Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas we wanted to ensure that the vibrancy, sounds and culture was still given an opportunity to flourish in 2020. Samsung’s countdown to the largest event in Europe on the largest screen in the UK is the perfect way to celebrate a unique year for this great event. ”Carnival kicks off on London’s Piccadilly screen with Samsung’s exclusive trailer and countdown before the full schedule starts at www.nhcarnival.org.

Consumers will be able watch Samsung’s footage, captured with Galaxy S20, via QLED 8K ​ at Samsung KX in Coal Drop Yard, King’s Cross over the Bank Holiday weekend.