The almost 7,000 attendees at the Fairgrounds sang the traditional ‘Santa Cruz de Tenerife now has a queen’ this Wednesday, after Carla Castro Castellano was elected as the new councilor of the Carnaval 2026.
with his ‘Iconic’ fantasy, Designed by Alexis Santana and representing McDonald’s and El Día, candidate number five received the scepter and took over from last year’s monarch, Elizabeth Ledesma.
He rest of the court of honor It is made up of Arlena Rubí Mantecón Hernandez with the fantasy ‘Luminis’ (first lady), Cecilia Esther Díaz Hernández (second lady), with ‘Sueños de Cristal’, Daniela Sanchez Padilla and her ‘Atamande’ (third lady) and Alianara León Hernández with ‘From your hell to my heaven’.
The gala directed by Daniel Pagés began with an opening that paid tribute to Latin rhythms with versions of classic songs like Hear my song, The talisman o Santa Cruz in Carnival. Interspersing salsa, Cuban son, tango and mariachis, the prologue recognized the Latin American heritage of the Tenerife carnival, so it could not pass up the opportunity to pay tribute to Brazil and the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro with the collaboration of the troupes.
The presenters Paula Vázquez and Alexis Hernández They took the baton to greet the nearly 7,000 spectators and usher in the first round of candidates.
Between parades, rondallas and lots of applause and cheersthe eleven candidates for the scepter passed through the stage set in Havana and once the parade was over, the jury went to deliberate.
It was at that moment when the party started at the Fairgrounds with the performance of the Cuban group Los 4which were well supported by all the Carnival musical groups. They took the witness Nifú-Nifá Afilharmonica and the troupe that won the first prize for interpretation, Los Cariocas, which were the prelude to one of the most anticipated moments of the night with the arrival of the performance of the singer Manny Manuel, who between song and song assured that the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife “is the biggest party on planet Earth.”
After dancing each of the Puerto Rican songs, the attendees took their seats and prepared to hear the verdict of a jury made up of personalities from the Canary Islands such as journalists Puchi Méndez, Sergio Méndez and Mayer Trujillo, but also with a national presence such as Raquel Sánchez Silva and an international presence, with the participation of Iam Comfort, CEO of the Notting Hill Carnival.
With the coronation of Carla Castro, Santa Cruz finalizes the preparations for the arrival of the festival in the streets, which will begin next Friday, February 13 with the celebration of the announcing parade.