For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it is a year-round operation, and its cancellation has been devastating for many involved.

It did not come as a surprise; the organisers had held off on the announcement in the hope that the situation might improve, leaving many to speculate on when, not whether, the event would be called off for the first time in its 54-plus-year history. But it looks like ‘cancelled’ isn’t the right word after all. Behind the scenes, the Carnival community has rallied together to take it from the streets and into cyberspace with a streamed version of the event on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Notting Hill Carnival Access All Areas 2020 will be streamed for free over four channels on Aug 29, 6pm-midnight and Aug 30 and 31, 9am-11pm. For details visit www.nhcarnival.org

NLG