The Govanhill International Festival and Carnival is back: bigger, brighter and bolder than ever
before!
Now in its fifth year, the festival began in 2016 as an antidote to racism towards migrant
communities from Eastern Europe in Govanhill. It started as a carnival, parade and weekend
of music, aiming to celebrate the diversity of the area and combat division and hate. It has
since grown into a beautiful, two week extravaganza, embodying the richness and diversity of
the flourishing arts and culture scene in Govanhill. This programme features over fifty events
– including talks, music, workshops, film, exhibitions, theatre, heritage events and guided walks
– and even more can be found on our online programme at www.govanhillbaths.com. We’re also
overjoyed to welcome back our Carnival and Parade after its hiatus in 2020, and thrilled to bring
back our Street Music Festival after its resounding popularity last year.
Safety is still paramount, and all events will adhere to Covid-19 government guidelines. Social
distancing will be put in place and all events being held indoors, or confined outdoor spaces, will
be ticketed and limited to manageable numbers. It is important that our festival is as inclusive,
accessible and family friendly as possible, so all events are free unless otherwise stated.
At its heart, the Govanhill International Festival and Carnival is, and will always be, an anti-racist
festival: celebrating the contributions immigrants have made to a community that is home to
people of 40+ nationalities speaking 60+ languages. We are proud to live here, proud of our
diversity, heritage and history, and the GIFC is a declaration of that. So join us this year to
celebrate five years of the GIFC, and to celebrate Govanhill!
