All bus diversions and road closures for Leeds West Indian Carnival 2026
It is oldest carnival celebration in Europe
The West Indian Carnival will return to Leeds this Bank Holiday Monday.
Taking place on Monday, August 31 in Chapeltown, the Leeds West Indian Carnival is set to bring together more than 100,000 visitors for another day of celebrating culture, creativity and community.
Established in 1967, it is oldest carnival celebration in Europe and the largest of its kind beyond London.
Here’s everything you need to know...
What route will the parade take?
The procession will follow the same circuit as it did in 2025 across the LS7 postcode, with revellers offered the opportunity to watch the colourful celebration as it passes through.
This means that it will start and finish outside Potternewton Park, taking in a route of Harehills Avenue, Spencer Place, Roundhay Road, Barrack Road and Chapeltown Road.
What roads will be shut?
To allow the parade to take place safely, key roads along the route will be fully closed to vehicles on Bank Holiday Monday from 6am to 10pm.
Preliminary road closures will also begin on August 30, affecting sections of Chapeltown Road and Harehills Avenue, but most public transport links and emergency access routes to St James’s Hospital will be strictly maintained throughout.
What bus diversions will be in place?
The following bus services will be affected.
From 8am Sunday, August 30 to 6.30am on Tuesday, September 1, Chapeltown Road is closed for the Leeds West Indian Carnival.
- Services 2, 3, 3A & 36 are diverting between Sheepscar and Chapel Allerton via North Street, Sheepscar Street North, Scott Hall Road, Stainbeck Lane and Harrogate Road.
- Services will not stop along Chapeltown Road during these times.
Parade Day, Monday, August 31, 4am-11.59pm
- Services 12, 13, & 13A towards Roundhay will divert from Vicar Lane via Eastgate (using event stop Victoria E), Regent Street, Cross Stamford Street and Roseville Road, resuming route on Roundhay Road.
- Services 12, 13, & 13A towards Leeds will divert from Roundhay Road via Roseville Road, Cross Stamford Street, Regent Street and Byron Street, resuming route at North Street.
- Service 91 will run between Pudsey and Chapel Allerton only. There will be no service between Chapel Allerton and Halton Moor.
- Service 91 towards Halton Moor will divert from Stainbeck Lane via Scott Hall Road, Potternewton Lane and Harrogate Road, starting route towards Pudsey at stop 45013627 Potternewton Lane outside Lidl.