Diss Carnival set to return in 2028
30 July 2026
Diss Town Council has taken the difficult decision to postpone the 2027 Diss Carnival, with the event now set to return in 2028.
The decision was made by Full Council on Wednesday evening following careful consideration of a detailed report examining the Carnival's finances, the increasing demands of organising large public events and the Council's wider responsibilities to the town.
Councillors fully recognise how much the Carnival means to the community and understand that many residents will be disappointed by this decision.
The Carnival has been at the heart of community life for generations, bringing together schools, charities, businesses, volunteers, community groups and thousands of residents. It remains one of Diss's most loved traditions and the Council is committed to ensuring it continues for many years to come.
This is not the end of Diss Carnival. It is a planned pause to give the Council and the community the opportunity to strengthen the event and secure its long-term future.
In recent years, organising the Carnival has become increasingly challenging. Costs have continued to rise while income from sponsorship and fundraising has fallen, meaning the event now requires a greater financial contribution from the Council than in previous years.
At the same time, the demands of delivering a major public event have increased significantly. Modern safety and security requirements, more complex event planning and greater regulatory responsibilities mean organising the Carnival now requires more than 550 hours of staff time - equivalent to around 14 and a half weeks of full-time work.
With fewer staff than in previous years and a reduction in volunteer capacity, the Council has reached the point where it must carefully balance the resources needed to deliver the Carnival alongside a number of major projects that will provide lasting benefits for the town.
These include the future development of the former DYCC site, improvements to sports facilities, the Park Pavilion redevelopment, the Mere Water Quality Project, enhanced youth provision and other important community initiatives.
The planned break in 2027 will provide valuable time to:
Review how the Carnival is funded and delivered.
Rebuild sponsorship and fundraising.
Recruit and support new volunteers.
Re-engage schools, businesses and community organisations.
Begin planning earlier for a stronger Carnival in 2028.
The Council is keen to stress that other community events in Diss will continue throughout 2027, including the return of the Diss Organ Festival, the Diss Cyclathon, Remembrance Parade & Service, Car Boot Sales and the Christmas Lights Switch-On.
Mayor of Diss, Cllr Declan Craggs, said:
"We know this decision will be disappointing for many people because the Carnival is such an important part of our town. This was not a decision that Councillors took lightly.
"The choice before us wasn't whether we value the Carnival - we absolutely do. The question was whether continuing exactly as we are is sustainable.
"By taking a planned pause, we can focus on strengthening the Carnival, rebuilding volunteer support, attracting more sponsorship and giving ourselves the time to plan an even better event for 2028.
"We want the Carnival to thrive for future generations, and we believe this decision gives us the best opportunity to achieve that."
Diss Town Council would like to thank every volunteer, sponsor, community group, school, businesses and resident who has supported the Carnival over the years.
The Council looks forward to working with the community over the next two years to ensure that when Diss Carnival returns in 2028, it does so stronger, more sustainable and with renewed community involvement than ever before.
