The arrival of Storm Therese has put the Canary Islands on alert and has the south of Gran Canaria on high alert.
UPDATE: 18/03/2026
The Department of Festivals and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council announces the postponement and rescheduling of several events of the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival due to the alert for winds, rain and coastal phenomena, declared by the Government of the Canary Islands due to Storm "Therese", in coordination with the guidelines and recommendations established in the PEIN of the Gran Canaria Island Council and the PEMU of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
Following the recommendations of the security and emergency services, and prioritizing at all times the safety of participants, attendees and organization, the City Council has decided to postpone the following events scheduled in the program:
- Canine Carnival Gala, which was scheduled to take place today, Wednesday the 18th, at 17:00 p.m.
- Gala Drag, which was scheduled for Thursday the 19th. Despite the change of dates, tickets purchased will remain valid on the day it takes place.
- Rescue of the Sardine, Tourist Gala, Carnival in the Sun, and the crowd; whose celebration was planned for Friday the 20th.
The official forecast predicts a period of strong winds, rain, rough seas, and a risk of flooding between Wednesday, March 18, and Sunday, March 22, precisely during the most critical days of the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival. The Drag Queen Gala on Thursday and the Grand Parade on Saturday are therefore contingent on the weather conditions and the decisions made by the authorities in the coming hours.
The Canary Islands Government has activated a coastal hazard alert across the archipelago, a wind alert for Gran Canaria, and a pre-alert for rain and storms on all the islands, in addition to the PEINCA pre-alert for coastal and flash flood risk. According to the Directorate General of Emergencies, the first effects will begin to be felt from Wednesday, March 18, with westerly winds gusting up to 90 kilometers per hour, rough seas with waves exceeding four meters, and moderate rainfall, which could be persistent in several areas of the archipelago. In the case of Gran Canaria, the risk is heightened by the combination of rough seas, showers, and potential runoff or flash floods in ravines and small waterways.
For San Bartolomé de Tirajana, the weather forecast paints a very unstable picture until Sunday. Wednesday the 18th is expected to be a windy and cloudy day, with the possibility of conditions worsening in the afternoon. Thursday the 19th is shaping up to be one of the most critical days, with a drop in temperature and showers. Meanwhile, between midday Thursday and midnight Friday, AEMET (the Spanish State Meteorological Agency) has issued yellow warnings for the east, south, and west of Gran Canaria for gusts of up to 80 km/h and for rainfall that could reach 15 mm in one hour and 60 mm in 12 hours.
The festival program includes the highly anticipated Drag Queen Gala on Thursday at the Yumbo Shopping Center, one of the most popular events of the Maspalomas Carnival, while Friday will feature the popular Carnival in the Sun and the Tourist Gala. According to the weather forecast, rain is still likely that day, and the atmosphere will continue to be significantly affected by wind. Looking ahead to Saturday the 21st, the day of the eagerly awaited Grand Carnival Parade, cloud cover and a risk of showers are expected. The forecast for Sunday the 22nd also predicts overcast skies and the possibility of further intermittent rain, which would prolong the unsettled weather throughout the weekend in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
The greatest concern now centers on the large-scale carnival events because a prolonged period of adverse weather through the weekend could affect setups, access, security, mobility, and the overall running of outdoor events. In fact, the regional government has already warned that Storm Therese could remain stationary northwest of the Canary Islands over the weekend, bringing further showers and storms to the southern and western slopes of the larger islands. Given this scenario, the recommendation is to follow only official channels, exercise extreme caution in coastal areas and on roads, avoid ravines, and postpone any coastal activities if sea conditions worsen. Maspalomas is thus entering a crucial period, with all eyes on the sky and the evolution of a storm that threatens to disrupt the main days of the carnival.
