After filling London's streets with Caribbean celebration, culture and pride every year since 1966, Notting Hill carnival faces suspension for the second consecutive year. MPs have been told that if social distancing measures remain in place throughout 2021, then Notting Hill carnival is very unlikely to go ahead this summer. Consequently, this is going to devastate London residents who potentially saw Notting Hill Carnival as respite from COVID-19.

Notting Hill Carnival's chief executive Matthew Phillip, gave evidence to the digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee inquiry explaining as to why Notting Hill Carnival could not take place in a socially distanced scenario. "For the carnival weekend specifically it would pose a very big problem. It's very difficult to hold carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. So it would be devastating for a second year in a row."

In response to how the event may adapt in the event of another cancellation, Phillip added: Carnival is and always has been very resilient. We will continue to plan for multiple scenarios," he said. "Obviously, the sooner the better be. None of us have got a crystal ball so we don't know what's going to happen. We will wait and see, I don't think there's a kind of cutoff point."

However, Rowan Cannon, the director of Wild Rumpus, who orchestrate festivals at Rode Hall in Cheshire and Feanedock in the National Forest said the notion that all "festivals can't go ahead and be socially distanced is inaccurate". "Our festivals could be safer than Sainsbury's," she said. "It's a very diverse spectrum and, if possible, I'd like the committee's recommendations to reflect that diversity and not just be thinking about 80,000 20-year-olds in a field."

This perhaps raises hope of the potential that compromises could be made, particularly given that Phillip states Notting Hill Carnival was estimated to generate £94m, and a cancellation would negatively impact local businesses that rely on August income to stay afloat.

Notting Hill Carnival's prospects for this year aren't dead yet though. We'll update this story as it progesses.