Caribbean Carnival Dates 2026
Caribbean Carnival is so much more than a party — it’s the heartbeat of island life. For months, excitement slowly builds, until suddenly the streets come alive in an explosion of colour, sound, and movement. Across the Caribbean, entire communities come together to celebrate who they are, expressing their history and identity through pulsating music, flowing dances, and beautifully crafted costumes that tell stories passed down through generations.
Carnival Dates by Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
October
December
January 2026
Bahamas – Junkanoo (National Cultural Festival)
- Location: Nassau, New Providence
- Dates: December 26, 2025 & January 1, 2026
- Details: Junkanoo features two spectacular street parades held on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, where intricately crafted costumes, rhythmic goat-skin drums, cowbells, and brass instruments bring Bay Street to life in an all-night celebration of Bahamian culture and heritage.
St. Kitts and Nevis – Sugar Mas (National Carnival)
- Location: Basseterre, St. Kitts
- Dates: December 12, 2025 – January 2, 2026
- Details: Celebrations include J’ouvert on January 1 and the Grand Parade on January 2.
Montserrat – Montserrat Festival
- Location: Plymouth, Montserrat
- Dates: December 20, 2025 – January 1, 2026
- Details: Features street parades, calypso competitions, and cultural shows, culminating in the New Year’s Day Parade.
St. Croix (USVI)
- Location: Frederiksted
- Dates: December 26th 2025 – January 3rd 2026
- Details: Crucian Christmas Festival
February 2026
Grenada – Carriacou Carnival
- Location: Carriacou
- Dates: February 11 – 17, 2026
- Details: Famous for Shakespeare Mas, where performers engage in theatrical battles with Shakespearean verses, alongside parades and traditional “Jab Jab” masqueraders.
Guadalupe – Carnaval de Guadelupe
- Location: Basse-Terre & Pointe-à-Pitre
- Dates: January 1st – February 18th 2026
Aruba – Aruba Carnival
- Location: Oranjestad, Aruba
- Dates: January 2nd – February 15, 2026
St. Barthélemy – Carnaval de St. Barth
- Location: Gustavia, St. Barthélemy
- Dates: February 15–17, 2026
- Details: The festivities peak over Carnival weekend with lively street parades, themed costume days, and music-filled processions through Gustavia, culminating in Carnival Tuesday celebrations that blend French carnival traditions with a distinctly Caribbean flair.
Haiti – Kanaval
- Location: Port-au-Prince and other cities
- Dates: February 16 – 18, 2026
- Details: Includes vibrant parades, music, dance, and elaborate costumes.
Dominica – Mas Domnik
- Location: Roseau, Dominica
- Dates: January 10th – February 18, 2026
- Details: Known as “The Real Mas,” featuring traditional sensay costumes, Lapo Kabwit bands, and calypso competitions.
Bonaire – Bonaire Carnival
- Location: Kralendijk, Bonaire
- Dates: Beginning of February – February 17, 2026
- Details: Known for its festive parades and cultural events leading up to Ash Wednesday.
Martinique – Martinique Carnival
- Location: Fort-de-France, Martinique
- Dates: February 15 – February18th, 2026
- Details: A vibrant celebration with parades, music, and traditional characters like the “Neg Gwo Siwo.”
February 2026
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad Carnival
- Location: Port of Spain, Trinidad
- Dates: 16–17 Feb 2026 (carnival events begin in January)
- Details: The world’s largest carnivals, featuring J’ouvert, extravagant costumes, and competitions like Panorama (steelpan) and Soca Monarch.
Dominica – Mas Domnik
- Location: Roseau, Dominica
- Dates: January 10th – Gebruary 18, 2028
- Details: Known as “The Real Mas,” featuring traditional sensay costumes, Lapo Kabwit bands, and calypso competitions.
Curaçao – Curaçao Carnival
- Location: Willemstad, Curaçao
- Dates: January 11th 28 – March 4, 2026
- Details: Features the Grand Parade known as “Gran Marcha” on March 2 and the Farewell Parade on March 4.
Dominican Republic – Dominican Republic Carnival
- Location: La Vega and Santiago
- Date: February 27, 2026
- Details: Known for the iconic “Diablo Cojuelo” masqueraders, this carnival includes vibrant parades, traditional dances, and cultural performances.
April 2026
Jamaica – Jamaica Carnival
- Location: Kingston
- Dates: April 1 – 12, 2026
- Details & what makes it special: Jamaica Carnival adds a uniquely Jamaican layer to the Carnival experience, pairing soca-driven road marches with strong dancehall influence, high-impact fetes, and legendary after-parties. What truly sets it apart is how seamlessly Jamaica’s global music culture blends into traditional Carnival, creating an atmosphere that feels pan-Caribbean yet deeply rooted in Kingston’s sound and street energy.
May 2026
U.S. Virgin Islands – St. Thomas Carnival
- Location: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
- Dates: April 25 – May 2nd, 2026
- Details: This carnival offers cultural displays, a food fair, calypso competitions, and colorful grand parades.
Saint Maarten – Saint Maarten Carnival
- Location: Philipsburg, Saint Maarten
- Dates: April 10 – May 5, 2026
- Details: A multi-week festival filled with parades, concerts, and cultural shows, culminating in the Grand Parade and Jouvert Morning.
June 2026
Bahamas – Bahamas Carnival
- Location: Nassau, New Providence
- Dates: June 3rd – 7th 2026
- Details: A celebration of Bahamian music, art, and culture, featuring concerts, street parades, and all-night parties.
Bermuda – Bermuda Heroes Weekend
- Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
- Dates: June 5 – 15, 2026
- Details: A series of events including J’ouvert, Parade of Bands, and raft-ups, celebrating Bermudian culture and national heroes.
Cayman Islands – Batabano Carnival
- Location: George Town, Grand Cayman
- Date: May 2, 2026 – June 13th
- Details: Batabano features a vibrant street parade with elaborate costumes, music, and dance, celebrating the island’s diverse culture.
July 2026
Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia Carnival
- Location: Castries
- Dates: July 17 – 22, 2026
- Details: Saint Lucia Carnival features events such as Soca Monarch and street parades with vibrant costumes and infectious music.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Vincy Mas
- Location: Kingstown, St. Vincent
- Dates: June 27th – July 8th, 2026
- Details: Vincy Mas includes street jump-ups, calypso contests, and a colorful parade of the bands showcasing the island’s creativity.
August 2026
Barbados – Crop Over Festival
- Location: Bridgetown, Barbados
- Dates: July 30 – August 4, 2026
- Details: Marks the end of the sugar cane harvest with events like Kadooment Day, Foreday Morning, and the Pic-O-De-Crop calypso competition.
Grenada – Spicemas
- Location: St. George’s, Grenada
- Dates: August 11 – 12, 2026
- Details: Known for its “Jab Jab” masqueraders covered in oil or paint, featuring J’ouvert, Monday Night Mas, and Soca Monarch competitions.
British Virgin Islands – Emancipation Festival
- Location: Road Town, Tortola
- Dates: July 23 – August8, 2026
- Details: Celebrates the emancipation of slaves with parades, music, and cultural events.
Anguilla – Anguilla Summer Festival
- Location: The Valley, Anguilla
- Dates: July 24 – August 9, 2026
- Details: Features boat races, pageants, street dances, and parades celebrating Anguillian culture.
Antigua – Antigua Carnival
- Location: St John’s
- Dates: July 25 – August 4, 2026
- Details: Features boat races, pageants, street dances, and parades celebrating Anguillian culture.
St. Nevis Carnival – SKN Carnival
- Location: St John’s
- Dates: July 25 – August 4, 2026
- Details: Features boat races, pageants, street dances, and parades celebrating Anguillian culture.
October/November 2026
Tobago – Tobago Carnival
- Location: Scarborough
- Dates: October 30th – November 1st, 2026
- Details: A celebration of Tobago’s cultural heritage, featuring soca music, steelpan performances, and vibrant street parades.
Jamaica Carnival 2026 News
Jamaica carnival 2026: YardMas launches band theme
YardMas Carnival has officially unveiled its 2026 costume collection, “Galleria,” a fine-art-inspired theme that reimagines Carnival in Jamaica as a living gallery—where masqueraders don’t just wear costumes; they become the artwork.
Jamaica carnival 2026: GenXS launches band theme
GenXS has launched its 2026 carnival theme, “INFINITI,” declaring that this season will bring forces and phenomena to life. Marking the band’s fourth season, the presentation signals a powerful year ahead—one built around energy, transformation, and renewal.
Jamaica carnival 2026: Xodus launches band theme
Xodus has ignited the 2026 carnival season with the reveal of OLYMPIX — Step Into the Arena of Rhythm and Freedom, a bold new theme that frames Carnival as a high-energy stadium of sound, movement, and self-expression.