June 24, 2026 (ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA) – The countdown is on to Antigua Carnival! With just one month to go, Antigua and Barbuda is preparing to welcome visitors and returning nationals for eleven days of culture, music, mas and revelry as Antigua Carnival returns from July 25 to August 4, 2026.
Under the theme, ‘Feel the Rhythm’, Antigua Carnival will transform the destination into an island-wide party, with steelpan, calypso and soca music filling the air, traditional characters and colourful masqueraders parading through the streets and unforgettable fetes that will have you partying from the wee hours of the morning straight into the night.
Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission Chair Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul, said, “Antigua Carnival 2026 invites the world to ‘Feel the Rhythm’ as we host the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Visitors can immerse themselves in the heartbeat of Antigua and Barbuda through vibrant celebrations, energetic performances of steelpan, soca, calypso, mas, and authentic cultural experiences that capture the true rhythm of the Caribbean”.
“Antigua Carnival is more than a festival; it’s a rhythm you feel, a culture you experience, and memories you carry long after the music fades. As we celebrate this year, we also pave the road to Carnival 70, a historic milestone awaiting us in 2027”, noted Makhoul.
Chief Marketing Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Charmaine Spencer emphasized that, “Antigua Carnival offers visitors an opportunity to experience Antigua and Barbuda at its most vibrant time and through the unique sounds of our music, distinct island cuisine, and the warmth of our people.”
“Coupled with our stunning beaches, a visit during Antigua Carnival, presents the perfect summer getaway for travellers seeking relaxing beach days and evenings filled with the rhythm of the Carnival. It is the ideal combination of relaxation, culture and festivities,” Spencer added.
Antigua Carnival 2026 will feature an exciting programme including signature street parades through St. John’s City from the unique Opening of Carnival and T-Shirt Mas to J’ouvert, Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday’s Parade of the Bands, and the culmination – Last Lap.
Major music performances, competitions and the iron band, will keep the rhythm high with top local performers competing in the Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch for prestigious titles. The highly anticipated ‘Face Off: Antigua vs. Dominica,’ where Antigua and Barbuda’s legendary Burning Flames band will go head-to-head with Dominica’s premier bouyon band Triple K International, is one event not to miss, while regional soca stars Patrice Roberts, Machel Montano, Voice, Skinny Fabulous and Muddy are also set to headline major performances along with Antigua and Barbuda’s soca sensations Tian Winter and Tizzy. The Panorama competition will also highlight the rich tradition of steelpan, delivering powerful and captivating performances. The eleven days will be filled with non-stop rhythm.
As the vibe builds for Antigua Carnival, travellers are encouraged to secure their flights and accommodations now and begin planning for the ultimate carnival experience. For more information go to: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com, download the Antigua Carnival app on Google Play or the App Store and follow @AntiguaCarnival on social media. Come and feel the rhythm, energy and excitement of the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival.
Exciting Highlights of Antigua Carnival 2026
- Face Off (July 24)
- T-Shirt Mas and official opening of Carnival City (July 25)
- Junior Carnival (July 26)
- Rhythm Court and Band-Meet-Band Junior (July 27)
- Patrice Roberts: I Am Woman concert (July 28)
- Long Bay Lager Caribbean Melting Pot (July 30)
- Calypso Monarch (July 31)
- Watch Night (July 31)
- Panorama (August 1)
- Party Monarch (August 2)
- J’ouvert (August 3)
- Monday Mas Parade & Parade of Bands (August 3 & 4)
- Last Lap (August 4)
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For Antigua and Barbuda media enquiries, please contact:
Maria Blackman
Marketing Communications Manager
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
T: 1 (268) 562 7600/464-7601
E: maria.blackman@visitaandb.com
Kayla Christian
Marketing Communications Officer
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
T:1(268) 562 7600 / 464-7665
E: kayla.christian@visitaandb.com
ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the Antigua and Barbuda Wellness Month, Run in Paradise, prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week, Antigua and Barbuda Art Week and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 11-mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.
Find information on Antigua & Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com
