By St. Pauls News Team
July 27 2026 | Featured Story
The sights, sounds and energy of Antigua Carnival officially returned to the nation’s streets on Saturday as Minister of Sports and Creative Industries Dwayne George declared Antigua Carnival 2026 officially open, ushering in more than a week of vibrant cultural celebrations.
The official opening ceremony took place on Parliament Drive, where government officials, festival organizers, cultural performers and spectators gathered to launch what is expected to be one of the biggest editions of the country’s premier summer festival.
Following the ceremony, thousands of revellers filled the streets for the annual T-Shirt Mas, dancing behind music trucks and steel bands in a colourful display that signaled the official start of Carnival festivities.
The celebrations began at 2 p.m. and continued well into the evening, creating an electric atmosphere in the capital as residents and visitors embraced the spirit of the festival.
Floats, steel orchestras, traditional cultural characters and Carnival contestants assembled along Parliament Drive ahead of the official opening before the T-Shirt Mas parade got underway.
Participants started near the T.N. Kirnon School on Old Parham Road before winding through the streets of St. John’s along Simon Bolivar Drive, Factory Road, Parliament Drive, Queen Elizabeth Highway, Independence Avenue, Redcliffe Street, Thames Street and High Street before returning to Old Parham Road.
The launch marks the beginning of a packed Carnival calendar that will continue through August 4, offering a full slate of cultural, musical and competitive events.
Among the highlights are Junior Carnival on July 26, Rhythm Court Vibe on July 27, Patrice Roberts’ I Am Woman concert on July 28, Caribbean Melting Pot on July 30, the Cavalier Rum Calypso Monarch competition on July 31, Panorama on August 1, J’Ouvert and Monday Mas on August 3, and the highly anticipated Parade of the Bands and Last Lap on August 4.
Celebrated under the theme “Feel the Rhythm,” Antigua Carnival 2026 promises days of pulsating music, dazzling costumes, steelpan, calypso and soca, bringing together locals and visitors in a celebration of the nation’s culture, creativity and heritage.
With the festival now officially underway, all eyes turn to the week’s showcase events as Antigua and Barbuda once again takes centre stage as the Caribbean’s summer festival destination.