If you’ve never heard of Antigua Carnival, the greatest summer festival in the Caribbean, add it to your list for 2026. The Official Antigua Carnival 2026 dates are:
July 25th – August 5th, 2026
Carnival parade dates fall on August 3rd, 2026 & Tuesday mas on August 4th, 2026.
Please note this trip was sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda Tourism, Insane Carnival and organized by the Carnival Boutique but all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate links from which I earn a commission from with no cost to you the reader.**
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Things To Know About Antigua Carnival
- It’s held in St. John’s, Antigua; recommended airport V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU)
- Antigua is pronounced “Antiga”
- Antigua Carnival was once celebrated during Christmas but had its official summer start in 1957 (Emancipation Day). Read more HERE.
- Antigua has a sister isle called Barbuda (known for pink sand beaches)
- There are 3 days of mas – T-shirt mas, Dutty Mas, Monday mas and Tuesday mas
- T-shirt Mas takes place on the last Saturday in July (1-2 weeks before Carnival Monday)
- Minimum recommended travel dates – Friday to Thursday
- Minimum cost $2500-$3000 (depending on stay, costume preferences, # of ppl in party)
- Currency used is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
- National dishes are fungee, ducana, saltfish, chop up, pepper pot, black pineapple among others
Where To Stay In Antigua For Carnival
- Royalton CHIC Antigua
- Royalton Antigua (all inclusive)
- Sandals Grande Antigua
- Cocobay Resort (all inclusive)
- Siboney Beach Club
- Hodges Bay
- Hawksbill Resort Antigua (all inclusive)
@bahamianista (Hosted) Where To Stay In Antigua & Barbuda | 📍Hawksbill Beach Resort @antiguaandbarbuda #caribbeanvacation #loveantiguabarbuda #antiguaandbarbuda #antigua #caribbeantiktok #antiguacarnival2024 #ahloveithere ♬ Sweet Antigua – Drastic
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If sourcing an Airbnb or home rental, recommended areas to stay are Saint John’s Parish, Dickenson Bay, Jolly Harbour among others.
Antigua Carnival Costumes
While there are several troupes to choose from, I’ve jumped up with Insane Carnival 4x and their presentations never miss along with the quality and attention to detail of their costumes and service on the road. They also offer packages for Dutty Mas/Jouvert & T Shirt Mas.
They’ve also won Band of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024 and Large Band of the Year in 2025! Here’s a sample of what to expect from an Insane Carnival costume package, pickup and more.
@bahamianista A mini guide to choosing a band for #antiguacarnival2026 @Insane carnival @The Carnival Boutique @antiguaandbarbuda Save The Dates: July 25th – August 5th, 2026 🇦🇬#behere #insanecarnival2025 #carnivalcostume #carnivaltiktok #antiguacarnival #thingstodoinantigua ♬ NewGen Statement – Young vice – NewGen Band
Other troupes that offer Antigua Carnival packages for T Shirt Mas, Dutty Mas/Jouvert and Carnival Monday & Tuesday can be found here:
- Myst Carnival
- Sechuns The Band
- Invaders Carnival
- Barefoot Promotions
- Project Sync / Caution
- ChattaBox Company
Antigua Carnival Soca Music
From tunes from Burning Flames, Claudette Peters, Tian Winter, Ricardo Drue & more. The best way to get familiar with the music is listening to DJ’s like DJ Quest, The Spaniard, DJ Riddim Master, DJ Jime, DJ Elementz, Sir Lance, and I could go on. The music is comprised of calypso, buoyon, zouk, soca riddims and is based on story-telling like “dance, scratch and wink up”, “kick up dus(t) and more…
One significant note is the re-emergence of “jam bands” on the Antiguan music scene. Burning Flames is a cultural phenomenon comprising of a group of musicians playing live calypso sounds that have transcended over the years with multiple hits after hits but one should also take note of bands such as Kaution Band and NewGen Band who have made an incredible mark on the current season. The 2025 soca season had hits like BB Service by Soca Villan, A Plus Whine by Young Lyrics and In Dey by Young Vice & New Gen Band. My only wish is more islands would play more Antiguan soca.
Antigua Carnival Events
The timeline of events is important when figuring out your Antigua Carnival line up. The Antigua Carnival schedule is lengthy (starting as early as Spring) with cultural events like T Shirt Mas, Party Monarch, Calypso Monarch, Melting Pot, DruesDay and parties like Blue Jeans, Rise, Drink Til Ya Weak and more. In recent years, I’ve had the pleasure of attending Ripple X Tease, de 268 Breakfast Party, Collin Devon Events – Prickly in Pink, Insane Carnival’s White Sands Beach Party. Stay tuned to Antigua Festivals, Two6Eight, Top Shelf Events, Ticketing Events for an events schedule.
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Dutty People Only Trust Dutty People
@bahamianista mood mood mood moood mood @Insane carnival @The Carnival Boutique @antiguaandbarbuda #insanecarnival #insanecarnival2025 #antiguacarnival2025 #duttymas #jouvert #thingstodoinantigua #loveantiguabarbuda #behere #itzavibe ♬ son original – LesAntilles_97
Then follows Dutty Mas early MONDAY morning . Calypso mixed with bouyon and zouk riddims, a live band, bush branches, paint, mud, oil, powder & water. Insane Carnival prides themselves on keeping their brand “authentically Antiguan” and that is what you can expect from their version of DUTTY MAS. It occurs in the wee early morning hours of the first Monday in August (following the Emancipation holiday on August 1st). Insane Carnival fed us FIRST then started out as a pre-party in an alley before moving the trucks along into the streets for J’ouvert.
Carnival Monday in Antigua
After Dutty Mas, you get ready for Carnival Monday in Antigua. It is a more relaxed day with masqueraders donning their carnival Monday wear choices which is complimentary with your Insane Carnival costume. Janna designed a variety of Monday Mas wear that literally any person and any size could take advantage of. I feel like the I in Insane also means INCLUSIVE.
Meeting up with the band on time is pivotal because Insane Carnival provides lunch before heading on the road and rightfully so because the carnival route is NO JOKE and goes well into the night. I got my makeup done for both Carnival Monday and Tuesday from Glow Beauty Makeup Artistry. Yorie was professional and made me feel gorgeous for both days (plus she matched my complexion to a TEE). Got on the road in the afternoon for pictures and then things ramped up – Monday was soooo good! The vibes kept building and then all of a sudden I looked it and it was 9pm LOL. Pro TIP: Wear comfortable shoes in Antigua because they go late into the night – leave the heels for the photo shoots.
Carnival Tuesday
Carnival Tuesday is when you will wear your full costume. However, it is a full on competition so when the troupe leader says to get in your section – YOU get in your section. The parade culminates into crossing the stage towards the end of the night. The streets are lined off with locals spectating and rooting their favorite troupe on – so if its your first time in Antigua for carnival – everybody is a participant in mas (from the very young to the old). Insane Carnival offers non stop vibes and an all inclusive carnival experience from beginning to end including a VIP truck, backpack truck, food prior to getting on the road and more food once returning from Last Lap. For 2025 – the theme was Imperium with beautifully constructed costumes by JannaCostumeDesigns and the Insane Carnival Team.
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Things To Do In Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda is known for it’s 365 beaches (literally one beach for every day of the year). There’s a plethora of things to do like local Antiguan food tours, stingray tour, a scenic historical island tour or a day trip to the sister isle (think picture perfect pink sand) – Barbuda.
This year we got the experience courtesy of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism the Sweet Wadadli Buggy Tours which took us to one of the most frequented beaches in Antigua – SeaForth Beach. And also took a ride on the adventurous side to snorkel with SeaDoo’s and take pictures at the Pillars of Hercules.
Here’s a sample of the full itinerary from Antigua Carnival 2025/Save for 2026:
@bahamianista Antigua Carnival next year? 👀 📌steal, save, share my Antigua Carnival itinerary for next year – hosted and organized by @antiguaandbarbuda – @The Carnival Boutique @Insane carnival #antiguacarnival #insanecarnival #antiguaandbarbuda🇦🇬 #thingstodoinantigua #carnivaltiktok #caribbeancarnival #carnivalcostume #itzavibe #behere ♬ original sound – Cris
Beach Clubs
Antiguan Native, Jen Sainty is a local creator exploring for all things beaches, beach clubs and things to do on Antigua and Barbuda. And to check out the scenic unbeaten paths and untouched beauty of the islands, you have to follow Antiguan local, JervezLee.
Antigua Carnival is the perfect combination of authentic culture, vibes and relaxation.
And much more.. hope to see you in Antigua in 2026! Its a VIBE!
