Trinidad Carnival 2025 Dates, Costumes, Events & More

June 26, 2024September 12, 2024

Trinidad Carnival 2025 dates, costumes and everything you need to know if you’re planning to go for the first time.

Trinidad Carnival 2025 dates are March 3rd & March 4th, 2025
Trinidad Carnival (largest costume parade) takes place around the Queen’s Savannah Park in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
The National J’ouvert takes place in the wee early morning hours on Monday prior to the parade of bands on Carnival Monday.
Visitors should fly into Piarco International Airport (airport code POS)
Average overall cost for Trinidad Carnival can vary depending on preference, average MINIMUM of $3500 -$4000 USD+ per person for total flight/stay/costume/parties/transportation

What is Trinidad Carnival?

Historically (and briefly), Trinidad’s carnival originated as far back as the Canboulay Riots in 1881 as free black people were commemorating their freedom from slavery and were met with resistance from colonizers. Articles referenced here, here and here.

A reenactment of the Canboulay Riots takes place in the wee morning hours on Carnival Friday – one of the many cultural events showcasing the rich history and heritage of Trinidad Carnival. Trinidad Carnival is not only a large carnival parade through the streets but a plethora of events starting as early as November to begin the carnival season.

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Where is it?

The largest and more widely known carnival takes place in Port of Spain, Trinidad with neighboring carnivals, celebrations taking place in the various cities in both Trinidad and Tobago.

When is Trinidad Carnival 2025?

Always prior to lenten season, the peak of carnival season is always the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Carnival dates for 2024 are:

Carnival Monday is March 3rd, 2025 and Carnival Tuesday is March 4th, 2025.

A Planning Timeline For Trinidad Carnival

Here’s a few things to note when planning for Trinidad Carnival; it is an extensive process and often people start planning as soon as that year’s carnival has concluded.

Travel To Trinidad For Carnival

FLIGHT: Airport code for Port of Spain is POS and flight prices can vary; the earlier you purchase – the more affordable. If you’re waiting a bit longer or don’t plan that far ahead – you can also check out various island destinations that offer the route or carnival specials (i.e. BahamasAir) if direct flights are over budget or just riddled with connections. I booked my roundtrip BahamasAir Flight from Nassau, Bahamas to Port of Spain, Trinidad (POS) on December 28th for dates February 16th to the 22nd, 2023 for around $650 USD.

Where To Stay For Trinidad Carnival

There are several hotels, guest houses that you can find accommodations for carnival. Some popular ones are the

If you prefer Airbnb, search areas like St. James, Upper St. James, Woodbrook, Cascade, Maraval, Belmont, St. Ann’s and more. TIP: Try to stay as close as possible to the Queen’s Savannah Park and call (yes, get on the phone) the hotels and guest houses to inquire about vacancies.

Length of stay can vary; the minimum recommended amount can be Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday or often to sample more of the carnival season you can stay up to two weeks or longer. Often, there’s a large demand to “cool down” and recuperate after carnival in the sister isle Tobago and persons will extend their visit to experience it.

Travel to Tobago can be booked as early as flights are open from POS to TAB airport codes. There’s also a ferry called the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Company where you can source ferry tickets for really affordable prices (but they sell out quickly too!).

Register In A Carnival Band | Trinidad Carnival 2025 Costumes

Sunset Wkn is a weekend hosted by the Tribe family of bands to display carnival and culture via fetes and one of the most popular band showcases for the Trinidad Carnival band launch season.

It’s important to note that there are several categories of mas bands – small, medium and large – all with various offerings and price points. Here are several bands listed (not all bands listed). Some bands are competing bands for band of the year (i.e. Lost Tribe Carnival -winner of the large bands category)

Registration (depending on the band) can take form via committee registration (contacting a committee member) or you can register directly with your band of choice; it just depends on their process.

Trinidad Carnival 2025 Events

Lots of events happen during carnival time from the culturally rich to the PUMP til you can’t PUMP no more. The process to get into certain fetes can be (for lack of a better word-tricky); you often have to “know someone who knows someone” more particularly for the “unicorn fetes” but there are MANY options if you don’t want to bother with committee-based events.

I purchased about 4 fetes for Trinidad Carnival 2023 for about $523.50 USD and there are various online ticketing outlets, fete lists that you can utilize to get more information about events and parties such as:

You can also check out concierge services like Haeven who do all the leg-work for you with their multi-event packages.

Here’s an ever-evolving list of events that happen closer towards the carnival parade.

Monday February 24th, 2025

Soca Baby Boat Cruise (11am)

Tuesday February 25th, 2025

Wednesday February 26th, 2025

J’Lime Trinidad Carnival 2025 (6pm)

Thursday February 27th, 2025

Soca Startr (7am)

Friday February 28th, 2025

Saturday March 1st, 2025

Soca Brainwash (12noon)
Children’s Carnival

Sunday March 2nd, 2025

Soaka Street Festival
IMAGINE (3pm)

Monday March 3rd, 2025

National J’ouvert
Carnival Monday (Parade of The Bands)

Tuesday March 4th, 2025

Carnival Tuesday (Parade of The Bands)

Wednesday March 5th, 2025

Thursday March 6th, 2025

Post Carnival Relief (2pm)

How To Get Around For Trinidad Carnival

Here’s a few options and tips to explore when you’re planning your trip. A personal driver seems to be the best option and on average for a week ; I’ve seen quotes start from like $400 USD and up per person. TIP: Get quotes before hand so you can get the best price.

You can also use rideshare apps which are exponentially cheaper (they take cash and cards via the app). I had issues registering my US number in Trinidad so register in the app before you leave for Trinidad if you don’t get a Trinidad number. Other recommended rideshare apps were:

J’ouvert

J’ouvert occurs during the wee early morning hours. There are options for participation; you can just go outside and follow along on the sidelines of the J’ouvert bands or register for a J’ouvert band for a more secure, all inclusive experience. A few popular Jouvert bands are as follows:

Carnival Monday

Carnival Monday is the beginning of pretty mas where revelers adorn “swimwear like attire” or modified versions of a costume. Carnival Monday wear can start as low as $25 -$50 USD or if you support local Trini designers can go upwards towards $150 to 300 USD.

Carnival Monday Wear Designers

RebelUsian
Marie Collette
Rhion Rhomany
Made By Mei
House of Jem
Kaiso Karni
Shawn Dhanraj
Tropix Swim/Keisha ALS
Aria Applewhite
Sheena Ali

On Carnival Tuesday, you wear your full carnival costume provided to you by your band of choice.

What Else Can You Do During Trinidad Carnival?

Things to do vary in sweet T&T. Here are a few examples of things to do:

Caroni Bird Sanctuary
Las Cuevas Beach
Pitch Lake
Bamboo Cathedral
The Red House
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum

Also big FOCUS on Trinidadian food; a must when traveling to T&T. I got a really nice bake n shark from Patsy’s on Maracas Bay. I also had a nice curry goat, white rice, macaroni pie and callaloo combo from a place called Myrtle’s (that was ironically a Jamaican restaurant). Other food you need to try when visiting Trinidad and Tobago include: