Caribbean Carnival Calendar 2026: Every Major Date You Need to Know

Carnival season does not stop at one island or one weekend. Once Trinidad's fetes wind down, the road just moves. Jamaica picks it up in spring, St Vincent takes over for summer, Barbados follows close behind, then Grenada and Notting Hill close out August. If you are planning to jump a season or just want to know when to book flights, here is what is confirmed for 2026.

Jamaica Carnival - April 8 to 14

Jamaica Carnival runs April 8 through 14, 2026, with Road March falling on Sunday, April 12. Soca leads the road, but dancehall and reggae shape the week just as much, spread across bands like Bacchanal Jamaica and Xodus. Fete calendars vary by promoter, so it is worth checking each band's own schedule before booking.

Vincy Mas (St Vincent and the Grenadines) - June 26 to July 7

VincyMas runs from June 26 to July 7, 2026, under the theme "The Great Escape." The Queen of Carnival show lands July 1, Calypso Monarch finals July 2, Soca Monarch finals July 3, and Panorama Steelband finals July 4. Dimanche Gras takes over Victoria Park July 5, before J'ouvert and the Parade of the Bands close things out on July 6 and 7.

Crop Over (Barbados) - Through August 4

Barbados' Crop Over builds through June and July with calypso tents and Foreday Morning, ending with Grand Kadooment on August 4, 2026.

Spicemas (Grenada) - Early August

Spicemas culminates with Dimanche Gras on August 9, followed by Carnival Monday and Tuesday on August 10 and 11, both public holidays in Grenada. St George's and Grand Anse are the epicentre, with Jab Jab mas among the festival's signature traditions.

Notting Hill Carnival (London) - August 29 to 31

Europe's biggest street festival runs the August Bank Holiday weekend, August 29 to 31, 2026, and marks 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival with heritage programming alongside the usual parade, sound systems, and mas bands.

Plan Ahead

Dates shift year to year and some bands run their own satellite events outside the official calendar, so always confirm with the festival's official site or your mas band before locking in flights and costumes. But if you are trying to map out your Carnival year, this is the run of it: Jamaica in spring, Vincy Mas and Crop Over through the summer, then Grenada and London closing out August.

Which stop is on your calendar this year?

Sources

Soca Islands (2026) Jamaica Carnival 2026. Available at: https://socaislands.com/jamaica-carnival-2026/ (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

VincyMas (2026) Calendar of Events. Available at: https://vincymas.vc/events-calendar/ (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

Soca Islands (2026) Grenada Spicemas (Carnival) 2026. Available at: https://socaislands.com/grenada-carnival-2026/ (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

Notting Hill Carnival (2026) Official schedule and information. Available at: https://nhcarnival.org (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (2026) Crop Over Festival Schedule 2026. Available at: https://www.visitbarbados.org/crop-over (Accessed: 10 July 2026).