Next: 8 to 9 Feb 2027
Trinidad Carnival
The greatest show of the Caribbean: J'ouvert at dawn, then masquerade bands in feathers, soca and steelpan on Carnival Tuesday.
When is Trinidad Carnival in 2027?
Trinidad Carnival 2027 runs from 8 to 9 February 2027. Other years: 2026, 16 to 17 February 2026; 2028, 28 to 29 February 2028.
About Trinidad Carnival
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago runs for weeks of parties and competitions, and culminates in the two days before Ash Wednesday, Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Its roots are in the French planters' masquerade balls, and in the celebrations of emancipation by the formerly enslaved people, who made them their own with calypso and steelband. At J'ouvert, which means daybreak, in the dark before dawn on Monday, revellers smear themselves in mud, paint, oil and powder and dance through the streets to music. On Tuesday, the masquerade bands, which design a theme with costumes in feathers, beads, sequins and wire, parade across the stage at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain to the beat of soca and steelpan. The calypso monarch, the Soca Monarch and Panorama steelband contests are held before.
Trinidad Carnival dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Trinidad Carnival date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 to 17 February 2026 |
| 2027 | 8 to 9 February 2027 |
| 2028 | 28 to 29 February 2028 |
What is eaten
- doubles
- roti
- bake and shark
- corn soup
Traditions of Trinidad Carnival
Also part of it, and being written: J'Ouvert (The pre-dawn street party.), Soca music (The dance music of Carnival.), Calypso music (The song form of satire and wit.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Trinidad and Tobago Carnival" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Steelpan: Shanel, CC BY-SA 3.0, source