In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival preparations, the National Carnival Commission (NCC) has announced substantial cost reductions for the iconic North Stand construction. NCC CEO Keiba Jacob Mottley confirmed via WhatsApp that the 2026 erection and dismantling expenses will be nearly 50% lower than those incurred for Carnival 2025, though specific financial figures remain undisclosed.
The construction process for the temporary structure commenced on December 16th, with completion targeted for mid-January 2026. The North Stand, historically central to major Carnival events including the renowned Panorama steelband competition, has frequently been subject to public scrutiny regarding its economic viability.
Historical context reveals this isn’t the first time cost concerns have affected the stand’s existence. Both 2011 and 2019 saw the structure omitted from Carnival festivities due to financial constraints, with the 2019 project reportedly costing approximately $4 million and creating considerable strain on NCC resources. The stand was reintroduced in 2023 after its previous hiatus.
For the upcoming 2026 celebrations, the NCC continues to market the North Stand as an exclusive VIP area for clients leasing the North Park facility. This monetization strategy appears central to justifying the structure’s continued presence. The broader Carnival 2026 initiative operates within a government-allocated budget of $137 million, though specific breakdowns for individual components remain unspecified.
The North Stand, which gained cultural prominence during the 1960s and 1970s, represents both a practical venue solution and a symbolic element of Trinidad’s world-famous Carnival traditions. Its annual construction and subsequent dismantling have long been topics of public discussion regarding festival economics and cultural preservation.