Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival 2026 celebrations commenced officially with the inauguration of two dedicated village spaces at Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, though the launch was met with contrasting public reactions to organizational changes.
The Ministry of Culture and Community Development, in partnership with the National Carnival Commission (NCC), formally opened the John Cupid Carnival Village on January 9, following the successful debut of the culinary-focused Flava Village the previous day. The dual launch marks the official beginning of the nation’s premier cultural festival.
High-ranking officials including Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Narindra Roopnarine, and NCC chairman Peter Kanhai presided over the ceremonies alongside several government ministers and stakeholders. Notably, Minister Benjamin did not deliver a public address during the events.
The unveiling of the John Cupid Carnival Village proved contentious as NCC chairman Kanhai faced audible public disapproval when explaining the venue’s relocation from the east to the west side of the grandstand. Despite Kanhai’s assurances that the new layout offered improved convenience, accessibility, and spaciousness, attendees responded with loud boos and shouts of disagreement.
“You will notice right off the bat that we are doing things differently this year,” Kanhai stated during his address, which was immediately met with crowd disapproval. He maintained that both new and returning visitors would recognize the dramatically enhanced quality of the village experience despite the vocal opposition.
In contrast to the mixed reception of the Carnival Village, the Flava Village culinary component reported exceptional success. The ministry revealed that numerous food vendors completely sold out their inventory before closing time on the inaugural night, with one entrepreneur reporting by 8 PM and subsequently doubling his stock for the second night to meet unprecedented demand.
Minister Benjamin extended gratitude to the NCC Board of Commissioners and all involved parties for their dedication toward ensuring Carnival 2026’s success. The ministry confirmed that festival events are now fully underway, including the heating Panorama 2026 competitions, the launched Chutney Soca Monarch 2026, and final costume preparations ahead of the main celebrations.