Organizers of one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations have announced a last-minute change to the kickoff of their 2026 event. The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC), the governing body that oversees the planning and execution of Antigua Carnival, has confirmed that the official launch party for Antigua Carnival 2026 will not go forward as originally planned.
Initially, the launch was set to take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the popular Rising Sun Grounds venue. However, unforeseen overlapping commitments and the scheduling of other major community and national activities during the same window have forced the commission to reschedule the launch event.
In a public statement shared this week, ABFC expressed gratitude to the local community and carnival fans around the world for their ongoing patience and support of the iconic annual celebration. Organizers have encouraged all those excited for the 2026 carnival to embrace the event’s official theme “Feel the Rhythm” and follow the commission’s verified social media channels and official communication platforms to receive real-time updates as soon as a new launch date is confirmed. The full carnival celebration itself is still expected to proceed as planned later in the year, with only the introductory launch event affected by this scheduling adjustment.