Preparations for Antigua’s highly anticipated 2026 Carnival reached a landmark milestone this week, as the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) confirmed the successful completion of a cutting-edge new stage and integrated roof system for the iconic event. Construction of the broader Carnival City venue is already progressing ahead of original timelines, positioning the island’s signature celebration as it prepares to step onto a new global stage.
Measuring 115 feet in length and 50 feet in width when fully expanded, the massive new staging system is currently configured to 105 feet by 50 feet for Carnival operations. This flexible footprint cements its status as one of the largest and most adaptable performance platforms across the Eastern Caribbean. Unlike fixed staging setups common across the region, the new structure’s modular design allows organizers to reconfigure it into three distinct sizes, while keeping all critical technical infrastructure—including speaker towers, projection screens, motorized rigging walls, and production equipment—fully integrated under the protective roof. Project leaders estimate that with regular maintenance, this long-term public investment will serve Antigua and Barbuda for 10 to 15 years, delivering value for events far beyond the annual Carnival celebration.
Recently, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne led an official on-site inspection of the progressing Carnival City development, where he voiced full satisfaction with the work completed to date. Browne emphasized that the project extends far beyond upgrading a single annual festival, framing it as a strategic investment in the nation’s creative economy. “This goes beyond Carnival. We are building out the creative industries that can make our people competitive in a global society,” he stated, noting that the new stage will already see high-profile use ahead of 2026, including as the host venue for the upcoming CHOGM Super Concert.
Hon. Dwayne George, Minister of Creative Industries and Carnival, shared his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the relentless behind-the-scenes work of the ABFC team to deliver what is globally billed as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. “I am so proud and happy to be working alongside my ABFC team. It is a solid, competent team. The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver Antigua Carnival as a world-class production, truly touches my heart. It is a lot of work, and I am pleased to be working alongside them, doing my part.”
ABFC Chairperson Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul confirmed that the overall Carnival City build-out remains well ahead of schedule, with the core stage and roof infrastructure now fully checked off the project list. “I am very pleased to report that we are well ahead of schedule with the building out of Carnival City. The stage and roof are complete, and our next focus is enhancing the overall venue in keeping with the Prime Minister’s vision for the space,” she explained.
The new stage and roof were assembled by local firm Sound 2000, and the installation process also included hands-on skills training for local technicians, building long-term local capacity to operate and maintain the new infrastructure. Earl “Churchie” York, Managing Director of Sound 2000, called the project a transformative shift for the nation’s events industry. “Antigua can boast of having the largest and most modern stage and roof system in the Eastern Caribbean… With proper maintenance, this investment can serve Antigua for the next 10 to 15 years. Antigua is leading the region,” York said.
Over the past weekend, ABFC hosted a full stakeholder walkthrough of the site, bringing together senior government leaders, ABFC board and team members, representatives from the Ministry of Works, and management of the Antigua Recreation Grounds, where Carnival City is located. During the inspection, Prime Minister Browne issued a formal mandate for the next phase of upgrades, which will focus on improving the overall patron experience through expanded and improved seating, upgraded lighting systems, public murals, enhanced landscaping, and a range of other aesthetic improvements designed to create a more welcoming environment for both local and visiting attendees.
As work on the venue continues, the ABFC has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a modern, world-class Carnival City that reflects the growing strength and potential of Antigua and Barbuda’s creative industries. With the core stage in place and the venue rapidly taking shape, the 2026 Antigua Carnival is more than just another iteration of the annual celebration: it is a legacy project designed to benefit generations of local creatives, performers, and audience members, lifting the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival to an unprecedented new level of global acclaim.