One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations, Antigua Carnival, is gearing up for its 2026 edition with an exciting new release that is already building buzz across the region. Rising local soca artist Zamoni has dropped his highly anticipated carnival anthem “What We Drinking?”, a track crafted to carry forward the beloved legacy of Papi’s Horns, a legendary musical institution that has defined Antigua’s carnival sound for decades.
Antigua Carnival, held annually to celebrate the nation’s emancipation from slavery and highlight the vibrant spirit of Antiguan and Barbudan culture, draws thousands of visitors from across the globe each year, eager to experience the pulsating rhythms, colorful parades, and infectious joy that define the event. At the heart of many of the carnival’s most iconic moments has been Papi’s Horns, a brass collective whose distinctive melodies have become inseparable from the sound of Antigua’s biggest celebration. After the passing of the group’s founder, the community has rallied to ensure his musical influence does not fade, and Zamoni’s new track stands as one of the most heartfelt tributes to date.
“What We Drinking?” weaves the recognizable, punchy horn lines that Papi’s Horns made famous into a modern soca arrangement, designed to get crowd jumping from the opening beats. Zamoni, who grew up attending Antigua Carnival and listening to Papi’s Horns perform along the parade route, shared in early comments that the track is a personal love letter to the culture that raised him, as well as a nod to the generations of musicians who built Antigua’s carnival sound. The track leans into the signature call-and-response that gets crowds singing along all day, with lyrics centered on the communal joy, friendship, and unbridled celebration that are the core of the carnival experience.
Industry insiders and carnival veterans have already praised the track for balancing respect for tradition with fresh, contemporary energy that resonates with both long-time carnival attendees and younger first-time visitors. As event organizers finalize plans for the 2026 celebration, “What We Drinking?” is already positioned as one of the leading road march contenders, with many local fêtes and events already adding the track to their rotation months ahead of the official parade. For Antigua’s cultural community, the release is more than just a new carnival song—it is proof that the legacy of Papi’s Horns will continue to echo through the streets of St. John’s for many more carnivals to come.