The 2026 Saint Lucia Carnival has wrapped its vibrant annual celebrations, with two standout competitors claiming the most prestigious crowns in the island nation’s iconic cultural festival. The Carnival Planning and Management Agency officially公布了 full competition results Wednesday, following two days of dynamic parades that saw ten top mas bands perform before a panel of expert judges on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
In the highly contested Band of the Year category, Xuvo Carnival secured the premier title with its immersive production themed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, ending the reign of previous champion Tribe of Twel by a narrow six-point margin. Xuvo earned a total score of 414 points, while Tribe of Twel, presenting their 2026 concept “Twel-26 – Gold”, followed close behind with 408 points to claim second place. Beyond the overall crown, Xuvo also took home the award for Best Designed Band, solidifying its reputation for exceptional creative execution this year.
A diverse spread of honors went to multiple participating groups across the festival’s 11 competitive categories. Fuzion Mas emerged as a multi-award winner, taking home Section of the Year for their display “Genesis”, as well as the Mas on the Move title. Legends Carnival earned the coveted Spirit of Carnival award, while Tribe of Twel dominated individual competition categories: the band claimed the top five spots in Individual of the Year and also won Best Portrayal.
In the traditional Ole Mas category, Julian “Bull” Calderon took the crown with his playful entry “At my age I have everything going for me”. For J’ouvert, the pre-dawn street party that kicks off Carnival celebrations, Back in Times J’ouvert claimed the J’ouvert Band of the Year title with their presentation “The Power of the Earth”.
In the Road March, the award for the most popular song played during the parade, Andrew’s infectious Dennery segment anthem “Biscuit” stormed to the top spot, beating out runners-up Tallyboy & Sedale’s “Bum-Bum Whistle” and third-place finisher Ezra D’fun Machine’s “Salute” to claim the title.
The annual Lucian Carnival draws thousands of visitors and participants each year, celebrating the island’s rich Creole cultural heritage through vibrant costuming, music, and street parades. This year’s competition delivered the close contest and dynamic creativity that has made the event a highlight of the Caribbean festival calendar.