Antigua Carnival 2026 Comes to a Colourful Close as Sechuns The Band Claims Top Honours

One of the Caribbean’s most vibrant annual cultural celebrations, Antigua Carnival 2026, drew to a close on Tuesday, wrapping up nearly two weeks of nonstop music, elaborate masquerade performances, and immersive cultural traditions that turned the capital city of St. John’s into a massive gathering hub for thousands of locals and international travelers alike. Beyond the festive street parties and cultural showcases, the event’s annual competitive categories crowned a new crop of standout performers, with Sechuns The Band emerging as the unrivaled star of this year’s festival. The fan-favorite group took home two of the most prestigious awards of the celebration: the overall Band of the Year title and first place in the Carnival Tuesday Large Band category, beating out runner-ups Insane Carnival and Myst Carnival to claim the top spots. While Sechuns dominated two major divisions, other groups claimed top honors across the festival’s range of competitive events. Myst Carnival secured the first place title in the Carnival Monday Wear Large Band competition, one of the most visually focused categories that highlights elaborate costume design. In the small band division for Carnival Tuesday, RT Performers Cultural Entertainment took home the winning trophy. Insane Carnival added an award to its collection this year, taking first place in the T-Shirt Mas category, finishing ahead of Myst Carnival and Rebel Nation in that competition. The beloved early-morning J’ouvert street celebrations, a staple of Caribbean carnival tradition that centers messy, joyful street partying with paint and powder, also featured its own set of competitive awards. Liberta Black Thing was named First Band on the Road for J’ouvert, while Caution took the title of Largest Band on the Road. High Voltage claimed the title of First Jam Band on the Road, and Revo Band earned recognition as the Sweetest Jam Band of this year’s J’ouvert celebrations. Rounding out the award announcements, ChattaBox Company Ltd. won the title of Best J’ouvert Troupe, outperforming second-place Flava FM One Caribbean and third-place Brewmasters J’ouvert Troupe to claim the honor. Organizers have already noted that this year’s event drew larger crowds than 2025’s iteration, cementing Antigua Carnival’s reputation as a must-attend cultural destination for travelers from across the globe.