One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations, Antigua Carnival 2026 wrapped up its vibrant multi-day program with an official awards ceremony that crowned this year’s standout competitors, capping off weeks of parades, live music, and community celebration.
Leading the pack of award winners was Sechuns The Band, which secured the festival’s most prestigious distinction: Band of the Year. The ensemble turned in a dominant performance across the signature two-day parade schedule, earning first place in the Carnival Tuesday Large Band Category and finishing as first runner-up in the Carnival Monday Large Band Category to seal its overall top ranking.
Other leading bands turned in impressive showings to round out the overall standings. Insane Carnival notched a first-place win in the popular T-Shirt Mas competition and claimed the first runner-up spot for overall Band of the Year. Myst Carnival, which took home the top title for Carnival Monday Large Band, secured second place in the overall Band of the Year rankings.
In the festival’s highly competitive music category, artist Ballo’s hit track “Bang E Line” claimed the 2026 Road March title, a honor awarded based on how frequently the song is played throughout the festival’s street parades. The popular soca track was played 101 times across carnival events, beating out the closest competition by a comfortable margin. Soca Villan and Island Prince’s collaboration “Gyal Sidung” finished as first runner-up with 89 total plays, while Dan Knowledge’s “Shake It Off” took third place with 74 plays.
Awards were also distributed across the festival’s iconic J’ouvert segment, the early-morning street celebration that kicks off the carnival’s main events. Liberta Black Thing earned the honor of First Band on the Road, while Caution was named Largest Band on the Road. High Voltage claimed the title of First Jam Band on the Road, and Revo Band took home the distinction of Sweetest Jam Band. In the Best J’ouvert Troupe competition, ChattaBox Company Ltd. took top honors, followed by Flava FM One Caribbean in second and Brewmasters J’ouvert Troupe in third.
In smaller band categories, RT Performers Cultural Entertainment earned the Carnival Tuesday Small Band title, with Bachannal Carnival placing second and WACC Mas third. For festival floats, the Central Board of Health claimed first place, the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries took first runner-up, and the Chinese Association finished as second runner-up.