One of Tobago Carnival’s well-known participating bands, Jade Monkey Carnival, has announced a major change to its 2026 event plans, confirming it will step back from organizing the beloved Jouvert segment of the island’s iconic festival. The band’s leader, Seon Anthony, shared the official announcement in a public post to the band’s Facebook followers on Tuesday, opening the statement by addressing the group’s core community of masqueraders, event partners, long-time supporters, and the general Tobagonian public.
After months of careful deliberation and internal assessment, band leadership finalized the difficult call to cancel its planned 2026 Jouvert presentation, which was billed under the theme “Rise of the Empire”. In the post, the leadership emphasized that the decision was far from a casual one. A full organizational review was conducted to evaluate the current broader economic climate, as well as a range of day-to-day operational factors that would affect the band’s ability to put on the event. Ultimately, the team concluded that moving forward with the Jouvert presentation in 2026 would not let them meet the high bar of quality that their masqueraders have come to expect from the band year after year.
For the Jade Monkey team, Carnival is far more than just marching a collective of performers along the parade route. It is a cultural practice rooted in creating experiences that capture the vibrant energy, innovative creativity, and one-of-a-kind community spirit that defines the Jade Monkey brand. Any project that carries the band’s name is expected to deliver the exceptional, immersive experiences that the group has built its reputation on, the statement noted.
While the “Rise of the Empire” Jouvert presentation will not move forward as planned for the 2026 Tobago Carnival, the band remains committed to its role in the annual festival season. The group will still host its beloved signature Carnival event F.A.W.W, continuing its contribution to Tobago’s iconic cultural celebration.
Jade Monkey Carnival closed its statement by extending heartfelt gratitude to all masqueraders, corporate partners, official sponsors, and community supporters for their understanding, patience, and ongoing trust in the band’s leadership. The organization was quick to clarify that this exit is not a permanent end to the band’s Jouvert participation. “This is not goodbye, it is simply a moment to pause, regroup and look ahead,” the announcement read.
All masqueraders who have already completed their registration for the 2026 presentation will be contacted directly by the Jade Monkey team in the coming days to discuss their registration status and next steps. The band asked all affected participants to monitor their messages for the official communication, which will be sent to the contact information each registrant provided during the sign-up process.