The 55th anniversary edition of St. Maarten Carnival wrapped up one of its most anticipated showcases Wednesday evening, with a new queen crowned for the 2026 Caribbean Carnival Queen pageant. The prestigious regional competition unfolded at the iconic Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village on the island of Sint Maarten, drawing top pageant contestants from across the Caribbean to compete for the coveted title.
By the end of the judging process, Miss Saint Lucia Emerle Tisson claimed the crown, stepping into the regional spotlight as the 2026 titleholder. Tisson’s performance edged out fellow competitors from eight other Caribbean nations and territories to secure the top honor.
First runner-up honors went to Miss St. Eustatius Kentonea Fortin, who delivered a standout performance that impressed judges and audiences alike. On home turf, Miss St. Maarten Keisy Quant earned a warm reception from the local crowd as she claimed the second runner-up position.
Additional competitors vying for the title represented Anguilla, Barbados, Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighting the pageant’s status as a unifying cultural event across the Caribbean region. The 2026 Caribbean Carnival Queen pageant was organized and hosted by the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation, the governing body behind the island’s annual anniversary carnival celebrations.