At the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), regional leaders have made a key decision shaping the future of the Caribbean’s most iconic cultural celebration: Antigua and Barbuda will be the official host of CARIFESTA 2029.
The confirmation, formally released in the gathering’s closing communiqué, solidifies the twin-island nation’s role as the steward of the Caribbean’s premier festival dedicated to honoring regional arts, cultural identity, and shared heritage. In a concurrent announcement that locks in the festival’s long-term schedule, CARICOM heads also formally accepted Guyana’s bid to host the 2027 edition of the event, locking in the next two installments of the iconic regional gathering.
Established as the Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA serves as a unifying platform that brings together a diverse cross-section of creative talent from across the region. Artists, musicians, theatrical performers, authors, and cultural workers gather for an immersive program spanning visual art exhibitions, open-air concerts, stage productions, literary discussions, and dozens of other showcases of Caribbean creativity. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most anticipated celebrations of creative expression across the Caribbean bloc.
While the final communiqué did not disclose specific details about Antigua and Barbuda’s proposed programming, venue plans, or budget for the 2029 festival, the early selection grants the nation a multi-year runway to develop and refine every element of the event ahead of its kickoff.
This latest hosting win comes as Antigua and Barbuda is already deep in preparations for another high-profile international gathering: the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to take place in November 2026. That event is projected to bring dozens of global heads of state and thousands of international delegates to the country, marking a major period of increased global attention and international event hosting for the twin-island nation in the coming years.