Vincymas 2026 was officially launched on Saturday at the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport in Arnos Vale, with the chair of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), Ricardo Adams, saying the carnival is more than a festival.
“Tonight, we start on the road to Vincymas, a journey where we celebrate the past, embrace the present and look eagerly to the future,” Adams said.
“We call it ‘The Great Escape’. Vincymas is more than just a festival. It is the heartbeat of our nation. It is the rhythm of our drums, the creativity of our mas, the power of our music and the spirit of our people,” Adams said.
He said the festival “reminds us that we are one culture, one people, one Vincymas”, adding that this year will see “some exciting additions” to the regular.
“… we have the return of the Miss SVG to the Vincymas calendar,” he said of the beauty pageant, which was not held last year.
The Miss SVG Pageant had traditionally been the curtain-raiser for Vincymas, held in May, but was changed to October a few years ago and made part of independence celebrations.
Then, last year, the show was not held amidst an intense election campaign that saw the Unity Labour Party voted out of office, after 25 years.
(Click for photos of Miss SVG 2026 contestants.)
“We have the AIA (Argyle International Airport) activations returning again this year, which were so very popular last year,” Adams said.
“And we’re going to have right here at Arnos Vale, a cultural village which will span the entire 10 days of the festival, because what is a carnival without the flavour of our Vincy cuisine?” Adams said.
“We are looking to make Vincymas an experience for all to enjoy. And we started this evening,” he said, noting the return of the monkey band, adding, “We’re going to get even bigger and better this year with that.”
Vincymas will mark 50 years as a summer festival in 2027, having been changed from a pre-Lenten festival in 1977.
Adams said that the CDC will launch the 50th anniversary celebrations this year.
“For 50 years, this shift has shaped our identity, elevated our cultural expression, and positioned Vincymas as one of the most authentic and energy-filled carnivals in the Caribbean,” Adams said.
“This milestone is not just a celebration of time, it is a celebration of resilience, creativity and national pride,” he said.
“As we begin this journey over the next few months, I urge each and every one of you to go out and support the rural carnivals. Be part of the build-up events, support Miss SVG, attend the calypso tents, visit the mas camps and spend time in the pan yards,” Adams said.
“Immerse yourselves in the culture. Live it. Feel it. Support it.”
He made a special appeal to Vincentian youth, describing them as “the future of Vincymas”
“Channel your energies into the creative space, into music, mas, dance and art, into the culture that unites us rather than the influences that try to divide us. Your talent, your innovation and your energies are needed now more than ever,” Adams said.
“And to the powers that be, let us continue and even strengthen our support for the creative industries. When we invest in culture, we invest in our people; when we empower our youth, we secure our future.”
Adams said Vincymas has always been a safe festival.
“This is something for which we all must take responsibility. Let us preserve that legacy. Let us celebrate responsibly, respect each other and ensure that everyone, locals and visitors alike, can enjoy the magic of our festival in a safe and welcoming environment,” he said.
