Antigua and Barbuda Carnival Spirit Lights Up Antigua Day in New York

Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival spirit took centre stage in New York City this weekend as the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) brought the energy of Carnival City to the annual Antigua Day celebrations.

The cultural showcase, held each year on the Saturday before Labor Day, has grown into one of the biggest gatherings of Antiguans and Barbudans outside the twin-island nation. Thousands turned out in Brooklyn for music, food, and camaraderie in what has become a homecoming tradition for the diaspora.

This year, the ABFC featured performances from 2025 Carnival winners Tian Winter, who swept both Groovy and Jumpy Soca Monarch titles, and Road March Monarch Soca Villain. They were joined by veterans of the local music scene including Empress, King Zacari, King Blade, Willy Wawa, DJ Quest, Island Prince, and Young Vice with the New Gen Band. Together, they delivered a high-energy showcase that transported audiences back to Antigua’s summer festival.

Adding to the excitement, Antigua and Barbuda and Leeward Islands Calypso Queen, Queen Ge’eve, received the Oscar Mason Award in recognition of her contributions to the calypso artform.

Beyond the stage, the ABFC used the occasion to launch Antigua Carnival 2026, engaging with the diaspora through a festive booth and promotional campaign.

Event founder and producer, Tiria Mason of Caribbean Splashdown, said she was proud to see how far the celebration has come. “After over a decade of producing Antigua Day, this one is for the books. I am proud to see Antigua and Barbuda represented in such large numbers in the USA. As a proud daughter of the soil, I will continue doing my part to fly my flag high.” she said.

Education, Sports and Creative Industries Minister Daryll Matthew, who was in New York for the event, praised the collaborative effort. “Antigua Day has become the largest cultural gathering of Antiguans and Barbudans outside of our shores, and we will continue to support it. I commend Ms. Mason and the ABFC team for their vision and dedication in ensuring Antigua and Barbuda shines on this international stage,” he said.

ABFC Chairperson Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul underlined the importance of diaspora engagement, pointing to Antigua’s presence at major festivals abroad such as Notting Hill Carnival in London. “While it is critical that we pursue new markets, we must also recognize that the Caribbean diaspora is what is fuelling and energizing the Caribbean’s Carnival across the world and it is imperative that we have a presence in all of the Major Carnival’s in the Caribbean. In North America and London most recently that take-over present we had at Notting Hill Carnval.” she said.

The celebrations are set to continue on Labor Day at Brooklyn’s West Indian American Day Parade, where Antigua’s artists and the ABFC team will take part in one of the Caribbean’s largest cultural showcases. Minister Matthew is also scheduled to appear on Pix 11 News to promote Antigua Carnival, while performers will feature on the station’s parade float.

For many in the diaspora, Antigua Day is more than a party, it is a bridge to home, keeping culture alive across generations while proudly flying the Antiguan and Barbudan flag in the heart of New York City.