Forbes Recognition Opens Antigua Carnival to New International Audience

Antigua Carnival is gaining increased international attention after Forbes Magazine featured the annual festival in an article highlighting its authenticity, local music, vibrant culture and distinctive visitor experience.

Chairperson of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul, said the recognition validates the quality and uniqueness of the festival while introducing it to travellers who may not have previously considered Antigua and Barbuda a Carnival destination.

“It is significant. When an international publication such as Forbes highlights Antigua Carnival for its authenticity, local music and overall experience, it validates the quality and uniqueness of what we have been building,” Makhoul said.

“More importantly, it introduces Antigua Carnival to a new tier of international audience—people who may not have previously considered Antigua and Barbuda as a Carnival destination.”

The Forbes article, titled “The Four Best Things About Antigua Carnival,” comes as the Festivals Commission begins preparations for “Legendary 70,” the 70th anniversary of Antigua Carnival in 2027.

Makhoul said the international exposure presents an opportunity to attract more culturally motivated travellers, but stressed that future development must not undermine the festival’s Antiguan identity.

“As Carnival grows, we must protect what makes it authentically Antiguan. Our music, our people, our culture and the overall experience are what set us apart, and those elements must remain at the centre of our development,” she said.

According to Makhoul, the Commission intends to capitalise on the recognition by strengthening its international marketing and public relations efforts while expanding collaboration with tourism stakeholders, airlines, hotels and other partners.

The Commission will also develop content telling the story of Antigua Carnival’s seven-decade journey to audiences beyond its traditional markets.

“The goal is to convert awareness into interest, and ultimately into people choosing Antigua as their Carnival destination,” Makhoul explained.

She said Antigua Carnival’s combination of traditional culture and contemporary entertainment helps distinguish it from similar festivals across the region.

The celebration features Calypso, steelpan, pageantry, soca, J’ouvert, International Show, T-Shirt Mas and the Parade of Bands, offering what Makhoul described as some of the best road experiences in the Caribbean.

She added that Antigua’s size allows visitors to become fully immersed in Carnival while still enjoying the country’s other tourism attractions.

“It becomes both a Carnival experience and a destination experience, and that combination is part of what makes us special,” the chairperson said.

Planning is already underway for Legendary 70, which will run from July 20 to August 3, 2027.

Makhoul said the milestone celebration will recognise the history and personalities that helped shape Antigua Carnival while introducing new experiences and initiatives intended to influence its future direction.

“We do not want Carnival 70 to simply be a celebration of the past; it should also set the tone for where Antigua Carnival goes from here,” she said.

The Festivals Commission is working on the anniversary’s creative direction, programming, event production, marketing and overall presentation.

Meanwhile, the Commission has begun reviewing the Carnival calendar following a suggestion from Prime Minister Gaston Browne that some major events may need to be rearranged.

Makhoul said the review is examining the overall flow of the season, attendance, participation, production requirements and the experience offered to residents and visitors.

No final decisions have been made, as the Commission is still conducting its post-Carnival assessments.

“The objective is not simply to rearrange events. It is to ensure that the Carnival calendar works better as a whole and supports the continued growth of Antigua Carnival, the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival,” Makhoul said.