Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival spirit travelled across the Atlantic and into the heart of West London as reigning I-NET Party Monarch kings Young Lyrics and Tian Winter embarked on a nine-day London engagement, bringing the sounds and energy of Antigua Carnival to audiences during the highly anticipated Notting Hill Carnival celebrations. 

The engagement formed part of efforts to promote Antigua and Barbuda as a vibrant cultural destination and build international anticipation for the island’s historic 70th Anniversary Carnival celebrations in 2027.

 Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world’s largest celebrations of Caribbean and Black British culture, attracts more than two million people, bringing together audiences from across the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and around the world. The annual celebration has become a major platform for the expression and celebration of Caribbean music, food, fashion, art and culture. 

Against this backdrop, Young Lyrics and Tian Winter brought the distinctive sound of Antigua’s soca to the London stage, delivering performances that highlighted the island’s growing musical influence and the infectious energy of its Carnival culture. 

The artistes performed at several events during their London engagement, including Dreamland, I Island Mas and alongside Patrice Roberts I am Woman soca event, connecting with audiences through high-energy performances and showcasing the music that has become synonymous with Antigua’s Carnival celebrations. 

Young Lyrics, the reigning Groovy Soca Monarch, said performing in London provided an exciting opportunity to take Antigua’s sound beyond the shores of the island and introduce new audiences to the country’s Carnival experience. 

“Taking Antigua’s music to London and performing in front of such a diverse audience was an incredible experience. The energy was amazing, and the response to our music reminded me of the power of soca to bring people together. We are not just promoting music; we are promoting Antigua and Barbuda, our culture and the experience of Carnival. With Carnival 70 coming next year, this is only the beginning.” 

Tian Winter, reigning Jumpy Soca Monarch, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of using international platforms to showcase Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural identity.

“Notting Hill is such a major celebration of Caribbean culture, so being in London representing Antigua and Barbuda was a huge honour. We were able to take our music, our energy and our Carnival spirit to people who may know Antigua for our beaches but may not yet know the full experience of Antigua Carnival. We want people to hear our music in London and then come to Antigua and experience the culture for themselves.”

The London engagement was supported by the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, as part of efforts to extend the international reach of Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival brand and generate greater awareness of the destination’s cultural offerings.

The celebrations also saw fellow Antiguan soca artiste Zamoni, who was in London and joined in the wider Carnival festivities, adding another Antiguan voice to the vibrant Caribbean presence surrounding Notting Hill Carnival.

The international showcase comes at an important time for Antigua and Barbuda, as the country prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Antigua’s Carnival in 2027 under the theme “Legendary 70.”

Scheduled for July 20 to August 3, 2027, the milestone celebration is expected to be one of the most significant editions in the history of Antigua Carnival, providing an opportunity to celebrate seven decades of culture, music, creativity and national pride while inviting visitors from around the world to experience the festival at its source.

From Antigua to West London, the message was clear: the road to Carnival 70 has already begun and as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to celebrate seven decades of its signature festival, the island is inviting the world to come and experience the rhythm, culture and energy of Legendary 70.