[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":380},["ShallowReactive",2],{"journal:\u002Fjournal\u002Fevents\u002Fsugar-mas-carnival":3},{"path":4,"nav":5,"kind":18,"crumbs":19,"article":28,"author":47,"island":52,"document":79,"map_sites":218,"more":246,"related":305,"index":315},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fevents\u002Fsugar-mas-carnival",[6,9,12,15],{"slug":7,"name":8},"st-kitts","St. Kitts",{"slug":10,"name":11},"nevis","Nevis",{"slug":13,"name":14},"antigua","Antigua",{"slug":16,"name":17},"sint-maarten","Sint Maarten","article",[20,23,26],{"label":21,"to":22},"Journal","\u002Fjournal",{"label":24,"to":25},"Events & festivals","\u002Fjournal\u002Fevents",{"label":8,"to":27},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fevents",{"type":29,"slug":30,"path":4,"title":31,"description":32,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":35,"tone":36,"hero":37,"hero_alt":38,"tags":39,"featured":45,"sites":46},"events","sugar-mas-carnival","Sugar Mas 55: St. Kitts carnival dates for 2026–27","The national carnival runs from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, with J'ouvert on Boxing Day and the Grand Parade on New Year's Day.","team","2026-09-24",2,"warm","\u002Fimages\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts-sugar-mas-masquerader.jpg","A masquerader in a towering headdress of green, orange and blue feathers at Sugar Mas in St. Kitts",[40,41,42,43,44],"sugar-mas","carnival","basseterre","jouvert","warner-park",true,[],{"slug":33,"name":48,"role":49,"bio":50,"tone":51},"CaribHubs team","Product & operations","Updates from the people running the service.","sea",{"slug":7,"path":53,"guide_path":54,"title":55,"description":56,"name":8,"island_code":57,"marketplace":58,"lat":59,"lng":60,"tone":51,"order":61,"sections":62,"site_count":78,"article_count":78},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts","\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fguide","Things to do in St. Kitts","Volcanic peaks, a UNESCO fortress and two coasts, with calm Caribbean to the west and Atlantic surf to the east.","st_kitts","live",17.3026,-62.7177,1,[63,68,73],{"section":64,"sites":65},"history",[66,67],"brimstone-hill","romney-manor",{"section":69,"sites":70},"beaches",[71,72],"frigate-bay","cockleshell-bay",{"section":74,"sites":75},"views",[76,77],"timothy-hill","black-rocks",6,{"meta":80,"frontmatter":81,"nodes":82},{},{},[83,87,92,100,168,172,175,179,182,187,191,201],[84,85,86],"p",{},"Sugar Mas is the national carnival of St. Kitts and Nevis, and it runs through Christmas and New Year rather than before Lent. The name nods to the sugar cane that shaped the island's history. The 2026–27 season is Sugar Mas 55.",[88,89,91],"h2",{"id":90},"the-dates","The dates",[84,93,94,95,99],{},"The St. Kitts & Nevis National Carnival Committee released the full calendar in June 2026. The official season runs from ",[96,97,98],"strong",{},"11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027",". The big nights:",[101,102,103,116],"table",{},[104,105,106],"thead",{},[107,108,109,113],"tr",{},[110,111,112],"th",{},"Date",[110,114,115],{},"Event",[117,118,119,128,136,144,152,160],"tbody",{},[107,120,121,125],{},[122,123,124],"td",{},"Friday 18 December 2026",[122,126,127],{},"Soca Monarch finals",[107,129,130,133],{},[122,131,132],{},"Tuesday 22 December 2026",[122,134,135],{},"Miss SKN pageant",[107,137,138,141],{},[122,139,140],{},"Saturday 26 December 2026",[122,142,143],{},"J'ouvert",[107,145,146,149],{},[122,147,148],{},"Tuesday 29 December 2026",[122,150,151],{},"Senior Calypso finals",[107,153,154,157],{},[122,155,156],{},"Friday 1 January 2027",[122,158,159],{},"Grand Parade",[107,161,162,165],{},[122,163,164],{},"Saturday 2 January 2027",[122,166,167],{},"Last Lap",[88,169,171],{"id":170},"where-it-happens","Where it happens",[84,173,174],{},"Carnival is centred on Basseterre. The shows and competitions are staged at Warner Park, where carnival was first staged in 1957, and the parades take over the streets of the capital.",[88,176,178],{"id":177},"jouvert-and-the-grand-parade","J'ouvert and the Grand Parade",[84,180,181],{},"J'ouvert on Boxing Day is the early-morning street jump-up through Basseterre, with bands and music trucks leading the crowd. The Grand Parade on New Year's Day is the costumed spectacle, with troupes in feathers and sequins, followed the next day by the Last Lap, carnival's final street jump-up.",[183,184,186],"callout",{"variant":185},"tip","Book rooms and car hire early. Carnival falls in the islands' peak season for visitors, and carnival week fills up fast.",[88,188,190],{"id":189},"if-youre-coming","If you're coming",[192,193,194,198],"ul",{},[195,196,197],"li",{},"Schedules can shift. Check the National Carnival Committee's announcements closer to the time.",[195,199,200],{},"Nevis has its own big festival, Culturama, in late July and early August.",[84,202,203],{},[204,205,206,207,212,213,217],"em",{},"Photo: ",[208,209,211],"a",{"href":210},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.flickr.com\u002Fphotos\u002F42346076@N08\u002F34032613160","Carnival sugar mas st. kitts"," by OrangeOtoño, ",[208,214,216],{"href":215},"https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby\u002F2.0\u002F","CC BY 2.0",".",[219,226,233,240],{"island":7,"slug":66,"path":220,"title":221,"description":222,"section":64,"parish":223,"lat":224,"lng":225,"tone":51},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fbrimstone-hill","Brimstone Hill Fortress","A UNESCO World Heritage fortress on the northwest coast of St. Kitts, with views to Sint Eustatius and Saba.","Saint Thomas Middle Island",17.3469,-62.8374,{"island":7,"slug":67,"path":227,"title":228,"description":229,"section":64,"parish":223,"lat":230,"lng":231,"tone":232},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fromney-manor","Romney Manor","Batik workshops and an old saman tree in the gardens of a restored estate above Old Road.",17.3365,-62.7985,"green",{"island":7,"slug":71,"path":234,"title":235,"description":236,"section":69,"parish":237,"lat":238,"lng":239,"tone":51},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Ffrigate-bay","Frigate Bay","Two beaches on one isthmus, with calm Caribbean on the south side and Atlantic breakers on the north.","Saint George Basseterre",17.286,-62.683,{"island":7,"slug":72,"path":241,"title":242,"description":243,"section":69,"parish":237,"lat":244,"lng":245,"tone":36},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fcockleshell-bay","Cockleshell Bay","Soft sand at the southeast tip of St. Kitts, looking straight across The Narrows to Nevis.",17.2207,-62.624,[247,263,276,290],{"type":248,"slug":249,"path":250,"title":251,"description":252,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":253,"tone":51,"hero":254,"hero_alt":255,"tags":256,"featured":261,"sites":262},"practical","a-cruise-day-in-basseterre","\u002Fjournal\u002Fpractical\u002Fa-cruise-day-in-basseterre","A cruise day in Basseterre","What you can walk to from the Port Zante pier, what's worth a taxi, and how to be back on board in time.",3,"\u002Fimages\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts-independence-square-basseterre.jpg","The fountain in Independence Square, Basseterre, with flame trees in bloom and the stone towers of the Co-Cathedral behind",[257,42,258,259,260],"cruise","port-zante","walking","day-trip",false,[66,67,71,72],{"type":248,"slug":264,"path":265,"title":266,"description":267,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":253,"tone":51,"hero":268,"hero_alt":269,"tags":270,"featured":261,"sites":275},"arriving-in-st-kitts-and-nevis","\u002Fjournal\u002Fpractical\u002Farriving-in-st-kitts-and-nevis","Arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis","Apply through the Saint Kitts and Nevis Electronic Border Management System before you travel. What else to know about passports, airports, the cruise port and money.","\u002Fimages\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts-port-zante-from-a-cruise-ship.jpg","Port Zante and the Basseterre waterfront seen from the deck of a cruise ship, with green hills behind the town",[271,272,273,274,257,258],"arrival","eta","passport","airport",[],{"type":248,"slug":277,"path":278,"title":279,"description":280,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":35,"tone":232,"hero":281,"hero_alt":282,"tags":283,"featured":261,"sites":289},"driving-in-st-kitts-and-nevis","\u002Fjournal\u002Fpractical\u002Fdriving-in-st-kitts-and-nevis","Driving in St. Kitts and Nevis","Keep left, get the temporary licence (EC$62.50 for three months), and watch for goats, monkeys and minibuses. What to know before you hire a car.","\u002Fimages\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts-road-palms.jpg","A road on St. Kitts running past wind-bent palm trees, with a bay and green hills behind",[284,285,286,287,288],"driving","car-hire","getting-around","taxis","buses",[],{"type":291,"slug":292,"path":293,"title":294,"description":295,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":35,"tone":36,"hero":296,"hero_alt":297,"tags":298,"featured":261,"sites":304},"food","goat-water-and-the-national-dish","\u002Fjournal\u002Ffood\u002Fgoat-water-and-the-national-dish","Goat water, saltfish and what St. Kitts eats","The official national dish is stewed saltfish with spicy plantains, coconut dumplings and breadfruit. Goat water is the Saturday stew everyone argues about.","\u002Fimages\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts-basseterre-public-market.jpg","The public market building on the Basseterre waterfront, painted blue and green, with green mountains behind it",[299,300,301,302,303],"goat-water","national-dish","saltfish","breadfruit","rum",[],[306,309,312],{"type":248,"slug":249,"path":250,"title":251,"description":252,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":253,"tone":51,"hero":254,"hero_alt":255,"tags":307,"featured":261,"sites":308},[257,42,258,259,260],[66,67,71,72],{"type":248,"slug":264,"path":265,"title":266,"description":267,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":253,"tone":51,"hero":268,"hero_alt":269,"tags":310,"featured":261,"sites":311},[271,272,273,274,257,258],[],{"type":248,"slug":277,"path":278,"title":279,"description":280,"island":7,"place":8,"author":33,"published_at":34,"read_minutes":35,"tone":232,"hero":281,"hero_alt":282,"tags":313,"featured":261,"sites":314},[284,285,286,287,288],[],[316,317,318,319,320,326,333,341,349,357,364,372],{"island":7,"slug":66,"path":220,"title":221,"description":222,"section":64,"parish":223,"lat":224,"lng":225,"tone":51},{"island":7,"slug":67,"path":227,"title":228,"description":229,"section":64,"parish":223,"lat":230,"lng":231,"tone":232},{"island":7,"slug":71,"path":234,"title":235,"description":236,"section":69,"parish":237,"lat":238,"lng":239,"tone":51},{"island":7,"slug":72,"path":241,"title":242,"description":243,"section":69,"parish":237,"lat":244,"lng":245,"tone":36},{"island":7,"slug":76,"path":321,"title":322,"description":323,"section":74,"parish":237,"lat":324,"lng":325,"tone":232},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Ftimothy-hill","Timothy Hill","The pull-off on the peninsula road where the Atlantic and the Caribbean show at once.",17.269,-62.666,{"island":7,"slug":77,"path":327,"title":328,"description":329,"section":74,"parish":330,"lat":331,"lng":332,"tone":36},"\u002Fjournal\u002Fst-kitts\u002Fblack-rocks","Black Rocks","Lava that ran into the Atlantic and set hard, now a line of black cliffs on the northeast coast.","Saint Mary Cayon",17.37,-62.738,{"island":10,"slug":334,"path":335,"title":336,"description":337,"section":69,"parish":338,"lat":339,"lng":340,"tone":51},"pinneys-beach","\u002Fjournal\u002Fnevis\u002Fpinneys-beach","Pinney's Beach","Miles of palm-backed sand north of Charlestown, with beach bars and Nevis Peak behind.","Saint Thomas Lowland",17.16,-62.629,{"island":13,"slug":342,"path":343,"title":344,"description":345,"section":64,"parish":346,"lat":347,"lng":348,"tone":51},"nelsons-dockyard","\u002Fjournal\u002Fantigua\u002Fnelsons-dockyard","Nelson's Dockyard","A Georgian naval dockyard in English Harbour, still full of boats, and a UNESCO site since 2016.","Saint Paul",17.0068,-61.7622,{"island":13,"slug":350,"path":351,"title":352,"description":353,"section":69,"parish":354,"lat":355,"lng":356,"tone":232},"half-moon-bay","\u002Fjournal\u002Fantigua\u002Fhalf-moon-bay","Half Moon Bay","A curve of pale sand on Antigua's Atlantic side, on the island's east coast.","Saint Philip",17.04,-61.673,{"island":13,"slug":358,"path":359,"title":360,"description":361,"section":74,"parish":346,"lat":362,"lng":363,"tone":36},"shirley-heights","\u002Fjournal\u002Fantigua\u002Fshirley-heights","Shirley Heights Lookout","An old military lookout above English Harbour, with Falmouth Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard below.",17,-61.7555,{"island":16,"slug":365,"path":366,"title":367,"description":368,"section":69,"parish":369,"lat":370,"lng":371,"tone":51},"maho-beach","\u002Fjournal\u002Fsint-maarten\u002Fmaho-beach","Maho Beach","A short beach at the end of the Princess Juliana runway, where landing jets pass low overhead.","Simpson Bay",18.0406,-63.1206,{"island":16,"slug":373,"path":374,"title":375,"description":376,"section":69,"parish":377,"lat":378,"lng":379,"tone":232},"mullet-bay","\u002Fjournal\u002Fsint-maarten\u002Fmullet-bay","Mullet Bay","The quieter beach next door to Maho, with shade and clear water.","Lowlands",18.0457,-63.1292,1790258235108]