Saint Lucia Carnival

When is Saint Lucia Carnival 2027?

Saint Lucia Carnival 2027 runs July 19 to 20, 2027.

How the dates are set: The Carnival committee announces the dates each year; the festival runs through much of July and the Parade of the Bands is on a Monday and Tuesday.

See every event in July 2027

Source: facebook.com

Saint Lucia Carnival schedule

• July 19 and 20, 2027: Lucian Carnival returns on these dates, with the Parade of the Bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
• Carnival Monday: Day 1 of the Parade of the Bands is when costume judging happens, so revelers show up in full costume. A panel rates the bands at a set point on the route and the best band is named Band of the Year.
• Carnival Tuesday: On day 2, costumes tend to be less official, and some revelers wear their own Tuesday wear creations.
• July 1 to 22, 2026: The official site listed Lucian Carnival 2026 as running from 1st to 22nd July. The National Carnival Queen Pageant took place on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Pavilion on Rodney Bay.

Sources: facebook.com, vincentvacations.com, carnivalsaintlucia.com

Getting to Saint Lucia Carnival

• The parade route is usually from Union to Castries.
• Getting around the island is by taxi, rental car or bus. A car rental costs around $400 USD per week, according to one operator's guide.

Source: vincentvacations.com

Where to stay in Castries

• The parade passes right in front of Sandals Halcyon Beach resort on both days.
• For 2027, one hosted group trip runs July 16 to 21, 2027 as a 5-night getaway, and playing mas is not required to join.

Sources: vincentvacations.com, eventbrite.com

Tickets and cost

Watching the parade costs a lot less than joining a band. Masqueraders need a costume, quoted at $400 to $1500 USD in one operator's guide, and carnival party tickets range from $25 USD to $125 USD, with all-inclusive events from $200 USD.

Source: vincentvacations.com

History of Saint Lucia Carnival

The National Carnival Queen Pageant has a 72-year history. In 2026 two delegates were crowned National Carnival Queen for the first time, at the Pavilion on Rodney Bay.

Source: carnivalsaintlucia.com

Saint Lucia Carnival: questions people ask

Sources: facebook.com, vincentvacations.com

About Saint Lucia Carnival

Saint Lucia's July carnival ends with the Parade of the Bands in Castries, with soca, costumes and street parties.

Saint Lucia Carnival, also called Lucian Carnival, is an island-wide July festival of soca, calypso, costumes and street parades. Its peak is the two-day Parade of the Bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, when masqueraders move along a route usually from Union to Castries. Monday is the full-costume day with judging, and Tuesday is looser. The catch is cost: joining a band means buying a costume, while watching from the roadside costs far less.

Know before you go

• Carnival Monday is usually a holiday in Saint Lucia, and some companies close or close early on Tuesday.
• To march in the parade, sign up with a band to play mas. Spectators can watch from a spot of their choice in Castries.
• Flights arrive at Hewanorra (UVF) or George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) in Castries, and the parade route usually runs from Union to Castries.

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