Aruba Carnival is sun soaked parades tumba music and costumes glistening against ridiculous blue sky and sea.
What to Expect
Aruba runs one of the longest carnivals anywhere — it opens just after New Year and builds for five weeks to the Grand Parade through Oranjestad. The signature night is the Lighting Parade, where every costume is wired with its own lights and the whole thing moves after dark. This is Dutch Caribbean carnival, so the soundtrack leans calypso, roadmarch and tumba as much as soca.
2027 season runs 2 January to 7 February — five weeks of parades and competitions
Grand Parade through Oranjestad on Sunday 7 February 2027, the climax of the season
The Lighting Parade is the one to see — fully illuminated costumes, parading at night
Jouvert Morning (the Pajama Party) starts in the small hours with crowds in nightwear
Ends with the burning of King Momo on the eve of Ash Wednesday
Places to Stay
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Ride-Hailing Apps
Uber
Available in Aruba. Good for getting between Oranjestad, Eagle Beach and carnival events.
Mas Bands
Fetes & Events
Things To Do
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Getting There
Queen Beatrix International Airport
Getting Around
Arubus is the government bus service and the cheapest way around — roughly every 15 minutes from 5:45am to 6pm, then every 40 minutes until about 11:30pm.
Main stations are in Oranjestad and San Nicolas, with the hotel strip to Oranjestad run being frequent and inexpensive.
Driving is on the right.
The island is flat and compact, so a hire car covers everything easily; Arikok National Park needs a 4x4.
Carnival road closures around Oranjestad on Grand Parade day are extensive — use the bus rather than driving in.
Typical Costs from the UK
Estimates only — prices vary by airline, timing and section choice. Use the budget calculator to build your own breakdown.
When to Book
Aruba's 2027 carnival season runs from 2 January to the Grand Parade on Sunday 7 February. KLM flies Amsterdam to Queen Beatrix International (AUA) daily, which is the usual UK routing. This is peak tourist season on the island regardless of carnival, so accommodation is the binding constraint — book by October if you want anything near Oranjestad at a sane price. Group registration opens in the autumn. If you only have a few days rather than five weeks, build them around the Lighting Parade and the Grand Parade in the first week of February rather than arriving for the opening weeks.
Plan This Carnival
🎭 Feb
MUAs & Photographers for Carnival
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