Guyana Carnival 2026 is the Diamond Jubilee edition — 60 years of independence celebrated with the biggest carnival the country has ever seen. Machel Montano, Alkaline, KES and Kevin Lyttle headline a week of soca fetes, concerts and road march in Georgetown. One of the most underrated carnivals in the diaspora.
What to Expect
Guyana Carnival 2026 is the Diamond Jubilee edition — 60 years of Guyanese independence celebrated with the biggest carnival the country has ever seen. The HJ Experience series runs May 20–26 in Georgetown, peaking with the Diamond Amplified Road Parade through the streets on Independence Day itself. With Machel Montano, Alkaline, KES and Kevin Lyttle all on the lineup, and fete prices a fraction of Trinidad or Barbados, this is the most underrated carnival in the Caribbean diaspora calendar.
2026 theme: 'The Homecoming — Guyana's Diamond Jubilee' — 60 years of independence, the largest celebration in the country's history
Machel Montano (Xtra Stink X Dutty), Alkaline + Mr Vegas (Baderation), KES the Band (Stinging Nettles) all headline
Road Parade (May 26, Independence Day): Lady Lava, Omaiah Hall, Carlvin Burnette take the streets from Vlissingen St to National Park
DAYBREAK Breakfast Party at AC Hotel Marriott — 5am to midday, the sunrise fete you didn't know you needed
Two costume bands for the road: Genesis The Band (genesiscarnival.playmas.app) and Fete-ish MAS (feteishgy.com)
Guyana Fest Cruise offers an all-inclusive package covering every major event from Touchdown through closing night
Don't confuse with Mashramani (Feb 23, Republic Day) — Mash is the traditional national parade; Guyana Carnival (May) is the soca-fete week
Places to Stay
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Fetes & Events
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Things To Do
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Ride-Hailing Apps
inDrive
Growing in Georgetown, Guyana. Best option for local transport.
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
Guyana Carnival 2026 runs May 20–26 — the Diamond Jubilee edition. Fly into Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO), 41km south of Georgetown; there are no direct UK routes so connect through Trinidad (POS) or Barbados (BGI) — Caribbean Airlines is the main regional carrier. Book the Guyana Marriott or Pegasus Hotel early as both sell out for carnival week. HJ Experience tickets went on sale April 17 via hjexperience.com/events/ — early bird pricing is significantly cheaper than door prices. For the road parade, register with Genesis The Band at genesiscarnival.playmas.app or Fete-ish MAS at feteishgy.com. The all-inclusive Guyana Fest Cruise package covers all major events in one booking.
Plan This Carnival
🎭 May 20–27, 2026
MUAs & Photographers for Carnival
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