Martinique Carnival is French Caribbean history big devil costumes madras cloth and zouk in the air.
What to Expect
Martinique compresses its carnival into five consecutive days and gives each one its own dress code, which is what makes it unlike anywhere else. Fort-de-France fills from Dimanche Gras through to Ash Wednesday, when the whole island turns out in black and white to burn Vaval and mourn him properly. It is French, it is Creole, and it runs on biguine and zouk as much as soca.
Five days straight, ending on Ash Wednesday — 10 February in 2027 — each day with its own colour code
Lundi Gras is the burlesque weddings: men in dresses, women in suits, the whole island in on it
Mardi Gras is red devils — horned costumes, red head to foot, through Fort-de-France
Ash Wednesday is black and white: the funeral procession and the burning of Vaval
Biguine, zouk and chouval bwa carry the parades rather than soca trucks
Places to Stay
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Ride-Hailing Apps
Uber
Available in Martinique, especially Fort-de-France. Good for carnival events in February.
Bolt
Growing presence in the French Caribbean territories.
Mas Bands
Fetes & Events
Things To Do
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Getting There
Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport
Getting Around
Fort-de-France has the TCSP — a dedicated-lane bus rapid transit system that bypasses the traffic the rest of the island sits in.
Taxicos are shared route taxis linking the capital with outlying towns, leaving when full.
Driving is on the right, with French rules and signage.
Traffic congestion around Fort-de-France is a genuine problem; the TCSP exists because of it.
Everything in central Fort-de-France is walkable during carnival, so a car is only worth it if you are staying outside the capital.
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
Martinique's carnival is the five days ending on Ash Wednesday, which falls on 10 February in 2027 — but the date moves with Easter each year, so check before booking anything. Air France and Corsair fly Paris to Martinique Aimé Césaire (FDF); there is no direct UK service. Accommodation in or near Fort-de-France should be booked by December, as French visitors fill the island in February. There is nothing to register for: the parades are open and the costume is the day's colour code, which you can buy locally once you arrive. A hire car is only necessary if you stay outside the capital — otherwise everything is walkable.
Plan This Carnival
🎭 Feb 2027
MUAs & Photographers for Carnival
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