St Martin Carnival is food stalls French and Dutch Caribbean mashup and road parades hugging the coastline.
What to Expect
The French side runs its own carnival on the pre-Lent calendar, and it feels distinctly Antillean rather than Anglophone-Caribbean — zouk and kompa alongside soca, Vaval presiding over the parades, and the whole thing closing with his burning on Ash Wednesday. Marigot is the centre. Because the Dutch side celebrates separately in April, you can do two completely different carnivals on one island in one year.
Pre-Lent calendar — parades across the weekend before Ash Wednesday, which falls on 10 February in 2027
Marigot hosts the main parades; expect zouk, kompa and French Antillean brass as much as soca
Ash Wednesday is its own event: crowds in black and white for the burning of Vaval
Entirely separate from Dutch St Maarten's April carnival on the same island
Euro-zone side, so budget in euros and expect French prices for food and drink
Places to Stay
3 optionsSome links below are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
Ride-Hailing Apps
Uber
Available on the French side (St Martin). Use alongside St Maarten for coverage.
Mas Bands
Fetes & Events
Things To Do
2 optionsSome links below are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
Getting There
Princess Juliana International Airport
Getting Around
The same shared minibuses serve both halves of the island — Marigot to Philipsburg is a straightforward run.
Driving is on the right, and no passport check applies crossing to the Dutch side.
This is the euro side: fuel, parking and food are priced in euros and generally cost more than in Dutch Sint Maarten.
Taxis are unmetered with set rates; agree before travelling.
A hire car is the practical choice if you want the quieter northern beaches.
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
French St Martin's carnival follows the pre-Lent calendar, peaking the weekend before Ash Wednesday — 10 February in 2027 — and ending on Ash Wednesday itself. Fly into Princess Juliana (SXM) on the Dutch side and cross the border; there is no passport check between the two halves. Air France from Paris is usually the cleanest routing from the UK. February is peak season across the whole island, so book accommodation by December. Troupe registration is handled locally and tends to open in January; if you want to walk with a group rather than watch, ask early, as the numbers are small.
Plan This Carnival
🎭 Feb
MUAs & Photographers for Carnival
Looking for a makeup artist or photographer for St Martin carnival? I'm building out a trusted directory of local creatives. Get in touch and I'll connect you with the right person.
Ask me for a recommendation