Jouvert marks 4 AM start of 2026 Carnival road celebrations, says Parade Committee official

The much-anticipated Jouvert experience will begin at 4 AM on Monday, February 16. This was according to member of the Carnival Road Parade Committee, Charlene White-Christian.

“So the very first thing I would like to say is that Jouvert begins at 4 AM to 10 AM [Monday February, 16]. Our electronic bands, our Lapo Kabwit, our groups, our gangs will be judged from 4 AM,” she said. “ Our electronic bands can come out at 6 AM. We are hoping that they will be on the streets by 6 AM.”

She continued, “Some of them have indicated that they would like to move off a little earlier. That’s fine; they will just coordinate along with the members of the road parade committee and the DFC [Dominica Festivals Committee] who will be there to assist them and to guide them into coming into the streets.”

She mentioned that on Carnival Monday, the School Parade and Youth Mas begins at 11 AM.

“So we are hoping to have a few children bands and a few children floats at 11 AM,” White-Christian explained.

She also mentioned that the Traditional Groups will be part of Monday’s parade.

“ So both the school bands and the traditional groups begin at 11 AM,” she revealed.

She advised persons who want to get ready for the Ole Mas Parade or for the school bands parade that they have an hour to change and return to be part of those groups.

Furthermore, White-Christian said the t-shirt bands begin at 2 PM.

“Our costume bands will begin on Tuesday[February 17] from 11 AM. All our costume bands have already indicated their points where they are going to come into the route. And we are saying everyone, as long as you are ready, you can come out from 11 AM because judging will commence at 11 AM,” she stated.

She went on to add that the winners’ parade will also be on Carnival Tuesday and that the parade begins at 10 AM.

“So at that parade, we will have our queens, our teens, our princesses, all our winners and our participants for Mas Dominic 2026 in terms of pageantry,” White-Christian indicated. “So we will have all those winners, as well as our Calypso King and our Junior Monarch.”

She added, “We are hoping to have them as well from 10 AM on Carnival Tuesday. So that is what we call our winners’ parade. Bands who are registered to participate in the parades will all be judged by a panel of judges.”

The main judging point will be on the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard (Bayfront).