National parade and opening ceremony mark the start of the Carnival season
Dominica’s Carnival, Mas Domnik – The Real Mas, officially opens on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with the Official Opening and National Parade, marking the formal start of the Mas Domnik 2026 celebrations. The announcement was made during a press conference hosted by the Discover Dominica Authority.
The opening ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. at Pottersville in the parking lot in front of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and includes the official declaration of the Carnival season, recognition of Darnley Guye, the symbolic handover of the Carnival key and brief remarks by key stakeholders.
The National Parade runs from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will be led by approximately 60 sennsés followed by over 60 participating groups. The parade highlights Traditional Mas featuring sennsé, Kalinago têt mas, big boom-boom characters, stilt walkers and black devils alongside costume bands, pageantry and creatively designed floats.
The parade route begins along the E.O. LeBlanc Highway at the St. Alphonsus grounds, continues along Goodwill Road, crosses the EC Loblack Bridge and proceeds along Independence Street, King George V Street, Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard and Kennedy Avenue.
From 6:00 p.m., electronic bands and the calypso truck will extend the celebrations into the evening, offering a preview of the energy expected on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17.
Motorists and residents along the parade route are advised to remove all vehicles from the streets in advance of the National Parade to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of participants. The public is encouraged to follow traffic advisories and instructions from law enforcement and event officials to support an orderly and incident-free event.
Chair of the Dominica Festivals Committee, Gerard Cools-Lartigue, said Mas Domnik remains a key driver of national activity. “Mas Domnik is one of the most anticipated events on Dominica’s calendar with direct impact on economic activity, employment and visitor arrivals,” Cools-Lartigue said. “The Board remains focused on strong governance, coordination and continuous improvement.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Discover Dominica Authority, Marva Williams, said the season builds on strong performance. “Mas Domnik 2026 features over forty events across the island,” Williams said. “Last season recorded a 34 percent increase in visitor arrivals and an estimated EC twenty-five million dollars in economic activity, setting the pace for a season focused on stronger organization, greater creativity and wider participation.”
Mas Domnik 2026 runs from December 13, 2025, to February 26, 2026, with more than 40 events taking place islandwide. Residents, visitors and Carnival enthusiasts are invited to attend the Official Opening and National Parade and be part of the start of Dominica’s Carnival season.
For the full Mas Domnik calendar and event updates, visit DominicaFestivals.com and follow Dominica Festivals on Facebook and Instagram.
About Dominica
Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) lies in the Eastern Caribbean between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. Air travelers can connect to Dominica directly from Miami on American Airlines, New Jersey on United Airlines and make regional connections
on InterCaribbean Airways, WINAIR, Sunrise Airways, LIAT 2020, Caribbean Airlines, and from the surrounding hubs of Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, St Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If traveling by sea, travelers may connect
to Dominica on the FRS Express des Iles ferry service from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucia.
Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) lies in the Eastern Caribbean between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. Air travelers can connect to Dominica directly from Miami on American Airlines, New Jersey on United Airlines and make regional connections
on InterCaribbean Airways, WINAIR, Sunrise Airways, LIAT 2020, Caribbean Airlines, and from the surrounding hubs of Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, St Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If traveling by sea, travelers may connect
to Dominica on the FRS Express des Iles ferry service from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucia.
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