The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival Has Parades, Music Legends and Extra American Airlines Flights from Miami
You land in Antigua and the rhythm hits you before you even clear customs. In the distance, there’s the pulse of soca, energy in the air, and the unmistakable feeling that the island is gearing up for something electric. This is Carnival season in Antigua and Barbuda — and this year, it’s bigger than ever.
With just days left before the official kickoff, the twin-island destination is buzzing. Hotels are filling up. Flights are being added. And the island is preparing for twelve days of nonstop music, mas, and pure Caribbean energy.
Antigua Carnival Is Back — and Itz A Vibe
Running from July 25 to August 5, Antigua Carnival 2025 is more than a party. It’s a cultural eruption — one that blends heritage and history with sweat-soaked dancing, steelpan rhythms, and unforgettable street parades.
This year’s theme, Itz A Vibe, is backed up by a milestone year in Caribbean music. Antigua is celebrating 80 years of the Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra, the oldest continually operating steelband in the world; 40 years of soca legends Burning Flames; and 25 years of Claudette “CP” Peters, a queen of Antiguan music.
What to Expect: From T-Shirt Mas to J’ouvert Morning
Carnival in Antigua isn’t one event — it’s a sequence of full-body experiences. The schedule kicks off with T-Shirt Mas on July 26, followed by the Burning Flames 40th Anniversary concert on July 30, and the Watchnight Gathering and Caribbean Melting Pot the next evening.
If you’re into steelpan, Panorama on August 2 is where the island’s top bands clash in a thunderous, melodic battle. Then comes the biggest weekend: Party Monarch on August 3, the wild, pre-dawn spectacle of J’ouvert Morning on August 4, and the full-on road celebrations of Carnival Monday and Tuesday, ending with Last Lap on August 5 — one final “jump up” through the streets of St. John’s.
Getting There Just Got Easier
Demand is surging, and airlines are adjusting. American Airlines is adding an extra flight from Miami, operating July 25–28 — timed perfectly for travelers aiming to catch the start of Carnival. Caribbean Airlines is also flying direct from Toronto to Antigua on July 31, helping more visitors join the action mid-festival.
Whether you’re traveling from South Florida, the Northeast, or flying in from across the Caribbean diaspora, now’s the time to make plans. Because this summer, Antigua isn’t just hosting a carnival — it’s becoming one.
Caitlin Sullivan began her career with Caribbean Journal as Arts and Culture editor before shifting to travel full time. She writes frequently on the Caribbean cruise industry, flight networks and broader travel news. Her most frequent Caribbean destination? Nassau.
