The feathers, sequins and colour of Lucian Carnival took over the road as the 2026 Parade of the Bands brought the season to a spectacular close.
Xuvo Carnival Band has emerged as the undisputed champion of the 2026 Parade of the Bands, while Andrew’s Biscuit has been crowned Road March winner, as the results of another vibrant Lucian Carnival season were officially announced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Xuvo’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream secured the coveted Parade Band of the Year title with 414 points, finishing ahead of Tribe of Twel’s Twel 26 – Gold, which scored 408 points.
The results were announced by the Carnival Planning and Management Committee during a live press briefing at the National Cultural Centre, following the two-day Parade of the Bands on Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21.
Ten bands participated in this year’s parade, bringing the 2026 carnival season to a close with competing visions, elaborate portrayals and displays of the creativity and craftsmanship that have become hallmarks of Lucian Carnival.
But while Xuvo claimed the season’s biggest band title, Tribe of Twel’s Sharon Tanner captured the top spot of the Individual of the Year competition for her portrayal of Nubia, Branch of the Blue Nile. She was followed by fellow Tribe of Twel masquerader Jordan Augier, whose portrayal of Montezuma, Guardian of the Aztec Gold earned 428 points.
Tribe of Twel added another major title to its haul, winning Best Portrayal of Theme for Twel 26 – Gold with 129 points.
Xuvo, however, dominated the design category, taking Best Designed Band for A Midsummer Night’s Dream with 127 points. The band’s success continued with a third-place finish in Spirit of Carnival and a shared victory in Section of the Year, where its Fairies section tied with Fuzion Mas’ Genesis section on 76 points.
Fuzion Mas claimed the Mas on the Move title with F1 – The Race of Life, while Legends Carnival Band’s 1001 Fantasies – Arabian Nights captured Spirit of Carnival with 413 points.
On the road, emerging artiste Andrew’s Biscuit emerged as the clear Road March winner after recording 32 plays.
Tally Boy, Sedale and Prod Bozo’s Bum Bum Whistle placed second with 23 plays, followed by Ezra D’Funmachine’s Salute with 19 and Bobo and Samo’s Actimo with eight.
In the early hours of the season’s final stretch, Back in Time J’ouvert Band’s action on the road earned them J’ouvert Band of the Year title for The Power of the Earth. The band scored 416 points to finish ahead of Mudsters’ Mud Army – Let’s Make Mud Not War, which earned 357 points.
Julian ‘Bull’ Calderon was crowned Ole Mas winner with At My Age I Have Everything Going For Me, scoring 346 points.
For the Carnival Planning and Management Committee, the results capped a season that officials say reflected the continued expansion of the festival since its rebranding in 2023.
Public Relations Officer Jade Brown described the year as “a remarkable one” for patrons, spectators, artistes, performers, sponsors, stakeholders and organisers.
“Since its rebranding in 2023, Lucian Carnival has grown from strength to strength. The platform has grown exponentially. We have registered growth in all facets of Lucian Carnival and this year has been no different,” Brown notes.
She pointed to the introduction of Vaval En Ville, a corporate T-shirt mas initiative that provided another avenue for Saint Lucians to participate in the celebrations, as well as the inaugural National Schools Panorama Competition. The new competition, Brown said, helped to increase interest in the National Panorama Competition.
The season also saw the success of D’Vibez, which attracted more than 1,500 patrons, along with several other events that contributed to the 2026 carnival calendar.
As the costumes are packed away and celebrations die down, the curtain has fallen on Lucian Carnival 2026 — but the countdown to the next season has already begun. Lucian Carnival 2027 is scheduled for July 1 to 19.
The results from J’Ouvert and the National Parade of the Bands are as follows:
