Trinidad Carnival 2027 guide: dates, schedule, costs and how to go

Trinidad Carnival 2027 is on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February 2027, in Port of Spain. J'ouvert starts at 4 am on Carnival Monday, and the season ends on Ash Wednesday, 10 February. The busiest stretch of fetes is Carnival week, from Wednesday 3 February.

Dates from Tourism Trinidad. Event times are set by the National Carnival Commission and can change, so check them closer to the time.

• Wednesday 3 February: Carnival week begins, with fetes running back to back until the weekend.
• Saturday 6 February: Panorama steelband finals, held on the Saturday before Carnival.
• Sunday 7 February: Dimanche Gras, with the Kings and Queens of the bands and the Calypso Monarch final.
• Monday 8 February: J'ouvert from 4 am, then the first day of the street parade (Carnival Monday).
• Tuesday 9 February: Carnival Tuesday, the big day in full costume.
• Wednesday 10 February: Ash Wednesday. Carnival is over and many people head home or to Tobago.

This is the schedule on our full Trinidad Carnival 2027 trip, which follows the shape of a classic Carnival week:

• Wed 3 Feb: arrive in Port of Spain.
• Thu 4 Feb: AM Beach, an all-inclusive fete that starts at 5 am, then Tribe Ignite in the evening.
• Fri 5 Feb: a cultural workshop (stilt-walking, fire-breathing and steelpan), then Phuket, an all-inclusive fete.
• Sat 6 Feb: AM Bush, a J'ouvert-themed paint party, then Soca Brainwash.
• Sun 7 Feb: Sunny Side Up, then Maracas Beach for bake and shark.
• Mon 8 Feb: J'ouvert from 4 am, then Carnival Monday on the road in Monday wear.
• Tue 9 Feb: Carnival Tuesday in full costume.
• Wed 10 Feb: fly home.

Fete line-ups can change from year to year. The trip page always has the current itinerary.

Carnival Monday starts before dawn with J'ouvert, then the bands take to the road in Monday wear, a lighter outfit than the full costume. Carnival Tuesday is the big one: full costumes of feathers, beads and sequins, crossing the stage with your band.

Costumes are bought from the band. On our full trip you register with YUMA, and on Carnival Lite you play Monday Mas with Bacchanal Army, with the costume included.

Per person, before flights, using the figures on our trip pages (insurance and daily spending are estimates):

• Carnival Lite, 6 days: about US$3,285–US$3,555, including a Monday Mas costume. Trip price from US$2,865 sharing.
• Full Trinidad Carnival trip, up to 8 days: about US$6,710–US$7,340, including a YUMA Tuesday costume (about US$780–US$1,140). Trip price from US$5,430 sharing.

Prices as of November 2026. For a full breakdown, read Trinidad Carnival on a budget.

• Trinidad Carnival 2027: the whole week, 3–10 February, with six fetes, J'ouvert, Monday wear and full costume on Tuesday. Shorter join-in options start on 5 February.
• Trinidad Carnival Lite 2027: the big moments, 5–10 February, with Soca Brainwash, a beach lime and Monday Mas, costume included.

Both include airport transfers, group transport and a small group of 6 to 16 travellers. International flights and travel insurance are extra.

Fly into and out of Piarco International Airport (POS), Trinidad's main airport. Our trips include transfers from there.

The US State Department currently rates Trinidad and Tobago Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read what that means for Carnival in Is Trinidad Carnival safe for solo travellers?.

• Trinidad Carnival for first-timers
• Trinidad Carnival on a budget
• Is Trinidad Carnival safe for solo travellers?
• What to pack for your carnival trip
• Carnival safety tips
• Caribbean carnival packages 2027