Several of Antigua and Barbuda top performers are returning to the country today following successful performances at the just concluded Miami Carnival.
Early reports from Miami suggest that the performers did a fine job promoting both themselves and their country before large audiences at the various events where they were featured.
The trip to Miami was a joint initiative of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, and the artists were part of a team that traveled there to represent Antigua Carnival during the peak weekend of Miami Carnival 2025.
Recognized as the largest Caribbean Carnival celebration in the United States, Miami Carnival attracts over 250,000 attendees annually, including Caribbean-Americans, party enthusiasts, and Festival travelers from around the world. For more than four decades, revelers and masqueraders have flocked to Miami to celebrate Caribbean culture, soaking up the sun, the music, and the unmatched soca energy. The festival’s calendar mirrors many of the signature elements of Antigua’s Carnival, including fetes, the Junior Carnival, Panorama Competition, J’ouvert, the Mas Parade, and the Concert Day.
This ongoing cultural exchange between Antigua Carnival and Miami Carnival continues to highlight the strong regional and cultural ties shared. One of the main features of this partnership is the inclusion of Antiguan soca artists on the Miami Carnival International Show. Over the past two years, this initiative has been revitalized to broaden participation, allowing Antiguan artists to perform at top-tier Miami Carnival events such as Citrus, No Borders, J’ouvert, One Link, One Fete, and the Miami Carnival International Show itself.
This year’s delegation included representatives from the National Festivals Marketing Team and Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, alongside some of Antigua’s most celebrated musical talents:
- Tian Winter – Groovy and Jumpy Soca Monarch
- Soca Villan – Road March Winner
- Island Prince – 2nd Place Jumpy
- Kid Fresh – 1st Place Jumpy
- Empress – 2nd Place Groovy
- DJ Quest – Producer and DJ
With more than a quarter-million revelers attending Miami Carnival annually, Antigua aims to capture at least 1% of that audience, the passionate “Carnival travelers and hoppers” seeking authentic island experiences and cultural immersion.
Through this representation, the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority continue to strengthen the Antigua Carnival brand, positioning it as the premier choice for U.S.-based Carnival lovers seeking an authentic island experience. With its rich cultural heritage, high-energy performances, and vibrant atmosphere, with Antigua Carnival truly lives up to its reputation as “The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival.”
