Tobago Carnival Bands Report Strong Early Costume Sales
The early launch of the 2026 Tobago Carnival in May has already paid off, with some mas bands reporting costume sales of between 50 and 60 per cent.
President of the Tobago October Carnival Association, Dexter Sandy, says Year Five of Tobago Carnival is shaping up to be an even better experience for masqueraders.
He attributed the early success to the Tobago Festivals Commission’s collaboration with mas bands, which he said has also allowed for better planning and improvements to the road experience, particularly along Calypso Rose Boulevard.
« That’s on to Barcode, that area; we do not have any rest stops along the route. where trucks would cluster on the road and obstruct the flow of other bands. »
There have also been some positive arrangements with Caribbean Airlines. Previously, bands complained that CAL had not cooperated with the Carnival efforts, but now, Mr Sandy says there are solutions being implemented.
« We were able through dialogue to get just over 250 seats assigned to mas bands, and we were able to now package these with our costume sales. »
Partnerships are also working for the bands. Mr Sandy explained that many of the smaller bands are grouping their resources together to form bigger bands.
« That way your presentation now even looks better. »
Meanwhile, some Trinidad-based bands are collaborating with Tobago bands.
« So it is not necessarily a Trinidad band coming to Tobago to be on the road, but it is more so their followers and even some of their staff and their immediate Carnival family from Trinidad coming to Tobago and experiencing Tobago Carnival under one of the Tobago mas bands. »
Mr Sandy is also the bandleader of ICONIC Mas. His band started in 2022 with 75 masqueraders on the road, and five years later, they are expecting 1,000 masqueraders with an additional 1,500 for J’Ouvert.
« It’s something that we really took our time and made sure incrementally we set targets and grow it over the years, just to make sure we could manage the quality of the masqueraders’ experience. »
Going into Year Five, Mr Sandy believes Tobago Carnival has grown into its identity and has now earned its place on the annual Carnival calendar in the region.
« Is that Carnival that really forces you to relax whilst partying on the road, you know, passing along the waterfront, all the elements that we create for you on the highway and on the route. »
The Tobago Carnival is scheduled for October 30th to November 1st.
