Sun, sand, and the sound of soca — the Anguilla Summer Festival is back. Running from 10 July – 9 August 2026, this month-long celebration, themed “Anguilla for Summer”, invites visitors and locals alike to experience the Caribbean island at its most vibrant.
Anguilla’s biggest summer festival party is packed with street parades, soca and calypso live music shows, thrilling boat races, lively beach parties, pageants that celebrate the talent and beauty of local Anguillians, and delicious culinary events serving sizzling local specialities.
Also known as Carnival, the Anguilla Summer Festival is a showcase of the rich culture of this tiny island nation, celebrating its indigenous roots through cuisine, art, music, dance and the national sport of Boat Racing. Unmissable events include Parade of Troupes, Eyes Wide Shut fete and August Monday Caribbean Beach Party, each bringing an exciting vibe that rocks the whole island.
The Anguilla Tourist Board’s newly launched summer campaign “Anguilla: Taste. Feel. Live.” perfectly complements the Summer Festival, showcasing the island as a vibrant, year-round Caribbean destination that creates meaningful connections between visitors and the authentic experiences that define the island.
The festival’s roots are found in traditional August Monday fairs and bazaars. One of the most significant days is the first Monday of August, closely associated to 1 August 1838, the day when enslaved Africans in British colonies were freed of chattel slavery after centuries of enslavement. Anguilla started its formal August Monday celebration in 1940, making the 2026 event the 52nd of its kind.
Since then, the island’s national sport of Boat Racing, born out of the Anguillians’ natural love for the sea, has been merged with other cultural aspects of carnival. The modern festivities exude the same charm and spirit as the early days, plus many of the resorts and larger properties offering additional entertainment too.
From the electrifying boat races to the vibrant carnival parades, high-energy fetes and unforgettable cultural moments, key events this year include, but are not limited to, the following:
From 10 July 2026 – Music Events, Pageants, Festivals and first Boat Racing
The Anguilla Summer Festival kicks off from 10 July when Village-Rama sees the top bands on the island drop their “road march” releases, and Wasted Cooler Festival on 18 July brings the crowds together for a “cooler fete” at Sandy Ground. The Festival’s pageant programme begins with Miss Tiny Tott Pageant on 12 July. 26 July is a double-header day combining the thrilling Peter Perkins Boat Race on the open water with the first part of the Miss Anguilla Pageant that evening.
29 July 2026 – Opening Night & Fireworks Display
The official opening night of the Anguilla Summer Festival lights up The Valley with a spectacular fireworks display, live music and dancing as the island officially launches into full carnival mode.
30 July 2026 – Jr Calypso Monarch & Soca Monarch
Young calypsonians and soca artists take centre stage in this spirited double competition, showcasing the next generation of Anguillian musical talent.
31 July 2026 – Wet Fete
It’s time to let colour fly at this paint, powder & water-soaked fete bringing high-energy soca vibes and pure bacchanal energy as the festival builds toward the main carnival week.
1 August 2026 – South Valley Community Street Festival
- Band Clash / Band-O-Rama
Anguilla’s top soca bands go head-to-head in an epic musical showdown, with the Band Clash and Band-O-Rama titles both up for grabs on the same electric night.
2 August 2026
- August Sunday Boat Race & Welcome Party
- Carnival at Leon’s
- Prince & Princess Show
The good times are building with this packed day combining competitive boat racing, the popular Carnival at Leon’s fete, and the charming Prince & Princess Show in the evening where young representatives from schools across the island compete in a showcase of talent and personality.
3 August 2026
- J’Ouvert Morning
- Sir Emile Gumbs Boat Race
- Caribbean Beach Party
This is the only J’Ouvert in the Caribbean to finish on a beach! Starting pre-dawn in The Valley, thousands of revellers follow the road march through Anguilla’s streets before arriving at Sandy Ground Beach as the sun rises. Later in the day, one of the most prestigious boat races of the season takes place – the Sir Emile Gumbs Boat Race draws massive crowds as Anguilla’s finest racing vessels compete for glory. These crowds will stay for the Caribbean Beach Party, where local and international artists will take to the stage for more than 12 hours of solid partying.
4 August 2026
- August Tuesday Boat Race
- Miss Talented Teen Pageant, part I
A thrilling day of boat racing on the open water is followed by the Miss Anguilla Pageant, to be continued the following day
5 August 2026
- August Wednesday Boat Race
- Miss Talented Teen Pageant, part II
Another thrilling day of boat racing on the open water is followed by the grand crowning night of the Miss Anguilla Pageant Part II, where Anguilla’s next queen takes her crown.
6 August 2026
- Eyes Wide Shut
- August Thursday Beach Party & Boat Race
- Senior Calypso Monarch
Termed “The Ultimate Day Break Fete”, Eyes Wide Shut takes place from 1am – 11am, as partygoers dance all night and watch the sun come up in the morning. The crowd will be hyped by performances from the biggest soca music stars in the world. The West End Community will then bring the heat with the Beach Party and Boat Race at Connor’s Park, Meads Bay. But the day isn’t over until the Senior Calypso Monarch, a “calypso clash” like no other. With sharp wit, infectious rhythms and powerful storytelling, each contender will vie for the coveted title of Calypso Monarch.
7 August 2026 – Grand Parade Of Troupes
The Grand Parade of Troupes is all about vibrant, flamboyant, amazing displays of colour and highly detailed costumes as a number of troupes dance and celebrate on the streets of Anguilla’s capital, The Valley. The streets and vibe are electric, and the music can be heard for miles. Anyone is welcome to watch and/or join in the dancing. The troupes are formed from different villages on the island of Anguilla, and a panel of judges rate the dazzling troupes to find a winner.
Saturday 8 August 2026
- Anguilla Poker Run
- Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch
The penultimate day brings the Anguilla Poker Run, one of the newest Caribbean boat parties, where hundreds of people will hit the high seas. Hold on tight for Poker Run’s thrilling games, sizzling food, pumping music, high adrenaline, style statements and beach-hopping activities. Later in the evening, the Leeward Island Calypso Monarch is held at the Landsome Bowl. Calypso is a huge part of Anguillian culture, and this final event, which brings together calypso kings and queens from the Leeward Islands, is a must see.
9 August 2026
- Champs of Champion Boat Race & Closing Ceremony
- Splash III
The Champion of Champions Boat Race pits the island’s finest vessels against each other in the most anticipated nautical event of the season, before Splash III closes out the festival with one final burst of soca, dancing and pure Caribbean energy.
Anguilla Summer Festival’s Festivals Passport
The Festival Passport is an exciting engagement initiative developed by the Anguilla Summer Festival in collaboration with the Anguilla Festivals Development Commission. The programme is designed to encourage patrons to attend multiple festival events while creating a fun and interactive way to reward loyal participants. Each participant receives an official Festival Passport which allows their attendance at participating events to be digitally recorded. Throughout the festival season, patrons accumulate entries by attending events and scanning their passport or wristband. At the end of the festival, one lucky participant will be selected to win the grand prize.
How to get to Anguilla from the UK
Anguilla (AXA) is accessible from the UK via British Airways or Virgin Atlantic on services to Antigua, followed by a short inter-island flight transfer to Anguilla. An alternative route is with KLM/Air France via Amsterdam/Paris to St Maarten (SXM), followed by a short boat transfer or flight. American Airlines also operates a service from Miami International Airport (MIA) into Anguilla, with UK connections available.
For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website: www.ivisitanguilla.com.
For more information on the Anguilla Summer Festival, please visit www.anguillasummerfestival.com.
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