A more structured and enhanced Vincy Mas is being promised by organisers of the summer carnival for both locals and visitors participating
in this year’s festival.

The Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) held its Vincy Mas media launch on April 7 aboard the MV Ambience, setting a festive tone that
reflected what can be expected for Vincy Mas 2026, dubbed “The Great Escape”.

CDC Chairman Ricardo Adams said the atmosphere aboard the vessel was a “declaration of intent”, noting that Vincy Mas is evolving from being just a festival into a full destination experience, where locals and visitors can enjoy all that St Vincent and the Grenadines has to offer.

Reflecting on the 2026 theme, Adams said “The Great Escape” gives everyone “a release from the pressures of daily life. It’s a return to pure joy, to our rich culture, and it is the energy and connections that make us who we are.”

Adams said this year will be different, as the CDC is working with a mindset of not just staging events, but building a product that
is Vincy Mas.

He promised a “more structured and professionally managed event”, which will include strict adherence to quality, improved time discipline at competitions, and greater collaboration with stakeholders.

“We are raising the standard of delivery at every touch point. When you step into a Vincy Mas event in 2026, you are going to feel the
difference,” he said.

Among the elements planned for Carnival 2026 are a 10-day Food and Culture Village, an immersive activation campaign beginning at the airport, increased investment in rural carnival events, and the return of the Miss SVG Carnival Queen Show.

“We aren’t just creating events; we are creating memories that will have people coming back year after year,” Adams added.

He emphasised that innovation would not come at the expense of authenticity.

“While we are innovating, let me be very clear: innovation will never come at the cost of our authenticity. We are deeply committed to preserving the soul of our mas, our pan, our calypso, our soca, our Monday T-shirt bands and our J’ouvert.

“Part of moving forward is remembering where we came from, and we are making intentional efforts to revive traditions, including the return of the monkey band. We are blending the new with the legendary to make sure the Vincy Mas spirit stays pure,” Adams said.

He encouraged all Vincentians to join the CDC in making Vincy Mas 2026 a success.

The festival will be officially launched on April 11. Vincy Mas 2026 will run from June 26 to July 7.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture Kaschaka Cupid said he is excited about this year’s festival, noting that it will be the first time he is participating in several years.

He said the energy he witnessed from the CDC encouraged him to be part of the festivities.

Cupid, who described himself as a lover of culture,
said carnival has a big impact on the country’s economy and society.

He said the government will do its part to support the festival and called on the private sector to contribute as well.

The minister also pointed to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ strong musical culture but lamented that cultural ambassadors such as Skinny Fabulous and Problem Child are not utilised as they should be.

He said the government plans to change that and create opportunities for young artistes to follow in their footsteps.

“I just want to encourage especially the younger artistes. This government will create a number of opportunities for you. We intend to
invest in a cultural and performing arts centre where young artistes can go free of charge and express themselves at no cost,” he said.

Cupid added that the government will also invest in training opportunities to help artistes develop their craft.