Carnival Monday in Antigua and Barbuda marks the vibrant opening of the island's Carnival celebrations. It follows the traditional J'ouvert morning festivities, when revelers take to the streets before dawn with music, dancing, and colorful paint and powder. The day celebrates freedom, creativity, and national pride, tracing its roots to the emancipation of enslaved Africans in 1834 and symbolizing the spirit of liberation and unity across the twin-island nation.

When is Carnival Monday?

Carnival Monday in Antigua and Barbuda is held on the first Monday in August every year.

The following is the list of Carnival Monday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Carnival Monday?

Carnival Monday in Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most anticipated days of the year, rooted in both cultural celebration and historical remembrance. Its origins trace back to 1834, when enslaved Africans in the British Caribbean were officially emancipated. To mark their freedom, people across the islands gathered in spontaneous street processions filled with drumming, singing, and dancing, a tradition that evolved into modern-day Carnival.

In Antigua and Barbuda, these early celebrations blended African rhythms, European masquerade customs, and local storytelling into a unique art form. By the 1950s, as the country moved toward greater self-governance, the government formalized Carnival as a national festival, officially replacing the old "Emancipation Day" holiday. Carnival Monday, celebrated on the first Monday in August, became the grand kickoff to a week of festivities.

The day begins with J'ouvert, a pre-dawn street party where thousands of revelers, covered in paint, mud, or powder, dance behind steel bands and music trucks through the streets of St. John's. As the morning progresses, it transitions into the Parade of the Bands, showcasing elaborately designed costumes, energetic dance troupes, and the infectious rhythms of calypso and soca music.

Beyond its spectacle, Carnival Monday remains a symbol of freedom, resilience, and national pride. It commemorates the emancipation of the ancestors while celebrating the enduring creativity and unity of the Antiguan and Barbudan people—a living expression of their journey from oppression to self-expression.