Parades, music and traditions
Carnival is the most exuberant time of the year in Aruba. For weeks the island is filled with music, dazzling costumes and street parties. It is a true community celebration: Arubans spend months preparing their costumes and floats, and visitors are welcome to join the fun.
When is Carnival?
The Carnival season officially opens on 11 November with a festive kick-off at 11:11, and the biggest events take place in the weeks before Lent, usually in January and February. Because the date of Easter changes every year, so do the Carnival dates. Carnival Monday is a public holiday. Book your accommodation early: the parade weekends are busy.
Carnival 2026 and 2027
- 2026 (Carnival 72): Grand Parade San Nicolas on 14 February, Grand Parade Oranjestad and the burning of King Momo on 15 February, Carnival Monday on 16 February 2026.
- 2027 (Carnival 73): the season opens on 11 November 2026 and Carnival Monday falls on 8 February 2027, so the Grand Parades are expected in the first week of February. The official schedule is traditionally announced at the opening on 11 November.
Music: Tumba and Road March
Music is at the heart of Aruba Carnival. In the Tumba contest local artists compete with the catchiest songs of the season, and the winning Road March becomes the soundtrack of the parades. Calypso, soca and steel bands can be heard everywhere on the island.
The parades
- Children's parades – the youngest carnival fans show off their costumes in their own parades.
- Lighting Parade – a nighttime parade in Oranjestad where costumes and floats are covered with thousands of lights.
- Jouvert Morning – an early-morning street party in San Nicolas, traditionally in pajamas.
- Grand Carnival Parades – the highlight of the season, with huge costumed groups and music trucks, held in San Nicolas and in Oranjestad.
The burning of King Momo
Carnival ends with the burning of an effigy of King Momo, the spirit of Carnival, on the evening of the Grand Parade in Oranjestad, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. It marks the end of the festivities until the next season.
Tips for visitors
- Arrive early for a good spot along the parade route, or buy a seat on the grandstands.
- Parades last for hours: bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
- Oranjestad and San Nicolas get very busy, so allow extra travel time.
See also: Aruba events throughout the year.
Last updated: September 2026.