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THE 2025 edition of Tobago October carnival, themed Unveiled: Mud, Mas, Music, has been dubbed as a tremendous success by various stakeholders. The carnival, which is in its fourth year, culminated on October 26 with a parade of bands through Scarborough. Thousands of revellers from Iconic Mas and Fog Angels to name a few, enjoyed the festivities which ended around 8 pm. Speaking with Newsday on October 27, CEO of the Tobago Festivals Commission (TFCL) Kern Cowan said a lot of hard work went into the execution and the design of the event. “We spent a lot of time ensuring that both masqueraders had an experience, as well as spectators, and something that they will have to go away with. Overall, the two days – October 25 and 26 – was a spectacle in terms of numbers. "The road management really worked well, in terms of managing the flow. Our introduction of the barriers really allowed us to curtail crowding on the roads which was a major problem in 2024, so that allowed the bands to move faster along the routes and allowed for smoother flow.” He said an increase in the number of visitors showed the carnival was growing. “Generally, in terms of what we are seeing at this stage, is a strong growth in the Tobago carnival product and we expect that 2026 will see some additional leaps and bounds.” He added: “The involvement and working along with the stakeholders also helped us to have a very stakeholder point of view. The support given to bandleaders, promoters, Pan Trinbago, TUCO, was very much one that augured well for collaboration and the development of each artform. "We look forward to continuous development in those relationships as we look towards developing continuous products that would attract more than just locals – but international interest continuously.” THA Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor has labelled the event a resounding success. “We’ve had the largest crowds; we’ve had an incident-free period – as far as has been reported by the TTPS and the other stakeholders; we’ve had occupancy rates at our hotels and guesthouses sky high; and I think generally this injection into the economy of Tobago was one that is worth it.” Brebnor said when the current administration decided to launch the brand-new carnival product within their first year in office, it was “certainly a herculean task, but it was done.” “We did it. We learnt from the mistakes that were made during the previous years, and we would continue to learn from the lessons that we gather as we go along. I am really, really happy. All of the reports shows that people truly enjoyed themselves and this is what we need. I look forward to Tobago October carnival 2026.” THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris said this year’s carnival represented a marked improvement across several areas. “There was better overall organisation of events, smoother co-ordination, and a clear effort to address many of the challenges that were identified in 2024. I want to commend Mr Kern Cowan, CEO of the Tobago Festivals Commission, for his leadership, for listening to stakeholders, and for providing the support needed to deliver a more enjoyable and well-managed carnival experience.” Morris added: “The road management was notably better, and we saw increased participation from bands, which added to the energy and vibrancy on display.” However, he had one suggestion for 2026 and beyond. “In going forward, we consider strongly the introduction of a level of competition among the mas bands to encourage greater creativity and artistic splendour, so that the presentation of costumes and portrayals moves beyond colour and truly celebrates Tobago’s talent and imagination.” He called for a focus to be placed on the mud mas similar to how jab jab is celebrated in Grenada’s carnival. He also appealed for the planning and marketing for October carnival 2026 to start immediately to "resolve recurring issues such as limited flights, predictable access, and accommodation challenges. "Tobago’s Carnival must be promoted early and aggressively to attract even more international visitors especially to our island." Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin congratulated the THA, the Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, organisers, artistes and stakeholders. In commending the island’s ability to honour Trinbago’s traditions while showcasing its own distinct flair, she said, “The fourth annual Tobago carnival was a true reflection of the island’s heart and soul. From the rhythm and energy of J’Ouvert to the colour and splendour of the Parade of the Bands, Tobago once again showed the world the power of our culture to unite, uplift and inspire.” The Ministry of Culture and Community Development reaffirmed its commitment to continued partnership with the THA and all cultural stakeholders. It said, these collaborations will ensure that TT’s Carnival remains an enduring expression of our shared cultural heritage as “the greatest show on earth.”
