SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Luc Mercelina, extends profound gratitude and congratulations to all stakeholders, organizers, emergency personnel, cultural groups, businesses, and members of the public for contributing to the success of St. Maarten Carnival 2026.

As the curtain closed last night on another vibrant Carnival season, Prime Minister Mercelina praised the collective spirit, creativity, and unity displayed throughout the celebrations, describing Carnival 2026 as a proud reflection of the resilience and cultural richness of the people of Sint Maarten.

“Carnival 2026 has once again demonstrated its importance and impact for our country. From the parades and cultural showcases to the spirit of togetherness felt across our island, this year’s celebrations reminded us why Carnival remains one of the most important expressions of our identity as a people,” stated Prime Minister Mercelina.

The Prime Minister also reflected on his personal experiences throughout the Carnival season, noting that he greatly enjoyed attending several of the major cultural events, including the Calypso Eliminations, Calypso Finals, the Grand Parade, and the Lighted Parade. Prime Minister Mercelina further shared that he appreciated the opportunity to meet the contestants of the St. Maarten Carnival Queen Pageant.

“It was truly inspiring to witness the incredible talent and cultural pride showcased throughout Carnival season. Meeting the Carnival Queen contestants and attending events such as the Calypso Eliminations and Finals, along with the Grand Parade and Lighted Parade, gave me an even greater appreciation for the dedication, passion, and creativity that continue to make our Carnival celebrations exceptional,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister expressed special appreciation to the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) board and volunteers for its leadership and coordination in organizing the festivities, while also recognizing the tireless efforts of the Korps Politie Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Fire Department, Ambulance Department, VKS and all emergency and frontline personnel who worked diligently to ensure public safety throughout the Carnival period.

“I commend our police officers, VKS, firefighters, ambulance personnel, and all emergency responders who remained committed around the clock to ensuring that residents and visitors could safely enjoy the festivities. Their dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed, and our country is grateful for their service,” the Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina said.

Prime Minister Mercelina also acknowledged the contributions of Carnival troupes, musicians, DJs, promoters, booth holders, vendors, stage crews, volunteers, local businesses, sponsors, and the thousands of revelers whose energy and enthusiasm brought the festival to life.

“To our Carnival troupes, performers, promoters, and revelers — thank you for keeping our culture alive with passion, color, and creativity. Your participation and pride transformed Carnival 2026 into a celebration worthy of international recognition,” he added.

The Prime Minister further highlighted the positive economic impact of Carnival on the country, noting increased activity within the hospitality, transportation, food and beverage, entertainment, and retail sectors.

“Carnival is not only a cultural celebration, but also an important economic driver for our country. The success of Carnival 2026 provided opportunities for entrepreneurs, small businesses, artists, and countless workers who depend on this season for economic activity and exposure. This demonstrates the power of culture and tourism working hand in hand to strengthen our economy,” Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized.

The Government of Sint Maarten also extends appreciation to the people of Sint Maarten for their cooperation, hospitality, and community spirit throughout the Carnival season.

“As we reflect on another successful Carnival season, let us continue to embrace unity, respect, and national pride. Together, we showcased the very best of Sint Maarten to the world and I look forward to St. Maarten Carnival 2027,” concluded Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - Racers couldn’t have asked for better weather on Simpson Bay to compete in the Sint Maarten National Dinghy Championship on May 2 and 3, 2026. Proudly sponsored by Island Water World, 34 boats came out for this annual championship organized by SMYC, which is now in its fourth year as a standalone event.

The championship featured sailors from Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, and Saint Barths in the Optimist Green, Optimist, ILCA, RS Zest, and Sun Fast 20 classes.

After a short postponement, the racing action began on Simpson Bay around 9:45 am on Saturday with the Sun Fast 20s in start one, ILCAs and RS Zests in start two, and Optimist Green and Optimist in start three. Right away, you could tell this was going to be a fun and fast day of racing. The wind was generally out of the east at 12-17 knots with some southeast shifts, and the pin end was slightly favored. 

“Saturday morning was an exciting start to the championship.” Race Officer Andy Cross remarked. “Getting three races in before lunch was perfect, and besides one general recall in the Optimist fleet, everything was clean.”

The Sun Fasts were done for the day after completing the morning round, and the other fleets stayed out to sail three more races in the afternoon. After lunch, conditions didn’t change much and the racing seemed to get tighter as sailors dialed in their starts, tactics, and sail trim. By the end of the day, tired and salty sailors made it back to the SMYC dock for a reward of Domino’s pizza.

Sunday dawned with somewhat similar conditions to the previous day, and the mark set crew was able to get out early to set the course, so racing started right on time at 9:30. Right after the first start, a new wrinkle was thrown into the game—there were some large lulls throughout the course that were then followed by higher gusts that shifted as much as 30 degrees. The sailors fought through the adversity and some made gains while others were left wondering what they’d done wrong. It’s conditions like these that can mix up the leaderboards, and there were some impressive results to show for it. 

In the RS Zest fleet, SMYC’s Juan Espitia-Caiza came in third and also took the National Championship trophy, SMVT’s Achille Le Normand grabbed second, and AS MDA’s stood atop the podium in first place. 

For the Optimist Green fleet, it was SMYC’s Ryan Etwaroo in third, SBYC’s Louisa vanden Eynde in second, and SMYC’s J’amari de Groote in first place and also claiming the National Championship. 

The Optimist fleet was competitive as always with a fleet of 12 boats. SBYC’s Leo Favreau came in third place, SMYC’s Nathan Sheppard won the tie break to claim second place and the National Championship, and SBYC’s Lourenco Couto Jorge claimed first with a resounding performance.

Similar to the Optimists, the ILCA fleet was also highly competitive. Taking third place was SMYC’s Adilyn Treadwell, SBYC’s Maximilian Greaux came in second place, and SMYC’s Massimo Lapierre sailed to an impressive first place and also claimed the National Championship. 

Finally, in a fun-to-watch battle in the Sun Fast 20 fleet, Team IGY Marina came in third place, Ian Martin took second place, and Team Budget Marina sailed to the top of the podium. Well done to all! 

It was a fun and competitive weekend of racing for the Sint Maarten National Championship. Big thanks go out to the event sponsor Island Water World and to Zee Best for providing delicious pastries and lunch for the sailors and volunteers. For more information and results, visit smyc.com.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - SXM Doet is excited to announce its very first Kick-Off Party, set to take place on Friday, May 8th, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Dutch Quarter Community Center, on Zorg en Rust Road.

In previous years, SXM Doet traditionally hosted a “Thank You Party” following the completion of the Doet days. However, in an effort to introduce a fresh approach and build momentum earlier, the organization is shifting gears this year by launching a Kick-Off Party. The party aligns with the theme of this year, “From Jump up to Step Up for a Brighter St. Maarten” and aims to carry the vibrant energy of the Carnival season straight into SXM Doet, setting the tone for an impactful and engaging experience from the very start.

The Kick Off party serves as an opportunity to bring together the heart of SXM Doet, namely, its dedicated volunteers, valued sponsors, committed partners, and participating organizations, for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and preparation ahead of the upcoming project days.

Attendees can look forward to a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere designed to encourage networking and collaboration. The event will be hosted by Suppa, along with special guest appearances from King James, King Vers and DJ Chubbs, adding an exciting touch of entertainment to the party.

Participating organizations will also be able to collect their SXM Doet supply bags, which include shirts, hats, and other goodies to gear up for the initiative. In addition, guests can enjoy interactive trivia games centered around SXM Doet, creating a fun and engaging way to learn more about the program and its impact.

SXM Doet 2026 will take place on May 15th and 16th, and members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign up and get involved. Whether as a volunteer, partner, or supporter, there are many ways to contribute.

Members of the public, as well as all stakeholders, are invited to come out and be part of this milestone moment. The Kick Off party marks the beginning of what promises to be another impactful year of community service, collaboration, and positive change across St. Maarten.

For more information, persons are encouraged to follow SXM Doet on social media, sign up for our newsletter or contact the organizing team directly via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has declared St. Maarten Carnival 2026, the 55th anniversary of the country’s oldest festival, a spectacular success, marked by a record number of locally driven events, strong public participation, increased digital visibility and renewed attention for both the destination and the festival.

The foundation said it is proud that Carnival 2026 showcased the best of St. Maarten’s culture, music, artistry, food, creativity and community spirit. The season, SCDF said, proved once again that Carnival remains the country’s largest cultural celebration and one of its most important platforms for local talent, entrepreneurship and national pride.

SCDF pointed in particular to the strong presence of local events on the 2026 calendar. This year’s schedule featured 21 locally themed events compared to five international events, representing what the foundation described as the largest positive local-to-international balance the festival has ever recorded.

“This was one of the clearest signs that St. Maarten Carnival is growing in the right direction,” SCDF stated. “Our local artists, promoters, bands, dancers, DJs, troupe leaders, booth holders, creatives and cultural contributors all had a major place in this season. Carnival 2026 showed that the local product is strong, exciting and fully capable of carrying the festival.”

The foundation highlighted events such as the King Beau Beau Show, Koncert X, Soulful Company and Soca Rumble as prime examples of the caliber, creativity and entertainment value that local organizers and artists can bring to Carnival. SCDF said these events attracted strong support and demonstrated that St. Maarten’s own talent continues to be one of the festival’s greatest assets.

SCDF also praised all troupe leaders and revelers for delivering a massive Grand Parade, one of Carnival’s signature cultural showcases. The foundation also hailed the successful staging of the first-ever Lighted Parade, which added a new dimension to the 55th anniversary celebrations. SCDF said it will evaluate the event with stakeholders, but intends to work toward making the Lighted Parade a permanent fixture of St. Maarten Carnival.

“The Lighted Parade gave Carnival something fresh, visually exciting and different. It allowed troupes to present themselves in a new way and gave the public another memorable experience. That is exactly the kind of innovation we want to continue building into the festival,” SCDF said.

Regarding the international shows, SCDF thanked all promoters for the hard work, investment and coordination they put into their events. The foundation said these shows remain an important part of the Carnival experience because they complement the local events and help provide residents and visitors with a full entertainment calendar.

“The international shows complement what we do with the local shows. Together, they give residents and visitors something for everyone. That balance is important. Carnival must continue to celebrate St. Maarten first, while also offering regional and international entertainment that adds value to the overall experience,” the foundation said.

SCDF also expressed pride in the results of its outreach to local, regional and international influencers, which it said aligned with ongoing efforts by the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau to increase destination visibility. According to the foundation, its social media platforms grew by more than 15,000 followers in just three weeks, not including the wider reach generated through shares, collaborations, tags, reposts and influencer content.

“We had some of the most popular influencers in the region and the world on St. Maarten, and Carnival and the destination will be better for it,” SCDF said. “The exposure generated during this season went far beyond our own pages. Carnival was seen, shared and discussed by audiences that may not have been familiar with St. Maarten before. That matters for the future of the festival and for the destination.”

The foundation credited its in-house media team, led by Audrey Jack of All Access, for what it described as an exceptional job managing SCDF’s outreach, content production, collaborations and online visibility throughout the season. SCDF said the media effort helped position Carnival as a vibrant, modern and highly marketable cultural product.

The foundation acknowledged that a festival the size of Carnival will always have challenges and areas for improvement. SCDF said any issues that arose during the season will be reviewed with Carnival stakeholders in the off-season, with the goal of fixing what needs to be fixed and strengthening the experience for 2027.

“But none of that can dampen the season we just had,” SCDF said. “The positive outcomes, the attention for the country, the celebration of local culture and the positioning of Carnival for a bright future are what stand out. We will always evaluate, improve and adjust, but Carnival 2026 gave St. Maarten many reasons to be proud.”

SCDF closed by thanking its volunteers and their families for their dedication, patience and sacrifice throughout the year-long planning process. The foundation said the work behind Carnival is often unseen, but remains essential to the success of the festival.

“Carnival preparation does not begin a month before Carnival. It begins a full year in advance. For everyone else, it may feel over when Momo burns, but for us, it never ends. We do it because we love it, because Carnival belongs to St. Maarten, and because we believe in what this festival means to our people and our country,” SCDF said.