Carnival Calendar 2026 French Guiana - Complete Program
2026 French Guiana Carnival calendar: dates and main program
The 2026 French Guiana Carnival is the major cultural event at the start of the year in French Guiana. It will run from January 6, 2026 (Epiphany) to February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday), making it one of the longest carnivals in the world. During this period, the cities of Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (among others) come alive with street parades, masked balls, and unique carnival traditions (Touloulous, Tololos, Roi Vaval, etc.). Below are the exact dates of the highlights of the 2026 carnival and a detailed program of the main events.
Key dates for Carnival 2026
For clarity, here is a summary table of the main dates and events of the 2026 French Guiana Carnival, including the opening, Sunday street parades, Touloulous balls, Mardi Gras, and closing:
Date | Événement principal |
|---|---|
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Epiphany – Official start of Carnival (symbolic arrival of King Vaval, sharing of the galette des rois cake) |
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | Première nuit des Touloulous : bal paré-masqué d’ouverture marquant l’arrivée du roi Vaval dans les dancings, inauguration du village Nana. |
Sunday, January 11, 2026 | First street parades – Opening of the street carnival with the first cavalcades (parades) in Cayenne and the surrounding area |
Saturday, January 24, 2026 | Carnival parade in Rémire-Montjoly (night parade, outside Cayenne) |
Sunday, January 25, 2026 | Carnival parade in Matoury (traditional afternoon parade) |
Sunday, February 8, 2026 | Grand parade in Kourou (carnival groups parade through the streets, date to be confirmed) |
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | Last masked balls of the Touloulous (final dance before Mardi Gras). |
Lundi 16 février 2026 | Lundi Gras – Journée des mariages burlesques (parodies de mariages) et des soirées à thème (par ex. dress code orange et noir lors de certains bals) |
Mardi 17 février 2026 | Mardi Gras – Jour des diables rouges : les carnavaliers se déguisent en rouge (diables) pour les dernières festivités, soirées “Red” Carnival, etc. |
Mercredi 18 février 2026 | Ash Wednesday – End of Carnival: farewell dances in black and white and the burning of King Vaval (symbolic burial of Carnival) |
Dates of Sunday parades
Every Sunday during Carnival, the streets come alive with parades, also known as vidés, in the various towns of French Guiana. Cayenne, the capital, traditionally hosts street parades almost every Sunday afternoon during Carnival. Carnival groups parade in spectacular costumes, accompanied by floats, drums, and brass bands, following the theme of the year. Other cities also organize their own Sunday parades. For the 2026 edition, the provisional calendar indicates, for example:
🎉 PARADES & STREET PARADES
Event | Date | Location |
Cayenne City Parade (Fluo with Blue Stars) | January 11 | City Hall – Cayenne |
Street Parade with Pa Gain Nom | January 25 | Cayenne |
Armire Parade | January 24 | City Hall – Rémire-Montjoly |
Mana Parade | January 25 | Main Road – Mana |
Traditional Parade – Dolore Boromé Memorial | January 25 | Place des Palmistes – Cayenne |
Great Coastal Parade – Theme “Space” | February 8 | Cocoteraie – Kourou |
Grand Parade of the West | February 1 | Roche Bleue – Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
Peyi Guyane Carnival Office Street Parade | February 8 | Kourou |
“Tales & Legends” Island Tour Parade | January 31 | Matoury |
Night Parade of Apatou | February 15 | Apatou |
Burlesque Parade (Lundi Gras) | February 16 | City Hall – Sinnamary |
“Jé Farin” Parade (Mardi Gras) | February 17 | City Hall – Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
“Red Devils” Parade (Mardi Gras) | February 17 | Cayenne / Kourou |
“Red Devils” Street Parade | February 17 | City Hall – Matoury |
CTG Early Morning Parade | February 18 – 6:00 a.m. | Territorial Collectivity of Guyane – Cayenne |
Ash Wednesday – Burning of King Vaval | February 18 | Place des Palmistes – Cayenne |
Dates of the Touloulous masked balls (Saturday evenings)
Alongside the street parades, every weekend sees the famous masked balls hosted by the Touloulous. A Touloulou is a woman dressed up from head to toe (in a grandiose dress, mask, gloves, and wig) who remains anonymous as she invites men to dance. These evenings, organized in "universities" (local dance halls), are unique to French Guiana and exist nowhere else.
They usually take place every Saturday evening in Cayenne and the surrounding area, and sometimes on Fridays in certain towns (for example, Kourou or Saint-Laurent may schedule balls on Fridays).
💃 MASKED BALLS & NIGHT EVENTS
Event | Date | Location |
Masked Ball – Les Mécènes | Jan 17, 24, 31 – Feb 7, 17 | Nana – Cayenne |
Masked Ball – Blue Stars | Jan 17, 24, 31 – Feb 7 | Polina – Matoury |
Masked Ball – Dokonon (Paris) | Jan 17, 24, 31 – Feb 7 | L’Olivier – Morangis (Paris area) |
Unmasked Ball – Alyan’s | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Café de la Gare – Cayenne |
Gold Carnival (Mécènes / Chwitteurs) | January 30 | Le Moonlight – Cayenne |
The Night of Legends (Blue Stars & Mécènes) | January 16 | Polina – Matoury |
Face to Face (Blue Stars / Mécènes) | February 15 | Le Grand Blanc – Macouria |
Orange & Black Night – Mécènes / Karnivor | February 16 | Kindal – Matoury |
Red Theme Masked Ball – Mécènes | February 17 | Nana – Cayenne |
Red Carnival by Soyana | February 17 | Ferme Zulémaro – Macouria |
Weekend Fusion (Dokonon & Pa Gain Nom) | February 7 | L’Olivier – Morangis (Paris area) |
Touloulous Challenge (OCPG) | January 31 | Matoury |
Burlesque Wedding Night – Pa Gain Nom | February 16 | O Bout du Monde – Cayenne |
Ti Balcon (Mécènes / Karnivor / Chwitteurs) | February 18 | Montjoly 2 Mall – Rémire-Montjoly |
Tété Dwet (Blue Stars / Ti Coco ké lé Blada / Alyan’s / DJ Fan’Oh) | February 18 | Maison Blanche – Macouria |
Other events during Carnival
Carnival in French Guiana is more than parades and masked balls — it’s a vibrant celebration of local life, culture, and creativity. From Creole brunches and open-air garden parties to live concerts and “Carnival in Every Flavor” workshops, every weekend brings its own festive rhythm. These friendly gatherings are the perfect opportunity to experience the warmth of the Guyanese people, discover local traditions, and enjoy the colorful spirit of the carnival season.
Dance is at the heart of French Guiana’s Carnival. Throughout the season, biguine and mazurka classes are held across the region — in Cayenne, Rémire-Montjoly, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and Mana.
🎶 OTHER EVENTS, GARDENS & FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Event | Date | Location |
Official Carnival Opening (OCPG) | January 10 | Main Square – Iracoubo |
Official Opening – Nana | January 10 | Cayenne |
Official Opening – Polina | January 10 | Matoury |
Street Carnival Opening | January 11 | Cayenne |
Garden Carnival 3 (Mécènes, Blue Stars, Karnivor, Pa Gain Nom, Ti Coco ké lé Blada) | January 11 | Maison Blanche – Macouria |
Creole Brunch – Belova | Jan 11, 18, 25 | La Marinière – Rémire-Montjoly |
“Carnival Gems” Awards Night (OCPG) | January 14 | Zéphyr – Cayenne |
Carnifluo (Blue Stars / Ti Coco ké lé Blada / Rénato Décater) | January 23 | Diamant – Cayenne |
“Carnival in Every Flavor” Workshops | Jan 24, 30, 31 – Feb 6, 7 | Espace Ho-Ten-You – Cayenne |
“Tatie Léodate” Memorial (Kassialata) | January 18 | Avenue du Général de Gaulle – Cayenne |
Neg Marrons (Children’s parade) | January 25 | Jean-Claude Lafontaine Stadium – Cayenne |
Kassia’Tì Moun (Kids parade 6–14 years) | January 25 | Cayenne |
Candy Garden (Blue Stars / Mécènes / Pa Gain Nom) | February 1 | Cayenne |
“Les Timoun” European Kids Carnival | February 6 | Cultural Center – Kourou |
José Guillotet Jubilee | February 7 | Cultural Center – Kourou |
Zroyezroyeteurs with the Blue Stars | February 18 | Break Club – Rémire-Montjoly |
🩰 DANCE CLASSES – BIGUINE & MAZURKA
Day | Location | Schedule |
Monday | Café de la Gare – Cayenne | — |
Tuesday | Spicy Dubaï Hookah – Cayenne | 8:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
Wednesday | Ti Lounge – Belova Complex, Rémire-Montjoly | 9:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. |
Thursday | Bistrot du Fleuve – Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni | 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
Friday | Makandra Social Center – Mana | 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
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