Most events throughout the festival are free and open to the public. However, a few special highlights require tickets, including:

• Super Concerts featuring top regional and international performers
• Alvin Ailey II Dance Company – a world-renowned performance you won’t want to miss
• “Back in Time Fete” – a nostalgic party celebrating Caribbean musical heritage

A complete list of ticketed events and the link to purchase tickets are available here. All prices are listed in Barbados Dollars (BBD).

For ticketing inquiries or to report an issue, please contact: myticketlinkz@gmail.com

Join us in Barbados for an unforgettable cultural experience as we celebrate the spirit, rhythm, and soul of the Caribbean!

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This year’s programme includes:
Four Super Concerts featuring regional icons and international artists
The CARIFESTA Film Festival and outdoor screenings
Daily Fashion Shows and Caribbean couture exhibitions
The Grand Market & Trade Hub, the largest in CARIFESTA history
A robust Youth Village with intergenerational creative programming
The Big Conversations Symposia, tackling Caribbean identity, climate, and innovation
Culinary showcases highlighting food from across the Region
Sustainability activations with a future-forward, eco-conscious approach

CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana – Thursday, 24 July 2025:   

The CARIFESTA XV Organising Committee is pleased to share the following advisory for media partners:

With Crop Over 2025 soon to wrap up in grand style, Barbados is immediately shifting into full gear to host the highly anticipated CARIFESTA XV, taking place from 22 to 31 August 2025.

The island is proud to announce that it is ready and fully equipped to welcome the Caribbean and the world for 10 unforgettable days of music, art, dance, fashion, food, film, and cultural dialogue.

“Barbados is the place to be this August for CARIFESTA XV, which will be a beautiful melting pot of Caribbean cultures, foods, fashion, performances and visual arts,” says the Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Ms. Andrea Franklin. “Now more than ever, it’s an amazing moment in our regional history to come together, honour what makes each island unique, and celebrate the vibrant threads that bind us all. This is where the best of the Caribbean will be, in one place, at one time, in Barbados.” 

A Region United in One Festival

CARIFESTA XV, under the theme “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence,” is more than a festival; it is a roving cultural summit for the Caribbean and its diaspora.

This year’s programme includes:

• Four Super Concerts featuring regional icons and international artists
• The CARIFESTA Film Festival and outdoor screenings
• Daily Fashion Shows and Caribbean couture exhibitions
• The Grand Market & Trade Hub, the largest in CARIFESTA history
• A robust Youth Village with intergenerational creative programming
• The Big Conversations Symposia, tackling Caribbean identity, climate, and innovation
• Culinary showcases highlighting food from across the Region
• Sustainability activations with a future-forward, eco-conscious approach

Barbados will transform into a living gallery of Caribbean excellence, hosting over 25 participating countries, including delegations from Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, and Colombia, as well as creatives and audiences from the Caribbean diaspora.

Your Invitation to Experience CARIFESTA XV in Barbados

Festival goers can enjoy a seamless, vibrant, and immersive experience that blends Caribbean tradition and innovation, with top-tier accommodations, world-renowned hospitality, and year-round sunshine.

Media Kit and Accreditation 

Media partners covering CARIFESTA XV in Barbados are invited to complete the accreditation form here.

A media kit with the calendar of events can be downloaded below:

Plan your trip and explore festival events at: https://www.visitbarbados.org/

Full programme details and event updates available at: https://www.carifesta.net/

CARICOM Secretary-General accepted the Letter of Credence from the new Ambassador of Japan to CARICOM, His Excellency Dr. UMEZAWA Akima noting that the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters, funded by Japan, stands as a testament to the enduring strength of CARICOM-Japan relations.

“Since establishing formal diplomatic ties in 1993, Japan has been a vital partner to the Community,” the Secretary-General noted, as she expressed optimism for continued strong relations during Ambassador Akima’s tenure.

The new Japanese envoy conveyed greetings from His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, who extended Japan’s best wishes and interest in maintaining and further promoting robust relations with CARICOM.

Ambassador Akima said that Japan’s commitment to CARICOM is demonstrated through support for green initiatives such as the photovoltaic power generation and building energy management system it funded at the CARICOM Secretariat, high-level engagements at the Heads of Government and Ministerial levels, as well as people-to-people connection. He pledged to continue fostering this strong relationship during his tenure.

As she accredited the new Ambassador of Colombia to CARICOM, His Excellency Graybern Livingston Forbes, Dr. Barnett underscored the deep commitment CARICOM and Colombia place in their long-standing relationship.

“This is particularly important in these times of global uncertainty, which demand even greater collaboration between nations with mutual interests and developmental aspirations,” she stated.

The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Colombia’s support on critical issues for Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS), such as climate change. She emphasised the importance of stronger global efforts to cap temperature rise at 1.5°C and noted Colombia’s role in amplifying this call.

Highlighting the success of collaboration between CARICOM and Colombia, Dr. Barnett pointed out the Barranquilla Declaration (2022), which outlines joint priorities in trade, tourism, security, agriculture, human development, culture, and sports.

“We remain interested in furthering these priorities through the CARICOM-Colombia Joint Commission on Technical Cooperation, as well as the other areas identified in the First and Second Cooperation Programmes, with emphasis on the environment, education, sustainable agriculture, disaster resilience, and security.”

Noting the progress CARICOM and Colombia are making in the negotiations for enhanced market access under the 1994 Trade, Economic, and Technical Cooperation Agreement, she expressed optimism that those negotiations will conclude this year, to open up new avenues for trade.

Mr. Forbes recalled the recent Third CARICOM-Colombia Ministerial Summit in Cartagena, noting that it marked a significant step in strengthening collaboration and resulted in key agreements on sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

The reopening of the Colombian Embassy in Guyana, as well as those in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, he said, symbolises the country’s deep and growing commitment to the region.

“This presence becomes even more meaningful at a time when solidarity and friendship are essential to addressing global challenges—especially those that affect the Global South,” Mr. Forbes said.

The Ambassador, who hails from the Colombian archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, reflected on the rich historical, cultural, and geographical connections San Andrés shares with the Caribbean islands.

He recounted his first visit to Guyana, where he felt a profound sense of familiarity and recalled Cuban philosopher Antonio Benítez-Rojo’s book, The Repeating Island, which describes the Caribbean as a space where, despite its fragmentation and diversity, patterns emerge and repeat across geography and time.

“This idea resonated deeply with me. Yet it was only after visiting Guyana that I truly understood its meaning. I felt at home in every corner of Guyana—the people, the neighbourhoods, the music. Everything felt familiar,” Ambassador Forbes explained.

“These countries are recognised internationally for the excellence, richness and diversity of their cultural expressions,” stated Ms Harry -Emmanuel.

She added “Directors of Culture have advocated for greater attention to and allocation of resources to the creative sector, resulting in significant changes in the enabling environment in the Region in terms of cultural policy, data collection, training, legislation and funding mechanisms at national and regional levels.”

The RCC has been instrumental in shaping cultural policy at the national and regional levels, by advising Ministers of Culture on the many issues on the Region’s agenda and infusing the regional culture programme with new ideas, new approaches and new attitudes.

Please read Mrs. Harry-Emmanuel’s remarks below.

Remarks by Mrs. Beverly Harry-Emmanuel

Advisor, Social Development

CARICOM Secretariat

Thirty-First Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC)

Opening Ceremony

26 June, 2025

• Mrs. Michelle Maynard, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Division of Culture
• Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Culture
• Ms. Carol Roberts, Festival Director
• Members of the Host Country Management Committee
• Members of the Interim Festival Directorate
• Members of Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
• Members of the Media

It is my pleasure to warmly welcome you to the Thirty-First Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC), on behalf of the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Dr. Carla Barnett.

The RCC has an important advisory role to perform, that you and officials who have served before you, have provided for over three decades to CARICOM Ministers of Culture, who meet periodically in the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD). This body has done so consistently and is well respected as one that has provided sound expert advice, since its first meeting in 1987 in Trinidad and Tobago.  

A very special welcome to the representatives of Member States who are attending the RCC for the first time. It is a pleasure to welcome you into the CARICOM family of Directors of Culture, and I hope you will find participation in the RCC a rewarding experience. A warm welcome also to members of the Interim Festival Directorate, the regional management body for CARIFESTA, who met yesterday with the Host Country Management team to provide their support and expertise in preparations for CARIFESTA.

A very special thank-you to the Government of Barbados for hosting these meetings this week, for the warm hospitality that we have received since our arrival, and the excellent arrangements put in place for the Nineteenth Meeting of the Interim Festival Directorate and the Thirty-First Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee. 

I think it is evident that the international and regional context in which the RCC has been working has changed fundamentally since 1987 when this body first met in Trinidad and Tobago.

There is now significantly increased regional and global awareness of the value and importance of the creative industries, and the ways in which they can contribute to sustainable development in small countries in the global South. These countries are recognized internationally for excellence, richness and diversity of their cultural expressions.

Directors of Culture have advocated for greater attention to and allocation of resources to the creative sector resulting in significant changes in the enabling environment in the region in terms of cultural policy, data collection, training, legislation and funding mechanisms at national and regional levels.

It is with this awareness of the tremendous value of the creative industries to our region that the project “Creative Caribbean: An Ecosystem of ‘Play’ for Growth and Development” was designed by the CARICOM Secretariat, The University of the West Indies and UNESCO, to provide much needed support to creatives in CARICOM. Currently, targeted grant support is being disbursed to 78 creatives and cultural entrepreneurs in 15 countries in the region and the programme is also providing vital resources to develop the enabling environment for the creative sector.

This includes the development of national registries of artists; draft model legislation for Creative Industry Development Acts in Member States to protect and incentivize the sector; development of a model satellite account for data collection and management; and the development of a regional creative content hub to facilitate innovation and creativity. The RCC will receive important updates in relation to the successes of the project to date.

The Caribbean Development Bank’s Creative and Cultural Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) continues to provide valuable grant support for creative entrepreneurship in the region, for data collection, innovation and job creation. It is welcome news that the Caribbean Development Bank decided to recapitalize and continue the operations of the Creative and Cultural Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) beyond the initial investment of US$2.6 million which established the fund in 2018, and which facilitated the first cycle of funding that ended in 2023. We look forward to the Creative and Cultural Industries Innovation Fund’s (CIIF) update on this important initiative.

The matter of Reparations for Native Genocide and Enslavement continues to be placed high on the agenda of CARICOM Heads of Government and the region. We continue to pursue reparations from Europe for over 400 years of slavery and colonialism, which has resulted in the systemic underdevelopment of the region and persistent poverty in many communities.  The observance by the United Nations of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034) and the declaration by the African Union of 2025 as the year for ‘‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations” both present valuable platforms for increased advocacy and awareness of the reparations agenda that has been championed by the CARICOM Reparations Commission for 12 years since 2013.

Steps are being taken by our Heads of Government, to form a coalition with the African Union for increased joint advocacy on this important human rights movement for justice and development. Ministries with responsibility for Culture continue to have an important role to play in facilitating public education and dialogue on reparatory justice and enabling the people of the region to reclaim and value aspects of their cultural heritage which were either lost or denigrated through centuries of oppression. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I also bring to your attention the important work being undertaken by UNESCO in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to build the resilience of the culture sector to disasters and climate change. This work is timely and vital to the preservation of national patrimony.  Mitigation and recovery strategies will also be presented for discussion and the guidance of Directors. 

 However, the priority that will consume the attention of the RCC is preparations for the Fifteenth Caribbean Festival of Arts, scheduled for 22 -31 August 2025 in Barbados.  Directors of Culture and Members of the Interim Festival Directorate will engage with the Host Country team on arrangements that are key to a successful event, from artistic concept to logistics, venues, marketing, customs, security, accreditation and accommodation. Barbados is in an advanced stage of preparations for what promises to be a diverse and exciting ten-day event. This is an important opportunity for participating countries to visit venues, scout accommodation and gain a range of information to help finalize their plans for CARIFESTA. The RCC will devote significant time to discussions with Barbados to ensure a successful and enjoyable event.

This Thirty-First Meeting of the RCC provides yet another opportunity for reflection, review and renewal to ensure that national and the regional culture agendas meet the needs of the members of the culture sector who you serve. The RCC has been instrumental in shaping cultural policy at the national and regional levels and infusing the regional culture programme with new ideas, new approaches and new perspectives.

It is a pleasure for me to be here with you, and I take this opportunity to wish us all a productive meeting.

Thank you.

Thursday, 26 June 2025 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown):  The stage is being set in Barbados for a spectacular hosting of CARIFESTA XV which will feature  a unique blend of dramatic and cultural performances, fashion, music, dance and art installations.

This will be the third CARIFESTA hosted by Barbados, which previously hosted the festival in 1981 and 2017.  

With under two months to go, CARICOM Directors of culture, technical officials and a team from CARICOM Secretariat are in Barbados for the Nineteenth Meeting of the Interim Festival Directorate – IFD (24-26 June) and the Thirty-First Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee – RCC (25-27 June 2025).

The IFD is the regional management body of CARIFESTA.

The group is getting a first-hand look at the venues, which will showcase a variety of performances and cultural activities, including drama, fashion, music, culinary arts, and spectacular art displays.

The Meeting of the IFD is being co-chaired by Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager, Culture at the CARICOM Secretariat, and Festival Director Carol Roberts (CEO, National  Cultural Foundation, Barbados).

In her opening remarks during the IFD meeting on Wednesday, Dr Brown underscored the importance of the body, which has been meeting since 2006, to the planning of CARIFESTA. 

“This is an important step that we take every time we have CARIFESTA…  our delegations are in the host country to interact with the organising team in order to develop a cultural performance that will excite our CARIFESTA audience,” stated Dr Brown.

“The insight and guidance of the IFD are crucial to ensuring that CARIFESTA remains relevant and advantageous for all stakeholders involved,” she emphasised.

She speaks about the importance of the IFD to CARIFESTA XV below. 

CARIFESTA XV Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Cultural Foundation, Barbados, Carol Roberts, highlighted that robust discussions with the IFD are significantly beneficial to the CARIFESTA XV Organising Committee.  She explained that the committee commenced preparations in 2023 and will utilise the feedback from the IFD to enhance the plans and initiatives for CARIFESTA XV.

“This valuable insight we are utilising to ensure that Barbados as host and the Region as a whole, can deliver an unforgettable CARIFESTA – unforgettable in all the best ways,” underscored the Festival Director.

She explains how the work of the IFD impacts CARIFESTA plans below.

Additional information:

• Dr Brown further explained that the IFD was born from a proposal by artists participating in the CARIFESTA VIII (2003) advocating for a body to ensure better management and visibility of the Festival, as well as more opportunities and development for regional artists.

• The IFD is responsible for reviewing the structure of the festival and ensuring it meets the objectives of the CARIFESTA strategic plan (adopted by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2004), with a particular focus on addressing the needs of Caribbean artists.

About CARIFESTA

CARIFESTA is an international multicultural event organised on a periodic basis by countries of the Caribbean. The last festival, CARIFESTA XV, was hosted in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019, under the theme “Connect, Share Invest.”

Read more about CARIFESTA: https://www.carifesta.net/about

This meeting will take place alongside the Thirtieth Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council and the Tenth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), scheduled for May 29 and 30, 2025, in Cartagena de Indias and Montería, Colombia, respectively.

The meeting will be co-chaired by The Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of St. Kitts and Nevis and Chair of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), and Her Excellency Laura Sarabia Torres, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. This will be the first group meeting for CARICOM Foreign Ministers with Minister Sarabia Torres since she assumed her post in January 2025.

Previous engagements between CARICOM and Colombian Foreign Ministers in 2019 and 2022 focused on strengthening relations and cooperation in areas such as trade, transportation, culture, education, environment, climate change, disaster risk management, security, and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Joint Commissions have also been held to advance technical, cultural, educational, and sports cooperation.

The upcoming meeting is seen as a crucial opportunity to enhance dialogue and collaboration on political, economic, and cultural ties, especially given the current uncertain international environment. It also provides a platform for CARICOM to urge Colombia, in its roles as Chair of the ACS Ministerial Council and President Pro Tempore of CELAC, to continue advocating for the priorities of small and vulnerable states in the region.

This event to mark the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the “Ark of Return”, is an opportunity to reflect on how music and rhythm have played a role in both resistance and resilience. Drumming holds a special place in this journey.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, delivered remarks at the Drum Dialogue titled “Beats of Solidarity: Drumming for Peace and Equity” on the margins of the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Please listen to her remarks below (a transcript is available below the video):

Transcript:

I am delighted to participate in this Drum Dialogue that brings together master drummers from Africa and the African diaspora and I congratulate the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Africa Centre, for this creative initiative.

Drumming is a universal form of creative expression, transcending countries, ethnicities and languages. In the modern world, beset by division, inequality, and systemic injustice, drumming is a powerful symbol and tool which fosters unity. The rhythms connect us to our shared humanity, creating space for dialogue, healing, and transformation. Drumming is like the beat of our hearts.

In the Caribbean, drumming is a time-honoured tradition and it is integral to our expressions of celebration, commemoration and identity. I am pleased to note that we have drummers from our Region who are part of this celebration.

This event to mark the 10^th Anniversary of the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the “Ark of Return”, is an opportunity to reflect on how music and rhythm have played a role in both resistance and resilience. Drumming holds a special place in this journey. During the era of enslavement, African drums were often banned by enslavers, who feared their power to communicate, inspire rebellion, sustain unity and cultural identity. Yet drumming survived, and today we are being entertained and inspired by the master drummers who have kept this valuable tradition alive.

The Ark of Return stands as a solemn reminder of the atrocities of slavery and the enduring legacy of racial injustice. We remember the countless acts of courage and defiance by enslaved Africans and honour their memory by being resolute in the call for reparatory justice for the victims and their descendants. As we mark the 10^th Anniversary of the Ark of Return, we are invited to imagine a world founded on dignity, equality and peace.

The master drummers who are engaging us today demonstrate the power of the rhythms that sustained African people through many struggles and continue to inspire movements for justice today. Let the drumbeat carry our message, our clarion call for repair, for peace and for equity for all.

Thank you very much.

“Never miss an opportunity.  It’s going to be a big celebration!  Believe in yourself; believe in your talent.  We, as Caribbean people, are here to support you.  To any young person: take advantage of the CARIFESTA spotlight.  You are supposed to be here in beautiful Bridgetown, Barbados – sign up, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you,” stated the CYA.  

Listen to her describe how the festival can benefit young artists in the video below. 

“Above all else, we want to be able to share with the rest of the Region and the world, who they will miss if they don’t come to CARIFESTA!”

Caribbean artists registering for CARIFESTA XV, scheduled for 22-31 August in Barbados, now have until 21 March to secure their spot in the coveted event.

CARICOM Chair and Barbados Prime Minister Hon. Mia Mottley urged artists to take advantage of the regional and international exposure on the CARIFESTA stage.

She advised, “I’ve already said that we should extend the platform. Clearly, [artists] can work through their governments…but above all else, we want to be able to share with the rest of the Region and the world, who they will miss if they don’t come to CARIFESTA!”

Listen to her comments in the video below.

She describes the event as the ultimate Caribbean experience for CARICOM nationals and visitors from the international community: “You’re going to get from fashion to food, from music to dance, to sculpture…all kinds of creative expression.”

She warned, “If yah miss it, blame yahself!”

Listen to the CARICOM Chair’s preview of the event in the video below.