Culture

Sint Maarten Carnival: who runs it and how the 2026 season ran

St. Maarten Carnival on the Dutch side is organised by the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF). The 2026 edition, the 55th, ran from 10 April to 5 May after pre-events from March. The 2027 dates have not been announced.

By SXM Daily · October 14, 2026

Carnival on the Dutch side of the island is St. Maarten Carnival, organised each year by the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF). In 2026 it marked its 55th edition with a record-length season.

Photo: Richie Diesterheft / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Who organises it

The SCDF is the body behind St. Maarten Carnival. It launches each season's schedule, so it is the place to check for dates and events.

How the 2026 season ran

The 2026 edition was the 55th. According to The Daily Herald, it ran a record 31 days of events once the pre-Carnival activities are counted.

March 2026: pre-Carnival events began.
10 April: the official season opened with the opening of Carnival Village.
5 May: the season closed with the burning of King Momo.

Soualiga Newsday reported that the SCDF extended the 2026 season by one week to mark the anniversary edition.

What's next

The SCDF has not yet announced the dates for Carnival 2027. When it does, SXM Daily will update this page. Until then, check with the SCDF directly.

What this article does not cover

This piece does not list the full 2026 programme, event by event. The detailed schedule we found came from a source we treat as a lead only, so we have not reproduced it here.

FAQ

Q: Who organises St. Maarten Carnival?

A: The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF).

Q: Which edition was Carnival 2026?

A: The 55th.

Q: When did the 2026 season run?

A: Pre-events started in March. The official season opened on 10 April with Carnival Village and closed on 5 May with the burning of King Momo.

Q: When is Carnival 2027?

A: The SCDF has not announced the 2027 dates yet.

Sources

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/scdf-launches-2026-carnival-schedule-31-days-celebrating-of-55-years-of-fettin
https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?Itemid=518&id=61788%3Ast-maarten-carnival-2026-extended-by-one-week-for-55th-anniversary-edition&option=com_k2&view=item

Source: https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/scdf-launches-2026-carnival-schedule-31-days-celebrating-of-55-years-of-fettin