After eight years of operating independently, the two major carnival organisations – Batabano and CayMas – have unified their carnival road marches and will move forward together as ‘One Carnival’ on 23 May.
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage made the announcement on its social media pages saying that the reunification is the result of several months of constructive dialogue and negotiations, supported by input from multiple government departments and agencies.
Speaking to Compass TV, CayMas president and chairman, Jermaine Sharpe, said CayMas started discussions on a merger of carnivals from last July, “I think the formula we have is a good mix of compromise of everything. Did Batabano get everything they wanted? No. Did we [CayMas] get everything we wanted? No. But it’s like a marriage – you have to compromise.”
Donna Myrie, Batabano chairperson added, “Finally after many years of government meetings … we have come together. The ministry of culture has brought this together under the umbrella of Heritage Month and we are proud to combine our resources, our energies, our Caymanian people together under one umbrella on one day for one carnival.”
The ministry said, One Carnival will be a cornerstone event of Heritage Month, which will once again feature Emancipation Day, Art Week and 345 Day celebrations. In addition, the ministry will introduce free cultural workshops aimed at strengthening cultural awareness, education and community engagement.
Minister for Culture and Heritage Isaac Rankine, expressed appreciation to all the stakeholders and thanked the Department of Tourism for its guidance on date selection and the police for its consultation in identifying the most appropriate route to ensure public safety and minimal interruption.
Feedback from community
Sharpe said he has already seen positive response from the community, “We put out our [social media] post announcing the date and within five or six hours it had been liked and shared over 1,000 times.”
He added, “People I know personally who were very adamant that they were never going to jump again in carnival in Cayman are ready to go … the feedback has been phenomenal.”
Josanny Fermin from Batabano said, “Everybody has been waiting for this it’s like a sequel to a movie … were just waiting on a cliffhanger … and now it’s happening, the date is cemented. We are all in the same boat in the same direction of going down that road.”
New chapter for carnival
Sharpe encouraged the community to come out to One Carnival, “If we come together and put together a product that people love and take part in, we can only go up from here,” he said.
Myrie added, “2026 marks a historic period for our islands, our people, sponsors, masqueraders, the public, everyone can be happy and excited that we have returned to one carnival.”
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They need carnival rides like a Ferris wheel, fun house , big slides and scrambler.