How Cayman meets the world will highlight CAYFEST 2026.
Under the theme ‘Global Threads’, this year’s festival sparkles with stories, rhythms, flavours and creative voices woven across borders, generations and traditions. From powerful performances to cinematic premieres and immersive heritage experiences, CAYFEST invites audiences to experience how culture connects us all.
Presented by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF), CAYFEST is more than a festival – it’s a launchpad for ideas, talent and global dialogue. CNCF champions Caymanian creativity while welcoming international artistry, ensuring its cultural identity continues to shine on the world stage.
CAYFEST on film: call for submissions
Filmmakers from across the islands and the diaspora are invited to submit up to two films for CAYFEST on Film 2026. Inspired by ‘Global Threads’, this curated showcase celebrates stories of connection, migration, memory and identity but filmmakers are free to submit work in any style or theme. Not every film will make the final cut, but every submission becomes part of CNCF’s growing creative archive for future programming. Visit this website for more details.
The selected films become part of CAYFEST on Film 2026. Building on 2025’s acclaimed ‘Splice’, this year’s programme explores how our lives and histories intertwine across oceans and generations. Screenings will take place 14–15 March at Camana Bay and are free to the public
March 2026 – CAYFEST takes the stage
CAYFEST 2026 opens with the legendary National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC), a cultural icon with over six decades of global acclaim. Founded in 1962, NDTC fuses African-Caribbean traditions, Jamaican movement and classical and contemporary ballet into electrifying dance-theatre that pulses with Caribbean soul. Led by Artistic Director Marlon Simms, NDTC’s opening performance is a statement of regional unity and artistic excellence.
Simms said, “To be part of CAYFEST is to be in dialogue with the spirit of the Caribbean – its people, its stories, and its enduring creativity.”
Tickets can be purchased at ticketsplus.ky
Cinema takes centre stage with CAYFEST on Film 2026, a curated celebration of Caymanian and Caribbean storytelling. Building on 2025’s acclaimed Splice, this year’s programme explores how our lives and histories intertwine across oceans and generations. Screenings will take place 14–15 March at Camana Bay and are free to the public.
Red Sky at Night
A festival tradition returns as Red Sky at Night takes place on 21 March as the grand closing event of CAYFEST 2026. This signature celebration transforms the festival grounds into the vibrant Caymanian Village – an immersive space dedicated to living heritage, island craftsmanship and community connection.
Throughout the day, audiences will experience Cayman’s cultural traditions brought to life through hands-on demonstrations, storytelling, music and performance. The Caymanian Village will feature:
- Peppermint and swanky-making demonstrations, inviting visitors to engage with traditional practices
- Conch blowing, quadrille, maypole dancing and folk singing, celebrating the rhythms and rituals of Caymanian life
- Thatch-rope demonstrations and heritage displays, showcasing ancestral skills passed down through generations
- Cultural booths with over 100 local artists and vendors, offering handcrafted goods, culinary treats, storytelling sessions, and live performances throughout the day
Red Sky at Night is not only a celebration – it is a vital platform for cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and intergenerational exchange.
Festival highlights throughout March
- Cayman National Choir and Orchestra will hold a concert at the Harquail Theatre on 13 March.
- Poetry Night and spoken word by Hylton Grace
- Improv workshops led by the world-renowned Baltimore Improv Group visiting schools and hosting an adult improv theatre workshop
- Family-friendly children’s events and more.
Email [email protected] for more details on the grant and application process.
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