Calabar is set to begin the countdown to the 2026 Carnival Calabar as organisers announce the first dry run of this year’s carnival for Sunday, October 18, 2026.
According to the announcement by Carnival Calabar, the first dry run will be flagged off at 1:30 p.m. at Millennium Park, Calabar, giving residents, carnival bands and visitors an early taste of the activities ahead of the main December celebration.
The 2026 Carnival Calabar is themed “Rethinking Our Collective Destiny,” with organisers expected to use the carnival season to promote culture, tourism, creativity and wider participation.
The first dry run is part of a series of rehearsals planned ahead of the main carnival. The published calendar lists additional dry runs for November 22 and December 6, followed by the junior dry run on December 13.
The main carnival programme is scheduled to build towards the final week of December, with the Cultural Carnival and Night of Kings and Queens on December 26, Junior Carnival on December 27, Parade of Bands on December 28 and Bikers Carnival on December 29, before the closing activities on December 30.
This year’s edition is also expected to introduce some new approaches to audience participation. Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, Gabe Onah, recently announced plans for online voting and digital streaming, allowing members of the public to participate in the band competition and follow carnival activities beyond Calabar.
The commission has also been engaging young people ahead of the festival, including a recent sensitisation campaign in secondary schools across Calabar for the 2026 Carnival Essay and Creative Writing Competition.
With the first dry run now scheduled for October 18, attention is expected to shift towards Calabar as carnival bands and participants begin preparations for what will be the latest edition of the city's signature cultural festival.
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