Barbados Set to Host CARIFESTA XV

A Festival of Caribbean Culture Not to Be Missed

Running from 22–31 August 2025, CARIFESTA XV (The Caribbean Festival of Arts) will bring together artists, performers, designers, chefs, and thought leaders from across more than 25 nations – including Ghana, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil – for ten days of music, dance, fashion, film, food, visual arts, and deep cultural dialogue.

Barbados, long regarded as the jewel of the Caribbean, will transform into a living gallery of Caribbean identity, with Super Concerts, Caribbean Eat Street, fashion galas, and street performances happening across the island’s cultural districts.

“This is the ultimate celebration of who we are as Caribbean people – and we’re inviting the world to join us,” said Andrea Franklin, CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. “Ireland has always had a special connection with Barbados, and we know Irish visitors will feel right at home in the warmth, rhythm and beauty of CARIFESTA.”

The theme for 2025 is “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence.” – a nod to the festival’s commitment to showcasing the region’s deep traditions while embracing global innovation. A robust schedule of events includes:

– Four Super Concerts with top-tier Caribbean and international acts

– A dedicated Film Festival with outdoor screenings

– Daily Fashion Shows and Caribbean couture showcases

– The Grand Market & Trade Hub, the largest in CARIFESTA history

– A Culinary Village offering dishes from every corner of the region – including Bajan Cou Cou, Trini Doubles, Haitian Joumou, and Antiguan Ducana

– Youth Villages, pop-up stages, and community dance buses

– Futuristic tech installations, including AR exhibits, NFTs, and solar-powered stages

Barbados, which last hosted CARIFESTA in 2017, will once again demonstrate why it is considered a cultural leader in the region – and one of the most welcoming destinations for Irish tourists. The island recently earned acclaim from Irish travel publications for its seamless blend of laid-back charm, cultural depth, and breathtaking natural beauty.

Travel packages, group rates, and diaspora specials are available now at www.visitbarbados.org/carifesta, with many events free to attend and others available through general booking.

This August, all roads lead to Barbados. Don’t just read about Caribbean culture – come and live it.

Media Contacts:

Colm McDonnell

colm@travelmedia.ie

Festival Website: www.carifesta.net

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The island of Barbados is a Caribbean gem rich in cultural, heritage, sporting, culinary and eco experiences. It is surrounded by idyllic white sand beaches and is the only coral island in the Caribbean. With over 400 restaurants and eateries, Barbados is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean and home to the Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival, the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. The island is also known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the finest blends since the 1700s.

The island also hosts events like the annual Crop Over Festival, where A-lists celebrities like our very own Rihanna are often spotted, and the annual Run Barbados Marathon, the largest marathon in the Caribbean. As the motorsport island, it is home to the leading circuit-racing facility in the English-speaking Caribbean. Known as a sustainable destination, Barbados won the Green Destinations Story Award for Environment and Climate in 2023 and was listed as one of the Best World Travel Destinations for 2025 by National Geographic. Accommodations on the island are wide and varied, ranging from picturesque private villas to quaint boutique hotels, cozy Airbnbs, prestigious international chains and award-winning five-diamond resorts. Travelling to this paradise is a breeze as the Grantley Adams International Airport offers a variety non-stop and direct services from growing U.S., U.K., Canadian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American gateways. Arriving by ship is also easy as Barbados is a marquee port with calls from the world’s best cruise and luxury liners. So, it’s about time that you Visit Barbados and experience all that this 166-square-mile isle has to offer.

For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, and via Twitter @Barbados.