Quick answer
Highlights for the 2026–27 season: Barbados Food & Rum Festival (5–8 November 2026), the 60th anniversary of Independence (30 November 2026), Run Barbados Marathon Weekend (4–6 December 2026), the Holetown Festival (14–21 February 2027), the Sandy Lane Gold Cup (6 March 2027), the Oistins Fish Festival at Easter, and Crop Over, ending with Grand Kadooment on Monday 2 August 2027.
Barbados has a packed calendar, and 2026–27 is a special year: the island celebrates 60 years of Independence in November 2026 and the 400th anniversary of its first settlement in 2027. Here are the dates worth building a holiday around.
November 2026
- Barbados Food & Rum Festival, 5–8 November — tastings, chef dinners and rum events across the island.
- Independence Day, 30 November — the 60th anniversary, closing a year of celebrations with parades and fireworks.
December 2026
- Run Barbados Marathon Weekend, 4–6 December — the 43rd edition, with races from 5K to the full marathon.
- Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks of the year, so book villas early.
February–March 2027
- Holetown Festival, 14–21 February — a week of music, food and parades marking the 1627 settlement, in its 400th-anniversary year.
- Sandy Lane Gold Cup, 6 March — the island’s biggest horse race at the Garrison Savannah.
- Polo season runs through the winter and spring.
Easter 2027
The Oistins Fish Festival takes over the south coast fishing town on Easter weekend (expected 26–29 March 2027), with boat races, fish-boning contests and music. Read our Oistins guide.
Summer 2027: Crop Over
Barbados’s biggest festival celebrates the end of the sugar cane harvest with weeks of calypso, soca and parties, culminating in Grand Kadooment on Monday 2 August 2027. Summer is also low season, with the best villa rates.
Getting here: non-stop flights reach Barbados (BGI) from London Heathrow and Gatwick (about 8–9 hours), Toronto (about 5–6 hours) and US gateways including Miami, New York JFK, Boston, Charlotte and Atlanta (about 3–5 hours). See our guide to flights from the UK, Canada and USA.
Where to stay
Festival dates book up fast. Secure your villa early.
- Harmony Hall Green — south coast, close to Oistins and the Gap.
- Townhouses at Royal Westmoreland — west coast, 10 minutes from Holetown.
- Emily House — 7 bedrooms for festival groups.
- 2 Bed Suite with Pool at The Crane — south-east, 10–15 minutes from the airport.
Frequently asked questions
When is Crop Over 2027?
Crop Over runs through the summer and ends with Grand Kadooment on Monday 2 August 2027.
When is the Holetown Festival 2027?
14–21 February 2027.
What is happening in Barbados in November 2026?
The Barbados Food & Rum Festival (5–8 November) and the 60th anniversary of Independence on 30 November.
When is the best time to visit Barbados for events?
November to March has the Food & Rum Festival, Independence, Run Barbados, the Holetown Festival and the Gold Cup, all in the dry season. Summer brings Crop Over.
Last checked by the Ocean Reserve Living team in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and event dates change, so confirm before you travel.