Mas Domnik, Dominica’s Carnival, is called The Real Mas because it preserves old customs. It began when enslaved people celebrated their freedom with costumes, music, and dance. During the colonial period, Africans recreated elements of European masquerade traditions and wove in African culture and symbolism. Over time, these expressions evolved into original Dominican traditions such as Bwa Bwa (stilt walkers), Sensay costumes, and Lapo Kabwit drum groups. What started as small street gatherings grew into one of the island’s biggest festivals.
The season begins weeks before Lent, featuring calypso shows, village events, and pageants. An opening parade, held about a month before, sets the celebrations in motion. The main days are Carnival Monday and Tuesday, which in 2026 will fall on 16 and 17 February, just before Ash Wednesday. J’Ouvert starts early on Monday morning with drumming, singing, and street parades, while the celebration ends with Tewe Vaval, a symbolic burial ritual on Ash Wednesday 18 February, indicating the start of Lent.
Many traditions in Mas Domnik is union of African and French influences. These include characters such as Sensay and Bwa Bwa, the beat of Lapo Kabwit drummers, and the sounds of calypso and bouyon music. In the 20th century, calypso and, later, bouyon were created in the late 1980s by the band WCK and became popular genres at carnival celebrations. Events like the Calypso Monarch and Bouyon Day showcase youth talent.
The Discover Dominica Authority organises the festival, which includes village carnivals, cultural pageants, calypso tents, and street parades, culminating on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. By the 2020s, Dominica’s Carnival had expanded to include both traditional and modern entertainment. It now features events such as Reggae on the Boardwalk, Showdown Mas Camp and Stardom Tents, attracting visitors from across the Caribbean and beyond.
Mas Domnik is one of Dominica’s three main festivals. It brings people from across the region and other countries, helping to promote tourism and strengthen cultural and entertainment links. For Dominicans, it is a time to come together. For visitors, it offers a side of Carnival unlike anywhere else.
Mas Domnik is not only a time to celebrate but also a way to keep traditions alive through music, dance, and community.
Dominica Carnival is scheduled for Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 February 2026
