Guadeloupe Carnival

Guadeloupe Carnival Dates 2025

• March 2, 2025: Fat Sunday, the official opening of Carnival celebrations in Guadeloupe.

• March 3, 2025: Fat Monday.

• March 4, 2025: Fat Tuesday, featuring the Grand Parade in Basse-Terre.

• March 5, 2025: Ash Wednesday, marking the end of Carnival with the death of Vaval and the beginning of Lent.

Carnival Festivities Start in December:

• January: Kings' Parade in Pointe-à-Pitre.

• January to February: Mas Espo Val in Pointe-à-Pitre.

• January to February: Vaval en Drive in Les Abymes.

Numerous events take place throughout the Guadeloupe Carnival period. To fully enjoy the festivities, having a vehicle is preferable. Europcar Guadeloupe works hard to provide quality service during this vibrant period.

© Credit source : Canva

Rent a car to make the most of Guadeloupe Carnival

Celebrate the Guadeloupe carnival on all the island's roads with a Guadeloupe car rental. Organize an unforgettable road trip with Europcar car rental, following the calendar of events Take part in convivial moments where a sparkling atmosphere reigns as part of the Carnival King and Queen elections. We offer you a wide choice of vehicles for a comfortable trip on the roads of Guadeloupe: choose the car that suits you best.

What is the Guadeloupe Carnival?

Carnival in Guadeloupe is a traditional event that highlights the island's rich culture. Each year before Lent, Guadeloupe Carnival marks the start of a period of festivities, parades, music, dance and joy. The Guadeloupe Carnival is not just a simple parade, but a moment of sharing, solidarity and protest, particularly through Vaval. The "vaval" is a mascot that represents a social or current event that has marked the population during the year. It's a way of satirically mocking a public figure or event. Every Ash Wednesday from Basse Terre to Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupeans mourn Vaval, and it's customary to hear in the streets of Guadeloupe "vaval ka kité nou" ("vaval is leaving us"). King Vaval is condemned to be burned at the stake on Ash Wednesday, in order to purify souls, bury all the bad things of the year and bring Carnival to a close before Lent begins. Carnival in Guadeloupe is memorable in many ways. From November onwards, Guadeloupeans prepare themselves with enthusiasm, making costumes and perfecting choreographies. It's a period full of creativity and gaiety, with carnival evenings featuring a variety of original themes. Every year, the Fédération du Carnaval de Guadeloupe organizes the Mardi Gras Parade. This is the focal point of the carnival, with floats and carnival groups moving to the lively rhythm of local music. Carnival queens and kings add a touch of glamour to the event. Tourists are often impressed by the beauty and diversity of the costumes and dances.

 © Credit source: Florence Peroumal

Carnival Groups in Guadeloupe

At the heart of Carnival, the streets are invaded by numerous carnival groups, divided into four categories:

• Skin bands ("Gwoup a po"): hundreds of musicians march to the rhythm of animal-skin drums, chachas and lambis horns (e.g. Akyo).

• Ti Mass" groups: young artists march in masks, playing a variety of percussion instruments including steel pans, plastic drums, snare drums and whistles.

• Snare drum bands: players in a wide variety of costumes make their brass instruments resound in the distance, from the top of their floats overlooking the procession.

• Synth groups: on foot, these small groups glide their deft fingers over the keys or strings of their synthesizers, basses and guitars in an electric atmosphere.

© Credit source : Canva

February weather in Guadeloupe

Travelling to Guadeloupe in February during the Guadeloupe Carnival is a unique experience, as it's a time of carnival-like energy. What's more, the pleasant temperatures, rivers, beaches and gentle breezes provide the ideal backdrop to this hectic celebration. Although the weather in Guadeloupe in February is mild all year round, it's in February that Guadeloupe reaches its peak of color, music and festivities. The weather in Guadeloupe plays a major role in the success of Carnival. Sunny days and balmy nights encourage participants to wiggle their way through the streets from morning till night. The dazzling costumes are perfectly suited to Guadeloupe's tropical climate.

February in Guadeloupe

In addition to the parades, Guadeloupe's February carnival offers a host of cultural events, including open-air concerts and tastings of traditional Creole dishes. It's an opportunity to celebrate the richness of Guadeloupean culture, a time for sharing. Every February, Guadeloupe is ablaze with color, rhythm and emotion, reminding everyone that life is beautiful. Come to Guadeloupe in February to experience the Guadeloupe Carnival. The Guadeloupe carnival is coming to an end and you'd still like to enjoy the island and take part in other activities? Take a look at our other articles, and you're sure to find the activity that's right for you. Find all our sections now:

• Beaches and hikes in Guadeloupe

• Discover the culture and history of Guadeloupe

• Discover all the best excursions

• Planning to return to Guadeloupe? Find out when to go to Guadeloupe !

Frequently asked questions

2 months of festivities in Guadeloupe

The Carnival period shows the vitality of the inhabitants dressed in bright and joyful colors whose diversity underlines the cultural richness. Many symbolic moments take place from day to night. The whole group ends up electing a king and a queen during this carnival filled with laughter and music.

Let's not forget Vaval, a sound puppet, on which a mask is glued, that is condemned to the stake in the evening at the end of the course, so that it rises from its ashes the following year, more victorious, for the greatest joy of young and old.

Festivities under the sign of music

At the heart of the Carnival, the streets are invaded by numerous carnival groups in which four categories are distinguished: - The skin groups ("Gwoup a po"): hundreds of musicians march to the rhythm of animal skin drums, chachas and horns (or conch shells) with lambis. - Ti Mass" groups: young artists march with masks and use a variety of percussion instruments consisting of steel pans combined with plastic drums, snare drums, and whistles. - The snare drum groups: the players with heterogeneous costumes, make the sound of their brass instruments resound in the distance, from the top of their floats overhanging the procession. - The synth bands: on foot, these small groups slide their dexterous fingers over the keys or strings of their synthesizers, basses and guitars in an electric atmosphere.

  Rent a car to enjoy Carnival

Carnival celebrations take place in every city on the island: organize an unforgettable road trip with Europcar car rental, following the events calendar. Take part in the Miss Carnival elections, a convivial event with a sparkling atmosphere.

We put at your disposal a large choice of vehicles for a comfortable trip on the roads of Guadeloupe : choose the car that suits you.

The carnival is coming to an end and you still want to enjoy the island and do other activities ? Do not hesitate to consult our other articles, you will find the activity made for you. Find all our sections now :

• Beaches and hikes to discover in Guadeloupe

• Discover the culture and history of Guadeloupe

• Discover all the best excursions to do

You plan to come back to Guadeloupe ? Discover when to go to Guadeloupe !