Diaspora Events Worldwide
Caribbean carnivals, independence galas, thanksgiving services, Windrush and Commonwealth events across the UK, USA, Canada and Europe — run by our diaspora associations alongside the High Commissions and Consulates. Filter by region and find your next celebration.
Gold-edged cards are Commonwealth-wide events. Cards marked date to confirm are annual association galas/services whose exact 2026 date is announced nearer the time — check the organiser’s page via the buttons.
All RegionsUnited KingdomUnited StatesCanadaEurope
United Kingdom (16)
21
FEB
St Lucia 47th Independence Celebration — London
Saint Lucia Association of London’s 47th Independence celebration. Theme: “Douvan Ansanm.”
9
MAR
Commonwealth Day Service — Westminster Abbey, London
Annual multi-faith Commonwealth Day service attended by The King and Commonwealth leaders, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
17
MAR
Montserrat St Patrick’s Festival — UK
The UK Montserratian community marks St Patrick’s Week — Montserrat’s national day, the only national St Patrick’s in the Caribbean.
22
JUN
Windrush Day 2026
National day honouring the Windrush Generation and Caribbean communities’ contribution to the UK, marking the 1948 arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.
1
JUL
Windrush 2026 — A Celebration of the African & Caribbean Diaspora Legacy
Windrush legacy celebration of the African and Caribbean diaspora, 6–9:30pm.
10
JUL
Bahamas Independence — UK (Bahamas High Commission London)
The Bahamas High Commission London hosts Bahamian Independence celebrations around National Day (10 July).
23
JUL
Commonwealth Games — Glasgow 2026
The XXIII Commonwealth Games — Caribbean Commonwealth nations compete; a major draw for the UK Caribbean diaspora.
6
AUG
Jamaica Independence — UK (AOJUK / AJN Birmingham)
Association of Jamaicans (UK) Trust and AJN Birmingham celebrate Jamaica’s 64th Independence with Jamaica in the Square and a Gala Dinner.
30
AUG
Notting Hill Carnival 2026
Europe’s biggest street festival — Caribbean mas bands, steel pan, soca and sound systems over the August bank-holiday weekend.
31
AUG
Trinidad & Tobago 64th Independence — UK
UK Trinidad & Tobago associations celebrate the nation’s 64th Independence.
31
AUG
Leeds West Indian Carnival 2026
The UK’s original and Europe’s oldest West Indian carnival — costume parade, sound systems and Caribbean food.
1
OCT
Black History Month (UK)
Observed every October — celebrating the history, achievements and contributions of Black and Caribbean communities across the UK.
27
OCT
St Vincent & the Grenadines Independence — UK (SVG-UK Outreach)
SVG-UK Outreach and Vincentian associations mark St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Independence.
1
NOV
Antigua & Barbuda Independence — UK (ABNA UK)
The Antigua & Barbuda National Association UK holds an Independence Church Service and cultural events around National Day.
3
NOV
Dominica Independence — UK (Dominica High Commission)
The High Commission for the Commonwealth of Dominica (UK) runs diaspora events around Independence and the Creole season.
30
NOV
Barbados 60th Independence — UK
UK Barbadian associations hold November independence events marking Barbados’ 60th anniversary.
United States (14)
7
FEB
Grenada 52nd Independence — New York
Grenada’s 52nd Independence anniversary observance in New York. Theme: “Anchored in Faith, Guided by Purpose.”
18
APR
Jamaica — JIFI~NYC “Women In Power” Brunch
Jamaica Independence Foundation Inc. (JIFI~NYC) fundraising brunch ahead of the annual Jamaican Independence Ball.
18
MAY
Haitian Flag Day — New York, Miami & Philadelphia
Haitian Flag Day (18 May) — diaspora celebrations across Brooklyn, North Miami’s MOCA Plaza and Philadelphia.
26
MAY
Guyana 60th Independence (Diamond Jubilee) — Flag Raising & Reception, NYC
Consulate General of Guyana — 60th Independence Flag Raising & Reception, with an aerial National Flag flyover across NYC.
27
JUN
DC Caribbean Carnival 2026 — Washington
The DC Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza Parade along the Georgia Avenue corridor — mas bands, soca and a Caribbean marketplace.
1
JUL
Houston Caribbean Festival 2026 (25th Anniversary)
Houston’s 25th-anniversary Caribbean Festival — soca fetes, J’ouvert and the Parade of the Bands grand finale.
23
JUL
Belize Diaspora Summit 2026 — Manhattan Beach, CA
Belize Diaspora Summit — Connect | Engage | Invest | Inspire. A three-day diaspora summit in California.
8
AUG
Jamaica 64th Independence Gala — JIFI~NYC “The People’s Ball”, Queens
JIFI~NYC “The People’s Ball 2026 — The Emerald Masquerade,” celebrating Jamaica’s 64th Independence.
29
AUG
Boston Caribbean Carnival 2026
Caribbean American Carnival of Boston — J’ouvert and the Grand Parade of mas bands on the last Saturday of August.
7
SEP
West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade 2026
North America’s largest Caribbean celebration — pre-dawn J’ouvert and the giant Labor Day parade along Eastern Parkway.
19
SEP
St Kitts & Nevis Independence Gala — New York
St Kitts–Nevis Association of New York annual Independence Gala around Independence (19 September).
21
SEP
Belize Independence (September Celebrations) — USA (Belize Fest LA)
Belize Fest LA and US Belizean communities mark the September Celebrations and Independence (21 September).
3
OCT
Miami Carnival 2026
Miami Carnival — Columbus Day-weekend soca fetes, panorama, J’ouvert and the Parade of Bands.
27
OCT
St Vincent & the Grenadines Independence — New York
SVG Diaspora Committee of New York marks St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Independence.
Canada (18)
5
FEB
Grenada 52nd Independence — Flag-Raising, Toronto City Hall
Grenada Association Toronto flag-raising at Toronto City Hall, 12 noon, with the High Commission and Consulate General.
14
FEB
Grenada 52nd Independence Gala — Toronto
Grenada Association Toronto independence anniversary gala. Theme: “Grenada at 52 — Anchored in Faith, Guided by Purpose.”
15
FEB
St Lucia 47th Independence — Thanksgiving Service & Reception (Toronto)
Consulate General of Saint Lucia in Toronto — Thanksgiving Church Service & Reception, 3:00pm. Theme: “Douvan Ansanm.”
21
FEB
St Lucia & Grenada Independence Cultural Wear Gala — Edmonton
Caribbean Diaspora Association Edmonton — first-ever Cultural Wear Independence Gala marking St Lucia and Grenada independence.
21
FEB
St Lucia 47th Independence Celebration — Ottawa
Saint Lucia–Ottawa Association independence celebration, 6:00pm.
9
MAR
Commonwealth Day — Canada
Commonwealth Day (2nd Monday in March) observed across Canada with flag-raisings and civic events.
14
MAR
St Lucia 47th Independence Gala — Toronto
St Lucia Toronto Association — 47th Independence Gala.
16
MAY
Haitian Flag Day — Montreal
Haitian diaspora Flag Day celebration on Bélanger Street, Montreal (official Flag Day 18 May).
4
JUL
Montreal Carimas (formerly Carifiesta) 2026
Montreal’s Caribbean carnival — formerly Carifiesta — the city’s biggest Caribbean street parade of mas bands, soca and steelpan.
1
AUG
Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) — Grand Parade 2026
The Grand Parade of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) — North America’s largest cultural festival — along Lakeshore Boulevard.
6
AUG
Jamaica Independence Grand Gala — Toronto (JCA)
Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA Ontario) Independence Grand Gala around Independence (6 August).
7
AUG
Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival 2026 — Edmonton
Western Canada’s largest Caribbean arts festival — music, masquerade, food and the Cariwest Parade.
22
AUG
Grenada Day — Toronto
Toronto Grenada Day Committee annual cultural festival celebrating Grenadian heritage.
31
AUG
Trinidad & Tobago 64th Independence — Toronto (Trinbago Toronto)
Trinbago Toronto and the Consulate General — Trinbago Festival around Independence. 2026 marks the 64th.
19
SEP
St Kitts & Nevis Independence Thanksgiving — Toronto
High Commission, Consulate and St Kitts & Nevis diaspora associations hold a Thanksgiving service in Toronto around Independence.
27
OCT
St Vincent & the Grenadines Independence — Toronto (Vincy Toronto)
SVG Association of Toronto marks St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Independence.
1
NOV
Antigua & Barbuda Independence — Toronto (ABAT)
Antigua & Barbuda Association of Toronto (ABAT) annual Independence Dinner & Dance around National Day.
30
NOV
Barbados 60th Independence Gala — Toronto (Barbados Canada Association)
Barbados Canada Association annual Independence Gala under the patronage of the Consulate General of Barbados. 2026 marks the 60th.
Europe (5)
22
MAY
Berlin Carnival of Cultures 2026
Karneval der Kulturen — a four-day multicultural street festival over Pentecost, with the big costumed parade celebrating Berlin’s diverse communities, including Caribbean groups.
1
JUL
Keti Koti Festival — Amsterdam (Surinamese diaspora)
Keti Koti (“broken chains”) — commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Antilles (1863); the largest Surinamese-Caribbean diaspora event in Europe.
5
JUL
Carnaval Tropical de Paris 2026
The Tropical Carnival of Paris — the great tropical parade on the Champs-Élysées, bringing together Caribbean, African and Latin communities.
24
JUL
Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval) 2026
Rotterdam Unlimited / Zomercarnaval — the Netherlands’ biggest summer carnival in the Caribbean/Latin tradition, with the Street Parade from Blaak.
25
NOV
Suriname Independence Day — Netherlands
The Surinamese diaspora in the Netherlands (350k+) marks Independence Day (25 November 1975) with community events.
Looking for festivals and national days back home too? Browse the full Caribbean & Diaspora Events Calendar covering all 15 CARICOM nations.