The Jacmel City Hall and the Inter-institutional Organizing Committee for the Carnival have officially announced the theme for the 2026 Jacmel Carnival : "Jacmel in Our Dreams".

"This deeply symbolic theme invites the people of Jacmel, artists, papier-mâché workshops, carnival bands, partner institutions, and visitors to immerse themselves in a world where imagination becomes the driving force of creation. 'Jacmel in Our Dreams' highlights a poetic, visionary city, rich in history, symbols, and colors—a city we dream of and build together," explains the Organizing Committee.

The 2026 edition also coincides with the centenary celebration of the birth of poet René Depestre, a major figure in Haitian literature and an ambassador of Jacmel’s beauty throughout the world. The carnival will pay tribute to his luminous work and his enchanting vision of a vibrant, free, and forward-looking Jacmel.

"Carnival 2026 will be an artistic journey where each creation—masks, costumes, music, tableaux vivants, and choreography—will shape the Jacmel of our dreams," states the Mayor’s office, which encourages all carnival participants to embrace this theme and actively contribute to the preparation of this grand celebration.

IH/ iciHaiti