Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival 2026 has delivered a significant boost to the country’s tourism sector, with strong international visitor arrivals and hotel performance underscoring the festival’s continued global appeal.
Preliminary data from the Immigration Division and the Central Statistical Office (CSO) indicate that 54,441 visitors arrived in Trinidad and Tobago between January 1 and February 14, 2026, a clear indication of sustained international interest in the destination’s premier cultural showcase. This represents a 13% increase over the 48,197 arrivals recorded during the same period in 2025.
Of this total:
- January arrivals: 28,920
- February 1–14: 25,521
These figures highlight buoyant international demand for Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival and the positive impact of ongoing destination marketing and expanded airlift.
As the festival approached its peak weekend, hotel performance strengthened considerably. Data from CoStar revealed that:
- Average occupancy in January stood at 46%, with
- Average Daily Rates (ADR) of US$172
By the Carnival peak weekend (February 13–14):
- Occupancy surged to 83.2%, while
- ADR climbed to US$501.86
Hotel revenue for February 1–15 reached US$10.7 million, already surpassing January’s total of US$7 million. This demonstrates Carnival’s ability to generate premium‑driven economic activity within a short period.
Cruise Sector Adds to the Economic Boost
The cruise sector also contributed to the country’s tourism performance, with 8,865 cruise passengers visiting between January 1 and February 15, 2026. The main source of visitors were from the following regions:
- United States: 66%
- Canada: 17%
- United Kingdom: 6%
With an average spend of approximately US$135 per visitor, cruise passengers generated an estimated US$1.19 million in direct economic impact.
Organised tours remained popular, with the following leading the way:
- City and Maracas Tour: 39%
- Caroni Bird Sanctuary: 13%
- Maracas Beach Tour: 12%
Senator the Honourable Satyakama Maharaj, Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, stated:
“Carnival 2026 continues to demonstrate the strength of Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism product. Impressive arrivals and record hotel rates reflect growing global demand for our cultural experiences and reinforce tourism’s contribution to economic diversification and foreign exchange generation.”
The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism and Tourism Trinidad Limited will continue to review and publish finalised arrival and performance data as the post‑Carnival period concludes.
