Calabar is set to begin the countdown to the 2026 Carnival Calabar, with the first dry run scheduled for Sunday, October 18.
According to the Carnival Calabar Board, the event will be flagged off at 1:30 p.m. at Millennium Park, Calabar, as carnival bands and participants begin preparations for the main celebration.
The 2026 carnival is themed “Rethinking Our Collective Destiny” and is expected to promote culture, tourism and creativity.
Other dry runs are scheduled for November 22 and December 6, followed by the Junior Dry Run on December 13.
The main carnival programme begins with the Cultural Carnival and Night of Kings and Queens on December 26, followed by the Junior Carnival on December 27, Parade of Bands on December 28 and Bikers Carnival on December 29.
Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, Gabe Onah, has also announced plans for online voting and digital streaming, allowing the public to participate in the band competition and follow activities beyond Calabar.
The commission is also engaging secondary school students through the 2026 Carnival Essay and Creative Writing Competition as preparations gather momentum for the festival.
