Cambridge Carnival returns with Soca Queen Alison Hinds
The free celebration brings Caribbean music, dancing, elaborate costumes and international food to Cambridge on September 13.
Details
University Park, Cambridge
Sept-12 & 13
Info
Cambridge Carnival is taking over University Park Commons on Sunday, September 13, with a full day of Caribbean music, dancing, elaborate costumes and food. The free festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be headlined by Barbados-born Soca Queen Alison Hinds.
Now in its 32nd year, Cambridge Carnival International celebrates African and Caribbean culture through music, dance, food and the traditional art of masquerade. Thousands of people are expected to gather in Cambridge for one of the city’s biggest annual cultural celebrations.
Hinds will perform during the Carnival parade before taking the stage at University Park at 4:30 p.m. Best known for soca anthems including “Roll It Gal,” the singer has spent decades bringing Caribbean music to audiences around the world. This will be her first time headlining Cambridge Carnival.
The grand costume parade is the centerpiece of the day. Masqueraders dressed in colorful handmade costumes will move through the streets alongside dancers, musicians and revelers. Live DJs, steel pan music and dance performances will continue throughout the festival.
Food and craft vendors will also fill University Park Commons, serving dishes from across the Caribbean and other parts of the world. Families can visit Kid Fest for children’s activities and entertainment.
This year’s theme, “The Cultural Revolution Starts Here and Never Ends,” honors the revolutionary legacies of Afro-Caribbean and African American communities. The theme connects modern Carnival celebrations to their roots in resistance, cultural pride, emancipation and freedom of expression. The 2026 event is also part of Massachusetts’ MA250 commemoration.
Carnival weekend begins a day earlier with the Pan in the Park Panorama Showcase on Saturday, September 12. Held from noon to 5 p.m., the showcase will feature steel bands performing at Pacific Street Park in Central Square. The main parade and festival follow on Sunday at University Park Commons, located at 65 Sidney Street.
Admission to both days is free. Registration is available online for the September 13 parade and festival, although an Eventbrite ticket does not reserve seating or guarantee a particular viewing location. Guests should arrive early if they want a strong view of the parade or Alison Hinds’ performance.
Cambridge Carnival International takes place Sunday, September 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at University Park Commons, 65 Sidney Street in Cambridge. Alison Hinds is scheduled to perform on the main stage at 4:30 p.m.
