PLAN YOUR CARNIVAL
Getting Here
Book Early
Direct and connecting flights from Toronto, New York, Miami, and London fill up months ahead of Carnival. Lock your flight as soon as your section is confirmed.
Entry
Most visitors from the US, UK, Canada, and CARICOM nations enter visa-free for short stays, but requirements vary by nationality. Confirm yours with Trinidad & Tobago Immigration.
Timing
Landing 2–4 days before J'ouvert gives you time to adjust, pick up your costume, hit a fete, and meet your section before the road takes over.
Airport
Piarco International Airport (POS), about 25 minutes from Port of Spain, is the gateway for nearly all Carnival activity.
Where to Stay
Almost everything — the parade route, the fete circuit, mas camps for costume pickup — runs through and around Port of Spain. Staying central saves you time during the two most demanding days of your trip.
Look at neighbourhoods like Woodbrook, St. Clair, and Ariapita Avenue — walkable to fetes, close to the Savannah stage, and full of short-term rentals. Hotels and Airbnbs here book out months in advance, so confirm your stay around the same time you register.
Registration & Costumes
Every Showtime costume belongs to a section — themed this year around Trinidad & Tobago's bird life. Sections are generally frontline (bold, statement-making) or backline (fuller coverage). Neither is "better" — both play the same road, same music, same day.
Registration runs in stages: pay your deposit and share preliminary sizing now, confirm exact sizing within 14 days, then settle your balance by the final payment date. Custom payment plans are available.
Browse Sections & Costumes →What Your Payment Covers
Costume
Your full Carnival Tuesday costume, designed and fitted to your section — yours to keep.
Food & Drinks
Chef-curated meals and a top-shelf, fully stocked bar served on the road both Monday and Tuesday.
Security
A dedicated security detail and on-route paramedics move with the band at all times.
Music & Restrooms
High-powered sound trucks with live acts, plus clean, accessible mobile restrooms along the route.
The Carnival Days
Carnival's opening celebration — "joo-vay," from the French for "daybreak." Body paint, mud, powder, and soca as the city wakes up. Usually booked separately from your costume band.
Relaxed and social — less about the costume, more about the music and the reunion energy of the whole band. You'll wear coordinated Monday Wear over a shorter, easier route.
Full spectacle, full costume. The band takes to the road early morning and parades the official route before crossing the stage at the Queen's Park Savannah. Expect to be on the road morning into evening.
Money & Packing
The local currency is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD). Cards and USD are accepted in tourist-facing spots, but keep local cash on hand for taxis, vendors, and tips — ATMs are easy to find around Port of Spain.
Bring it
Broken-in footwear
Waist bag or crossbody
Portable phone charger
Sunscreen & sunglasses
Leave it home
Anything you're not prepared to sweat in
Sentimental jewellery or valuables
Staying Safe
Every Showtime band moves with a dedicated security detail and on-route paramedics, but the road is still a long day in the sun. Learn your truck number and section meeting point before Carnival Monday, hydrate consistently, and pace your drinking across the full day.
If you get separated from your section, stay near the music trucks — that's where your band's crew and security will be looking for you.
FAQs
What size should I order?
See our full Costume Sizing Matrix for bra, bottom, and belt sizing — or select "confirm later" at registration and our team will help you land on the right fit.
Do I need to book flights and hotels through Showtime?
No — Showtime handles your costume, catering, drinks, security, and on-road experience. Flights and accommodation are booked independently, so sort those as early as your section registration.
What if I have more questions?
The full First-Timer's Guide covers the glossary, day-by-day breakdown, and more FAQs — or email the team directly.