St Barts Events 2026-2027: The Unmissable Dates of the Season
The unmissable St Barts events of the 2026–2027 season are the St Barth Gourmet Festival (November 9 to 15, 2026), New Year’s Eve in Gustavia harbor, the St Barth Music Festival (January 8 to 18, 2027), Carnival (Mardi Gras falls on February 9, 2027), the St Barths Bucket Regatta (March 17 to 21, 2027) and Les Voiles de St Barth in April. Each one fills the island, and the best villas for New Year and the Bucket are the first to go: we suggest booking nine to twelve months ahead. Below, every date, what each event is like, and where to stay for it, from our St Barts villa rentals.
St Barts events calendar 2026–2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Barth Gourmet Festival | November 9–15, 2026 | Restaurants across the island | Fourteen visiting chefs, many of them Michelin-starred |
| St Barth Cata Cup | November 16–23, 2026 | The bays around the island | Fast catamaran racing and the tour of the island |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31, 2026 | Gustavia harbor | Superyachts, fireworks over the harbor, the most famous night of the year |
| St Barth Music Festival | January 8–18, 2027 | Churches and venues across the island | The 43rd edition: concerts in intimate settings |
| Carnival | Mardi Gras, February 9, 2027 | Gustavia and across the island | Costumes, music and parades |
| Presidents’ Day week | February 15–19, 2027 | Island-wide | The US school week, one of the busiest of the winter |
| St Barths Bucket Regatta | March 17–21, 2027 | Gustavia harbor and the race courses | Superyachts over 100 feet racing around the island |
| Easter | March 28, 2027 | Island-wide | Spring break and Easter week |
| Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille | April 2027, dates to be confirmed | Gustavia | Racing by day, a sailors’ village by night |
| St Barth Film Festival | Late April or early May 2027, dates to be confirmed | Gustavia | A celebration of Caribbean cinema |
| Bastille Day | July 14, 2027 | Island-wide | France’s national day, with fireworks |
| Fête de Saint-Barthélemy | August 24, 2027 | Gustavia | The island’s own feast day |
Dates checked in October 2026 against the organizers’ announcements: Gourmet Festival, Cata Cup, Music Festival and Bucket Regatta. Organizers can change dates; we confirm them when we plan your stay.
The five events not to miss
New Year’s Eve in Gustavia
December 31, 2026 · Gustavia harbor
The most famous New Year in the Caribbean. The superyachts fill Gustavia harbor in the last days of December, the boats race on the day itself, and at midnight the fireworks light up the harbor. It is the most sought-after week of the year on the island, for villas, tables and drivers alike.
For New Year 2026, the remaining villas are few; for New Year 2027, the time to book is now.
Where to stay: a house in the hills above Gustavia, such as Villa Fabrizia, puts the harbor and the fireworks a few minutes away; above Corossol, the slopes of Villa Lao and June face the entrance to the harbor.
St Barths Bucket Regatta
March 17–21, 2027 · Gustavia harbor
The great superyacht regatta of the Caribbean: sailing yachts over 100 feet racing around the island, with the harbor of Gustavia as the paddock and a social calendar ashore. Watching from the water, on a chartered boat arranged by your concierge, is the best seat.
With New Year, it is the week that books first.
Where to stay: the hills above Gustavia and Corossol for the harbor; Villa Unik, on the heights of St Jean, for the view over the bays.
Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille
April 2027 · Gustavia
A week of serious racing by day and a sailors’ village in Gustavia by night, usually in the second or third week of April. It has the energy of the season without the crowds of New Year, and it pairs well with Easter and spring break.
The 2027 dates have not been confirmed yet; ask us before you plan around them.
Where to stay: Gustavia, Corossol or St Jean, all a few minutes from the race village.
St Barth Gourmet Festival
November 9–15, 2026 · restaurants across the island
The 13th edition brings fourteen visiting chefs to twelve of the island’s restaurants, among them chefs with two and three Michelin stars, for four-handed dinners, chef-created lunches and dinners, and wine tastings. On November 10 a gourmet village opens to the public, and on the Saturday the island’s children compete as “Petites Toques”.
It opens the season, and the dinners book quickly: your concierge reserves them when you book the villa. For the rest of the year, see our guide to the restaurants of St Barts.
Where to stay: anywhere on the island: the drives are short, and a driver for the evenings means no one has to drive.
St Barth Music Festival
January 8–18, 2027 · churches and venues across the island
The 43rd edition of the island’s music festival, eleven days of concerts in churches and small venues, a quieter, cultured counterpoint to the New Year crowds. The days after New Year are among the most pleasant of the season to be on the island.
Where to stay: a house close to Gustavia or Lorient, such as Villa La Plage, on the sand at Lorient.
More events in the 2026–2027 season
St Barth Cata Cup
November 16–23, 2026 · the bays around the island
A regatta for F18 catamarans, among the best known on the international circuit, with the tour of the island still its classic race. It follows the Gourmet Festival, so the two make a natural November week.
Carnival
Mardi Gras, February 9, 2027 · Gustavia and across the island
The island’s most colorful days: costumes, music and parades, ending on Mardi Gras, with Ash Wednesday on February 10. Some roads close for the parades, so plan transport with your driver.
Presidents’ Day week
February 15–19, 2027 · island-wide
Not an island event, but one of the busiest weeks of the winter: New York and many other US school districts take the whole week off, so the largest villas go early.
St Barth Film Festival
Late April or early May 2027 · Gustavia
A celebration of Caribbean cinema; the 2026 edition, the 29th, ran from April 29 to May 2. The 2027 dates are to be confirmed.
Summer: Bastille Day and the Fête de Saint-Barthélemy
July 14 and August 24, 2027
In the quiet season, France’s national day brings fireworks on July 14, and on August 24 the island celebrates its own patron saint. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30; your specialist advises on the weeks.
Where to stay for the events
St Barts is small: Gustavia, St Jean and the airport are a few minutes apart, so the right house depends less on the event than on how you like to spend the rest of the day. For the areas in detail, see the best areas to stay in St Barts.
Villa Fabrizia
The hills above Gustavia · 8 bedrooms · sleeps 16
In the hills above Gustavia, close to the restaurants of the harbor and three minutes from Shell Beach. Seven-night minimum.
For New Year and the Bucket Regatta
Villa Lao
Above Corossol · 3 bedrooms · sleeps 6
A modern house on three levels above the bay of Corossol, with a heated infinity pool along the terrace. Gustavia, St Jean and the airport are five minutes away. Seven-night minimum.
For a couple at New Year or the regattas
Villa Unik
Heights of St Jean · 10 bedrooms · sleeps 20
Ten suites in two pavilions on the hillside above St Jean, with two infinity pools and the sea in view from almost every room. It can also be rented with six to nine bedrooms. Seven-night minimum.
For a large group at the Bucket or Les Voiles
Villa La Plage
Lorient Beach · 7 bedrooms · sleeps 14
A single-story house directly on the sand of Lorient Beach, with wraparound terraces, a pool and a spa pool, and a grand piano in the living room. St Jean is five minutes away and the airport eight.
For the Music Festival and the quieter weeks
For more houses on the sand, see our beachfront villas.
How to plan a stay around the events
- Book the villa first. Nine to twelve months ahead for Christmas, New Year and the Bucket Regatta, the first weeks to be reserved every year; six to nine months for the other weeks. Most villas ask for seven nights.
- Then the flights. From the US, most guests fly to St Maarten or San Juan, then take the short flight or the ferry to the island; see how to get to St Barts from the US.
- Reserve the evenings. In event weeks, tables, boats and drivers are booked well ahead. Your 24/7 concierge holds them when you book the villa.
- Watch from the water. For the regattas and the New Year fireworks, a chartered boat is the best seat on the island.
- Keep a quiet day. A private chef at the villa on the busiest evening of the week is often the best table of all.
More St Barts guides
- St Barts villa rentals
Our collection, with a shortlist in 24 hours. - The best time to visit St Barts
Season by season, from New Year to the quiet summer. - The best areas to stay in St Barts
Gustavia, St Jean, Flamands and the rest, area by area. - The best restaurants of St Barts
Where to book a table, from the harbor to the beach. - The best things to do in St Barts
Beaches, boats and the island beyond the events. - What to know before you travel
Passports, money, driving and the island’s customs.
St Barts events: your questions answered
What are the biggest events in St Barts?
New Year’s Eve in Gustavia harbor, the St Barths Bucket Regatta in March and Les Voiles de St Barth in April lead the season, with the St Barth Gourmet Festival in November, the St Barth Music Festival in January and Carnival in February.
When is the St Barths Bucket Regatta 2027?
March 17 to 21, 2027, in Gustavia harbor. It is the superyacht regatta of the Caribbean, for sailing yachts over 100 feet, and with New Year it is the week that books first.
When is the St Barth Gourmet Festival 2026?
November 9 to 15, 2026, for its 13th edition, with fourteen visiting chefs in twelve of the island’s restaurants and a gourmet village open to the public on November 10.
When is the St Barth Music Festival 2027?
January 8 to 18, 2027, for its 43rd edition, with concerts in churches and venues across the island.
When is Carnival in St Barts in 2027?
Carnival ends on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 9, 2027, with Ash Wednesday on February 10. Some roads close for the parades, so plan transport with your driver.
When is Les Voiles de St Barth 2027?
In April 2027, usually in the second or third week of the month. The organizers have not yet confirmed the 2027 dates; we confirm them when we plan your stay.
When is the St Barth Cata Cup 2026?
November 16 to 23, 2026, a regatta for F18 catamarans, with the tour of the island as its classic race.
How far in advance should we book a villa for New Year in St Barts?
Nine to twelve months ahead for Christmas, New Year and the Bucket Regatta, the first weeks to be reserved every year. For other weeks, six to nine months ahead is usually enough.
Where should we stay in St Barts for New Year’s Eve?
In the hills above Gustavia or above Corossol, facing the harbor, so the fireworks and the yachts are a few minutes away. Villa Fabrizia is in the hills above Gustavia, and Villa Lao looks out from above Corossol.
Updated October 2026 for the 2026–2027 season.
Plan your stay around the season
Tell us which week you have in mind, a regatta, the Gourmet Festival or New Year, and who is coming. A St Barts specialist replies within 24 hours with three to five villas that fit, their current rates, and the tables, boats and drivers arranged around the event.
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