Calypso tents to blast off next week

A NEW CALYPSO tent will be part of this year’s Vincy Mas Great Escape, when the tents begin to present their casts for the 2026 carnival season on Tuesday, May 26.

This and other calypso related matters were revealed by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association at a media conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the conference room of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).

In addition to the four known calypso tents, there will be a fifth, the “Calypso Cabaret”, which will feature a cast of 16 members.

While the tent is new, the leader is no newcomer; the outfit is headed by several times former monarch Grantley ‘IPA’ Constance.

IPA, a founding member of On Tour, is now among the 16 bards who will be featured on Tuesday when Calypso Cabaret, the first tent to take the stage presents its cast at the Russell Auditorium.

They are promising a “full entertainment package” from the get go and will appear again on June 6, and 13, 2026 when the members face the judges in the Preliminaries.

Their full cast, featuring new and seasoned calypsonians also includes Bugg, Slim G, Selena, Deluxx, Dready, Sherika, Mi ah Mor, Sicko, Patches, Kevin, Rastaman I, JaspaYMC, PHL Ozarie, Avalance, and Kilo and Bengy.

Next Wednesday, May 27, following a show in Sandy Bay, the Upstage X-perience will be at the Russell Auditorium.They will also be on stage at the Russell’s Auditorium on June 3, and on June 10 for preliminary judging.

This year, they have added Mesopotamia to the experience; and will will be at Mikey’s Roast City on June 6, 2026.

The Upstage X-perience will this year also have some new faces in its 21-member cast which consists of a father and two children, a brother and sister, as well as a mother and daughter duo.

Their 2026 cast comprises Denise “Lady D” Stephens, Cecile “Lil Bit” King, Lee Jace “King Jace” Bullock, Bernard “Reality” White, Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd, Ronald “ Ron B” Browne, Shena “ Shena” Collis, Jerome “ Parry” Samuel, Shaunelle McKenzie, Gosnel “GC” Cupid, Omani “ Omani” Cupid, Kara “Dymon” McCaul, Kherie “Kherie” McCaul, Chelsie “ Chelsie” Shortte, Asha “Enigma” Robinson, Michael “Lord Have Mercy” Ollivierre,

Kristian “ Lil Kris” Christopher, Andrine “Rankin Bash” Baptiste, Kenley “ Lyrical Melody” Baptiste, Divyne “Skye” Hackshaw and Fitzroy “Iceman” Ragguette.

On Tour will take over the Russell’s Auditorium on Thursday, May 28 May, with their cast of 20.

The cast comprises Zion I, Vibrating Scakes, Exposer, D Truth, Azara, Man Sick, Abijah, Da Vincy, Marshie, Ninjah, Marvo, Kojah, Soharo, Bongo Prime, Roots Gordon, Andrew Ranking, Papa Niceness, Barey,Tumpie and Bertie Banton.

Their other nights are June 4, and June 11, 2026 when they will face the judges.

The Graduates with a 15-member cast, will be on stage on Friday, May 29, as well as on June 5, and on June 12 when they will be judged in the preliminaries.

Nubian Empress, Johnny Rebel, Busta Ski, Sunny Banks, Ligszandah, Zion, Mymy, Lava-K,Wasay, Iwha, Amenia Lucas, Abuza, Homie, Hero and Shaka comprise the 2026 graduating class.

The NewYork-based Dynamites, under the leadership of Carlos ‘Rejector’ Providence, will have their first show on Saturday, June 6.

On stage will be Man Age, Hamlet, Persona, Jose Juan, Boney Man, Rejector, Gregory Olive, Denis Bowman, Chanique, Man Zangie, Kemmy Christopher and Oscar James.