Hundreds of revellers defied heavy rain in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to deliver energetic dance performances and colourful displays during the first dry run of the 2026 Carnival Calabar.
Despite the downpour, participants brought the streets alive with vibrant rhythms, elaborate costumes and coordinated choreography, signalling the build-up to the annual carnival.
The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, represented by his Deputy, Dr Peter Odey, officially flagged off the dry run, urging participants to sustain the carnival spirit and give visitors a warm welcome.
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“Come rain or shine, the show must go on. Let us give the people a warm welcome to Africa’s biggest street party. Let the show begin,” he said.
Speaking on the preparations for the 2026 edition, the Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah, said the carnival would promote unity and encourage people to reflect on their shared future.
The theme for the 2026 edition is “Rethinking Our Collective Destiny.”
“The 2026 edition seeks to reinforce the message that humanity’s common interests must take precedence over divisions,” Onah stressed.
He said the carnival had continued to contribute to economic activities in the state, noting that its estimated socioeconomic impact in 2025 stood at 19 billion naira.
Onah also highlighted plans to strengthen the carnival’s digital operations, including online registration and voting. The digitisation initiative is expected to improve participation and make aspects of the competition more accessible to the public.
He explained that members of the public would be able to vote for the Band of the Year, giving audiences a greater role in the competition.
Onah also spoke about preparations for the possible participation of music star Davido, saying the organisers were making arrangements for the event.
Seven carnival bands are participating in the 2026 edition: Bayside, Seagull, Freedom, Passion 4, Calas Vegas, Masta Blasta and Diamond.
Each band is identified by a distinctive colour: blue for Bayside, red for Seagull, yellow for Freedom, green for Passion 4, gold for Calas Vegas, orange for Masta Blasta and purple for Diamond.
The dry runs form part of the build-up to the main carnival, giving the bands opportunities to showcase their performances and prepare for the major event.
The carnival is also expected to complement Cross River State’s 32-day Christmas Festival, which attracts visitors and supports commercial activities across the state during the festive season.
The first dry run also featured a cake-cutting ceremony in honour of Governor Bassey Otu’s 67th birthday.
