Antigua & Barbuda brought the vibrant spirit and energy of the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival to Miami during the fourth annual Food, Wine & Fete (FWF 2026), held Saturday, May 16, at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami. The premier Caribbean all-inclusive beachside Soca fete welcomed more than 1,500 guests, including members of the Caribbean diaspora, tastemakers, media, food lovers, and culture enthusiasts for an unforgettable celebration of Caribbean cuisine, music, and culture.
Presented by the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission, the destination’s immersive activation transported guests straight to the heart of Antigua Carnival 2026, taking place July 25 – August 4 under this year’s exciting theme, “Feel the Rhythm.” Guests were welcomed by a vibrant Antigua & Barbuda-branded experience featuring signature English Harbour Rum cocktails, custom-branded festival cups, dazzling Carnival costumes, and interactive photo opportunities that brought the energy and culture of the twin-island destination to life.
Photo: Carnival dancers at Food, Wine & Fete, representing the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission showcased designs by Sechuns-The Band, while bringing the vibrant energy of Antigua Carnival 2026, “Feel the Rhythm,” to Food, Wine & Fete 2026 in Miami. The activation highlighted the spirit of the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Photo Credit: Ricardo Reyes x FWF
Antigua Carnival also dominated one of the event’s most photographed moments through the destination’s sponsorship of the festival’s signature Carnival Wings step-and-repeat activation. Inspired by the beauty, artistry, and dramatic feathers synonymous with Caribbean Carnival culture, the vibrant installation became a must-visit photo destination throughout the evening, with guests eagerly lining up to capture moments alongside Antigua & Barbuda’s dazzling Carnival ambassadors.
At the center of the activation was Antigua & Barbuda’s fully branded destination bar experience, featuring English Harbour Rum, Antigua’s internationally acclaimed premium rum. Wrapped in colorful destination imagery inspired by Antigua Carnival and the twin-island paradise, the visually striking bar invited guests to sip signature cocktails while immersing themselves in the energy, culture, and spirit of Antigua & Barbuda. Bartenders, and Carnival dancers further brought the experience to life, creating one of the festival’s most engaging and photographed activations.
Photo: Antigua & Barbuda’s beautifully branded bar as guests enjoyed English Harbour Rum cocktails inspired by the twin-island destination. Photo Credit: Cessie Cerrato x FWT
Further amplifying the destination’s visibility throughout the event, Antigua & Barbuda proudly sponsored the festival’s official drinkware, which quickly became one of the evening’s most talked-about branded elements. VIP guests sipped cocktails from elegant gold goblets featuring the Antigua & Barbuda logo, while attendees across the festival enjoyed beverages served in vibrant stainless steel pink fete cups branded with the destination’s logo. The collectible cups were a massive hit throughout the evening and ensured Antigua & Barbuda remained front and center in countless guest photos and social media moments.
Photo: Festivalgoers enjoyed signature English Harbour Rum cocktails served in Antigua & Barbuda’s custom-branded fete cups during Food, Wine & Fete 2026 in Miami, where the twin-island destination showcased its vibrant culinary spirit and immersive island-inspired bar experience. Credit: Ricardo Reyes X FWF
Adding to the excitement, Antigua & Barbuda partnered with the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission to host a social media giveaway for a trip for two to Antigua Carnival 2026. The giveaway generated strong engagement throughout the event and further encouraged attendees to experience the destination’s signature summer celebration firsthand.
English Harbour Rum remained a focal point throughout the evening, with guests lining up to sample the Harbour Bliss , Antigua & Barbuda’s signature cocktail for Food, Wine & Fete 2026. Crafted with English Harbour 5-Year Rum, passionfruit, coconut water, fresh lime juice, orange bitters, and a hint of nutmeg, the tropical cocktail became an instant favorite, delivering a refreshing taste of the destination’s vibrant culinary culture and award-winning rum heritage.
Photo: English Harbour Rum bottles were featured alongside Antigua & Barbuda’s signature Food, Wine & Fete cocktail, the “Harbour Bliss,” crafted with English Harbour 5-Year Rum, passionfruit, coconut water, fresh lime juice, orange bitters, and a dusting of nutmeg. Credit: Colin Subratie
The evening concluded with a spectacular drone show by LunaLite Drone Show over the Miami skyline, featuring illuminated formations of the Antigua & Barbuda logo and the Antigua & Barbuda flag, creating a breathtaking finale that further reinforced the destination’s vibrant presence throughout the festival.
Photo A spectacular drone show by Luna Light Drone Show illuminated the Miami skyline with the Antigua & Barbuda flag and Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority logo during Food, Wine & Fete 2026, creating a breathtaking finale to the destination’s immersive island-inspired activation. Credit: Cessie Cerrato
“Participating in culturally relevant events like Food, Wine & Fete allows us to authentically connect with audiences who already have a deep appreciation for Caribbean culture, music, cuisine, and experiences,” said Dean Fenton, U.S. Director of Tourism for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “The Caribbean diaspora remains incredibly important to Antigua & Barbuda, particularly in key markets like South Florida, and events like these allow us to showcase the true spirit of our destination beyond our beautiful beaches. Antigua Carnival is one of the most exciting times to visit the island, and we were thrilled to bring that energy directly to Miami.”
Photo: Donyelle Bird-Browne, Senior Business Development Manager, and Aliah Maginley, Sales & Marketing Officer, Southeast, pictured alongside a Carnival dancer representing the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission in a design by Sechuns-The Band. Together, they helped showcase the vibrant energy of Antigua Carnival 2026, “Feel the Rhythm”. Photo Credit: Colin Subratie x FWF
Antigua Carnival 2026 will take place from July 25 through August 4 in St. John’s, Antigua, delivering 12 days of nonstop celebration and cultural immersion. Known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival, Antigua Carnival 2026 invites visitors to ‘Feel the Rhythm’ through 12 days of vibrant mas parades, high-energy J’ouvert celebrations, steelpan music, calypso and soca competitions, concerts, and electrifying street parties that attract revelers from around the world.
Signature highlights include the iconic pre-dawn J’ouvert jump-up, Carnival Monday festivities, the spectacular Parade of the Bands on Carnival Tuesday, and Panorama, Antigua’s highly anticipated national steelband competition. Visitors planning to attend are encouraged to secure flights, accommodations, and Carnival experiences early, as Antigua Carnival remains one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated summer events.
Antigua & Barbuda’s participation in Food, Wine & Fete 2026 reflects the destination’s continued commitment to engaging travelers through immersive cultural storytelling and experiential activations that celebrate the richness and vibrancy of the Caribbean.
For more information on Antigua Carnival 2026 and to plan your visit to Antigua & Barbuda, visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com.
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ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the Antigua and Barbuda Wellness Month, Run in Paradise, prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week, Antigua and Barbuda Art Week and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 11-mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere. Find information on Antigua and Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com