The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad will no longer be a venue option for events other than cricket. This announcement comes as preparations are well underway, by promoters for Carnival 2026.
The decision made by the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT) now leaves some promoters scrambling, as the decision takes place with immediate effect.
UDECOTT claims that the facility was not meant to facilitate fete events, noting that maintenance costs amount to approximately $15 million annually.
Carnival events like Xperience, Stink N Dutty, and last year’s inaugural MEGA concert headlined by Machel Montano, attract in excess of 10,000 patrons according to promoters, leaving questions as to where such massive audience numbers can be contained, along with parking facilitation.
The carnival events, while staged in the stadium’s car park, has led to significant wear and tear and damage to the facility, according to UDECOTT Chairman, Shankar Bidaisee. In an interview with the Trinidad Express newspaper, he is quoted as saying, “The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is for cricket. That is the purpose of it. It was not built for fetes.” He went on to affirm, “It’s for cricket and we will use it for cricket only. So there are to be no fetes at the stadium.”
For quite some time, there have been concerns raised by carnival stakeholders, regarding the need for viable venues across the country, for the delivery of large scale events.
There’s never a dull moment in Caribbean entertainment and we’ve got proof. Trinidad Killa has shared prophecy for the future and he’s calling on his fellow artistes on the music circuit to understand their worth.
The restauranteur and entertainer took a brief moment away from his TK Smokehouse duties to hop on an Instagram Livestream. In his prophesy, the TK, whose real name is Kern Joseph, said he predicts that by 2030 there will no more Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. “You know why? Artistes underselling (day-self). Artistes calling promoters and telling dem, put meh on yh show, put meh on yuh show, put meh on yuh show,” he expressed. The often controversial entertainer alleged that because of this, promoters are not paying artistes to appear on their shows.
He went on, “Carnival become a competition. Once a man have a Road March tune, he poppin’ up in fetes and poppin’ up on shows and performing for free,” he alleged, adding that annually, promoters in Carnival pay the same major artistes for live performances.
Trinidad Killa migrated to the United States some three years ago. He has however remained consistently vocal on the events taking place in his homeland. “Allyuh see what go on with Soca Monarch. There is no more Soca Monarch,” he said, going on to positively highlight this year’s Flava Village addition. “There is so much going on in the carnival. All I would like to say is, artistes, stop under-selling allyuh self and when allyuh learn the value of allyuh artistry, and allyuh stop sell allyuh self short, that is when the industry will start to move.”
Trinidad Killa ended his livestream with the words, “music is a mission, not a competition.”
A phenomenal Carnival 2026 season in Trinidad and Tobago has paved the way for South Oropuche Trinidad’s very own, Christo, increasing his talent value and making him one of the season’s sought after acts. The young entertainer’s ‘Doux Doux Darlin’ refrain has Caribbean people everywhere, singing along, and it’s likely to remain that way, well into the Summer of 2026.
Christo appeared in Toronto, Canada this past weekend, for Return Fete, Toronto. He was not alone. Fellow entertainers, Coutain, Skinny Fabulous, Full Blown and the vibes man himself, Voice, also shook the event, which was hosted at REBELToronto.
Christo (right) with Dr. Jay (centre) and Coutain (left). 📸: @jcrzy
Produced annually by well known Soca DJ, Dr. Jay, the event is touted as the best fete post T&T carnival each year.
In the aftermath of this year’s Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, Christo – a relatively new artiste to the soca spotlight, said the love he received this season was unmatched. He took to social media, writing, “To everyone who streamed the music, requested the songs on radio, shared the content, learned the lyrics, and sang every word back at the shows, I see you, and I appreciate you. The growth this Carnival was undeniable, and it happened because of YOU.”
The young artiste referred to Carnival 2026 as a defining chapter in his journey.
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