Photo : Chanté Nwel (saison des chants de Noël) via Les îles de Guadeloupe
Chanté Nwel (saison des chants de Noël)
During Advent, chanté Nwel open to all are held in almost every commune of the archipelago: Christmas carols are sung in Creole, often accompanied by gwo-ka drums. Some gatherings draw over 300 people, especially at weekends.
Nearby
SportNov 5The 13th Route du Rhum, which set off from Saint-Malo on 1 November 2026, finishes at the pontoons of honour in Pointe-à-Pitre, opposite the Mémorial ACTe. A race village with food and concerts every evening welcomes the public as the skippers arrive.
SportNov 1421.1 km road race starting at Lauricisque in Pointe-à-Pitre. The event is organised by ACSE 971.
Culture & traditionJan 1On 1 January, a purification swim traditionally marks the opening of the carnival season. The gathering sets off from Pointe-à-Pitre in the morning and then heads to the beaches of Bas-du-Fort.
FestivalJan 3The carnival season sets the rhythm of the archipelago from early January until Ash Wednesday, with Sunday parades by groupes à po, groupes à mas and snare-drum bands. Parades mainly take place in central Pointe-à-Pitre and Basse-Terre.
Culture & traditionFeb 7The first of the jours gras (carnival's final days), Dimanche Gras sees groups compete in creativity through the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre. A children's parade also takes place that day.
Culture & traditionFeb 10Ash Wednesday closes the carnival with black-and-white parades and the burning of Vaval, the carnival king. The procession heads notably to Quai de la Darse in Pointe-à-Pitre; a burning also takes place in Basse-Terre.