Semi-marathon international de Pointe-à-Pitre

The 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.

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.

On 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Ash 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.