The 2026  John Cupid Carnival Village was declared open on January 9, following the debut of FLAVA, a newly introduced culinary market designed to showcase the foods and flavours that Trinidad and Tobago is best known for.

According to Minister Benjamin, the FLAVA Village was conceptualised in response to the clarion cry of vendors.

“You would know traditionally the vendors used to complain about low patronising…we brought the crowd to them.”

While according to Minister Benjamin, the dual launches and introduction of FLAVA were intended to reimagine the Carnival Village experience and deepen its cultural appeal, the changes have been met with mixed reactions. 

The FLAVA Village has taken over the space traditionally occupied by the John Cupid Carnival Village at this time of year, with the Carnival Village now relocated to the Paddock.

Several vendors have raised concerns about layout, access, and basic amenities within the newly configured space, noting that the changes have negatively affected both their comfort and sales. 

Artisan Yolande Thomas explained that, unlike previous years when food options were readily accessible, vendors are now required to leave their stalls and belongings unattended in order to find something to eat, creating both inconvenience and security concerns. 

“It’s not comfortable at all. Where we were last year, we had food. This isn’t nice. Right now I’m here and I’m hungry…” she told Your Caribbean Guide.

Others described the area as poorly advertised and confusing for patrons, with some visitors unaware that vending activity was taking place in certain sections. 

Another vendor who opted to speak off camera, pointed to the physical separation of food and craft vendors as a fundamental flaw in the current layout, arguing that it undermines the very cultural experience the Carnival Village is meant to showcase. While interactions with patrons have been positive, she said the split has created unnecessary competition rather than a cohesive cultural offering. 

“Instead of being a united front where you would have food and culture next to each other – because food is culture – having them in two distinct locations is a disadvantage,” the vendor explained,  adding that greater integration, earlier advertising, and earlier booth setup would help build anticipation and ensure that artisans are properly seen and supported. 

“There are craftspeople here who have honed their craft, and it’s a disservice that it’s not appreciated or even known about because people don’t know we exist.” 

She also noted that long walking distances and unclear signage discourage patrons from making the journey between spaces.

Vendors suggested clearer signage, better communication, and more intentional placement of food options throughout the Carnival Village space, arguing that these adjustments would improve visibility, foot traffic, and the overall experience for both vendors and patrons during the Carnival season.

When asked if consideration would be given to combining both events, minister Benjamin said: “Carnival is an experience, and you go to different fetes different venues, you will never ask us to amalgamate all the fetes. We’re about creating experiences, also if I amalgamate there’ll be less vendors and that will be a cry. This is greater opportunity, more vendors.”

Meanwhile, patrons also had mixed reviews to the new lay of the land. One woman visiting from Toronto said “I think this is a lost opportunity. What’s happening onstage is amazing, but if I want something to nibble on I have to interrupt the vibe here to go hunting for something to eat. The food court is far away and it’s raining…”

Her sentiment was echoed by a gentleman who said he almost missed all the action. “I bring my grandchildren to the Village every year, the opening and a few of the other nights the way they do it this year really have me feeling my age,” he said. “I am not as young as I look so we’re here now to see the acts, they’re not ready to go home but they’re hungry and if we leave to walk over to the Drag for food it’s straight home after. I can’t do the back and forth…”

A lady who asked to be identified as Rosie said she loves it and urged patrons to give it a chance. “I don’t usually come to these things, it’s my first time but it’s nice so far. I am hearing people complaining about how far the food is, all they could do is pack a little picnic basket if they want to come here so that way you don’t have to walk around. Trinidadians complain too much without trying to find solutions. The government is trying and we should appreciate that and stop complaining so much.”

Rosie’s message was endorsed by a lady standing nearby at the time of our brief interaction. While she asked not to be identified, she told Your Caribbean Guide “people don’t know what they want, that is the long and short of it. They don’t know what they want and they don’t know good thing. I went to Flava and I am here now just to see what going on and I personally find Flava is it! It have a stage and artistes and food so out with the old and in with the new. Flava is it!”

Meanwhile, Greg said he feels cheated.

“This is unnecessary divisiveness. Why separate the elements of our culture. I should be able to amble over to food stalls, check out the vendors and artisans and still enjoy everything that the Village is supposed to offer. I hate that I have to choose,” he said. 

As the 2026 Carnival season unfolds, the debate surrounding FLAVA and the relocated John Cupid Carnival Village underscores a broader question about how culture is presented, shared, and experienced. While some patrons welcome the new format as innovation, others argue that the separation of food, craft, and performance risks fragmenting what has traditionally been a unified cultural space. Whether adjustments are made in the weeks ahead or lessons are carried forward to future seasons, one thing remains clear: beyond the spectacle, Carnival is about connection and how that connection is curated will continue to shape the experience for vendors, patrons, and the culture itself. 

It is also important to remember that Carnival is rooted in history, born out of resistance, survival, and the creative expression of people who used music, food, costume, and community to reclaim space and identity. Every element of the Carnival experience, from what is sold to where it is placed, carries meaning. Paying attention to that history, and paying homage to it, ensures that innovation does not come at the expense of tradition, and that progress honours the very foundations that make Carnival a living, breathing reflection of who we are.