Last updated: August 26, 2026
The Aruba events calendar has a local secret: the dates move. The island’s biggest season follows the Carnival calendar, which shifts every year with the equinox — and the new dates are traditionally announced around November 11. Here is what actually happens on the island, kept current by locals.
Carnival season — January to Ash Wednesday
The big one. From the Torch Parade in early January to the Burning of Momo, Aruba spends its opening months in full costume. Dates change yearly — expect the next season’s schedule around November 11 — and our full Carnival guide covers the history, the parades, and where to stay.
Aruba Hi-Winds — early summer
The Caribbean’s legendary windsurf and kiteboard event takes over the Fisherman’s Huts when the trade winds peak in early summer. World-class riders, beach parties, and the island’s windiest week put to proper use. Pair it with our June and July guides.
Beach tennis — the Wimbledon of the sand, every November
They call Aruba the Wimbledon of beach tennis — and it is earned. The Aruba Open, running since 2008 at MooMba Beach, is the biggest beach tennis tournament on the planet: 35 courts, more than 1,200 players from 40+ countries, every November. The 2026 ITF Sand Series edition (November 12–15) carries a $100,000 prize pool, among the highest in the sport. If you see nets on the sand, stop and watch — the level is absurd.
Flip Flop Festival
The island’s feel-good music festival — international and Caribbean acts, feet in the sand, exactly as the name promises. Dates are announced each year; watch this page.
Autentico Culinary Festival — October 3–11, 2026
The island’s food week, now in its third year: an island-wide Restaurant Week with set-price menus at participating restaurants, chef-hosted “Bucket List” dinners, and The Pavilion — a two-day street food festival on Oranjestad’s Wilhelminastraat. Warm up with our Oranjestad restaurant guide and the food dictionary, then eat like the island is watching.
How this calendar stays honest
Only events that actually happen make this page — curated by locals, not copied from old blogs. As new dates are announced, they land here and in our weekly island news. Planning around an event? Book the room early — see our where to stay guide and month-by-month planner.
