KINGSTON, Jamaica — In an effort to keep up with the growth in local and international supporters, Jamaica’s premier Carnival band, Xodus Carnival is going digital with its 2025 carnival costume presentation to be showcased on Wednesday, October 9.

The decision to make the launch event digital is a result of the company wanting to broaden its scope to engage with a much wider audience.

“A digital launch allows us to engage both local and international audiences in real time, breaking the limitations of physical space and time zones. It also reflects the innovative spirit that we have here at Xodus, pushing boundaries and evolving with the times,” Chief Executive Officer of Xodus Carnival, Pierre Goubault shared.

Recently, via an Instagram post, the band unveiled its theme for its 2025 Xodus Xperience, “Utopia: Garden of Paradise”. This theme is a fusion of natural beauty and vibrant energy, presented in bold, lush colours, great costumes and an immersive experience that captures the magic of paradise.

“While we can’t reveal every detail just yet, it’s all about celebrating nature’s elegance while staying true to the Xodus spirit; blending creativity, culture, and unmatched energy for a carnival like no other! We won’t have any performances or guest appearances this time around, as the sole focus of the event will be on the costumes, giving viewers an up-close look at the designs for this year. However, attendees can still engage with us in real time through live chats,” Goubault explained.

The digital launch will go live at 6:00 pm on Wednesday and attendees will be able to access the launch via Xodus’ official Instagram page (@xoduscarnival), as well as through the band’s YouTube channel and website. The team will have links posted on all their social media platforms in the days leading up to the event.

Kandi King, head of marketing at Xodus Carnival, added that, “viewers can engage with us through the live chat feature on our YouTube stream. Others can also join the conversation by using our event hashtag across social media platforms, such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The hashtags we’ll be using are #TheBestX #XodusUtopia and #XodusCarnival. We will definitely be responding to questions in real time and encouraging interaction throughout the launch.”

This launch promises to be Xodus’ biggest digital rollout yet which will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes content, costume reveals, and interactive experiences.

The audience will be fully immersed with updates on registration, designer insights, and other exclusive announcements. In addition to the aforementioned hashtags, the hashtag #HaffiComeBacX will begin floating around as anticipation builds for a special campaign that will be revealed soon.

After its digital launch, the band will dive straight into its 2024/25 calendar of events, kicking off with Xodus Remedy on November 8. To elevate the “Utopia: Garden of Paradise” experience, Xodus Carnival will release specially curated Spotify playlists and organise pop-up events such as Liki Tiki.

Xodus Carnival will also have a section dedicated to university students providing them great access to everything Xodus has to offer for a more inclusive and affordable experience.