KINGSTON, Jamaica—The proposed routes for the 2026 Carnival in Jamaica road march in the Corporate Area are currently under review by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), as preparations intensify for the upcoming season.

The deadline for applications for carnival-related events was March 6, and the corporation is currently processing the submissions received.

This was disclosed by Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, during the KSAMC’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.

He indicated that the KSAMC, in collaboration with key stakeholders — including enforcement, road and works, disaster management, and the compliance team — is reviewing the proposed routes.

Councillor Swaby stated that the corporation has been actively engaging with carnival stakeholders — including bands and watch party promoters — to ensure that all activities are conducted in a safe, organised and compliant manner.

He advised that waste management will once again be a key focus this year, with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) already engaged in the planning process.

“All event applications will be shared with them to ensure that they are satisfied with the proposed arrangement of the collection and proper disposal of waste. Then, and only then, will these applications be approved… providing applications meet all other requirements,” Councillor Swaby noted.

The mayor emphasised the need to “avoid a repeat of previous years, when sections of the city were left littered and public and private infrastructure defaced.”

“I, therefore, urge all promoters, participants, and members of the public to play their part in keeping our city [clean] during the carnival season. The KSAMC is urging all participants to conduct themselves in a responsible manner,” he stressed.

-JIS