News Releases

The Old Yard 2026 Brings Traditional Mas, Bois and Extempo to Life in Dynamic Cultural Experience

For Release Upon Receipt - February 7, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – February 06, 2026 – Nestled within the Gayelle at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), Gordon Street, St. Augustine, The Old Yard awakens the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago’s historic communal yards, reshaping space into memory, rhythm and living heritage. This immersive cultural experience, which will be hosted on Sunday 8th February 2026 from 12 noon to 6:00 pm, welcomes audiences into a living yard space where history, performance and masquerade intersect.

 

 A Moko Jumbie performing at The UWI Old Yard 2025, held on Sunday, 23rd February 2025, at the Global Campus Quadrangle on Gordon Street, St. Augustine.

 This year’s event will, for the first time, feature an “Extempo Clash” with lyrical mastery and cultural commentary between master wordsmiths Winston “Gypsy” Peters and Myron Bruce, bringing the competitive brilliance and verbal dexterity of the oral tradition to centre stage. Revered calypso icon Ronnie Mc Intosh will also grace the stage with selections from his timeless repertoire.

 True to its ethos of education through entertainment, The Old Yard offers intimate encounters with traditional mas characters- Gorillas, Moko Jumbies, Blue Devils, Jab Jabs and more, each carrying echoes of ancestral wisdom. This UNESCO awarded International Best Arts Education Practice event features an architectural and artistic style reminiscent of long ago. This year’s edition places special emphasis on the art of Bois (stick fighting), with demonstrations by Keegan Taylor, reviving a tradition forged in discipline, rhythm and survival.

 The Old Yard 2026 presents a special edition in honouring the legacy as DCFA celebrates 20 years as a department and 40 years in existence. As part of the legacy celebrations, The Old Yard continues to honour the custodians of traditional forms while engaging new generations of performers and audiences.

 Designed for families, students, cultural enthusiasts and visitors, The Old Yard provides a unique opportunity to engage with traditional Carnival in an intimate, interactive setting where culture extends beyond sight and sound to become a lived experience.

 Tickets are priced at $100 for adults and $80 for all students and children. For more information or ticket reservations contact 272-3232 (WhatsApp), 662-2002 Ext 85455 (Monday - Friday); or email Mrs. Roberta Quarless-Hart at Roberta.Quarless-Hart@sta.uwi.edu.

 

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 About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development. 

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