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Aruba events run all year, but the calendar is lumpier than the brochures suggest. Carnival fills January and February, September and October bring the art and food festivals, and August is the one month where we could confirm no major festival. This guide walks through each month and lists only events confirmed by recent sources. Many organizers publish dates just a few months out, so we show the last confirmed edition and where to check for the next one. For weather and prices by month, see our guide to the best time to visit Aruba.

Aruba events calendar 2027: the quick answer

  • Biggest event: Carnival, with parades building to the Grand Parade in Oranjestad on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
  • Spring and early summer: Flag Day on March 18, King’s Day on April 27 and the Hi-Winds windsurfing and kiting event.
  • Fall: the Aruba Art Fair and Savaneta Seafood Festival, then Autentico, beach tennis and Fashion Week in their most recent editions.
  • Quietest month: August, when we could confirm no major festival.
  • Not on the calendar: Soul Beach moved to Curaçao, and the Bon Bini Festival is listed as on a short break.
  • Before you book: confirm the year on any listing, because some aruba.com event pages are years old.

Aruba events by month: the full calendar

January to June

Dates without a year repeat annually. Anything marked “last confirmed” is the most recent edition we could verify, so treat it as a guide to the season and not a promise for next year.

Month Event Where Timing and last confirmed dates
January New Year’s Day Island-wide January 1
January Betico Croes Day Island-wide January 25
January–February Carnival parades Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Noord 2027 season: Torch Parade January 9, Grand Parades February 6 (San Nicolas) and February 7 (Oranjestad)
February Carnival Monday Island-wide February 8, 2027 (official holiday)
March National Anthem and Flag Day Plaza Betico Croes, Oranjestad March 18
March Aruba International Half Marathon San Nicolas to Oranjestad Last confirmed: March 22, 2026
March or April Easter weekend and beach camping Public beaches Moves each year. 2027: Good Friday March 26, Easter Monday March 29
April King’s Day Wilhelmina Park, Oranjestad, and island-wide April 27
May or June Aruba Hi-Winds Hadicurari to Eagle Beach Usually held in late spring or early summer (the 2026 edition ran May 13–18); check this year’s dates.
June KLM Aruba Marathon Aruba Last confirmed: June 6–7, 2026
June Dera Gai (St. John’s Day) Neighborhoods June 24

July to December

Month Event Where Timing and last confirmed dates
July Aruba International Regatta Surfside Beach Last confirmed: July 10–12, 2026
August Nothing major confirmed – Beach month
September Aruba Art Fair Streets of San Nicolas Last confirmed: September 11–13, 2026
September Spectrum Aruba Oranjestad and island venues Last confirmed: September 24–29, 2026
September Savaneta Seafood Festival Savaneta waterfront Last confirmed: September 27, 2026
October Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival Island-wide; Oranjestad Last confirmed: October 3–11, 2026
November Carnival season opens Aruba November 11 at 11:11 a.m.
November Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships Bushiri Beach Last confirmed: November 12–15, 2026
November Aruba Fashion Week Tierra del Sol Last confirmed: November 19–22, 2026
November–December Sinterklaas Island-wide Arrival was set for November 15 in 2026; Sinterklaasavond is December 5
December Christmas and Boxing Day Island-wide December 25 and 26
December Dande season and New Year’s Eve Neighborhoods island-wide Paranda Nacional di Dande ran December 28–30, 2025; fireworks on December 31

However, the official calendar can mislead. Aruba.com’s Soul Beach page still shows the 2024 edition, and its Craft Beer Festival page is from 2019. Therefore, always read the year on a listing. For that reason, we left out any event without a 2025 or 2026 date.

January and February: Carnival takes over

Carnival is the reason to come in these two months, and the reason to book early. Aruba.com’s schedule for the 2027 season starts with the Torch Parade on January 9. The Fantasy Parade follows on January 17, and the Grand Lighting Parade falls on January 30. After that, the two big finales are the San Nicolas Grand Parade on February 6 and the Oranjestad Grand Parade on February 7.

However, the dates move every year with Ash Wednesday. For parade times, viewing spots and how visitors can join a group, go to our Aruba Carnival guide.

Crowds lining a street for a Carnival parade in Aruba, 1961
A Carnival parade in Aruba in 1961, from the Dr. Arthur Meiners collection of Aruba photos. Photo: Arthur Meiners, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also, two holidays land in January. New Year’s Day is January 1, and Betico Croes Day on January 25 brings cultural and sporting events around the island. Carnival Monday is also an official holiday. Our guide to Aruba’s public holidays has the full list and what closes.

March and April: Flag Day, a road race and Easter on the sand

National Anthem and Flag Day on March 18 is what aruba.com calls the most patriotic Aruba holiday. Aruba.com places the folkloric production at Plaza Betico Croes in Oranjestad, with food and games elsewhere on the island.

The 40th Aruba International Half Marathon ran on March 22, 2026, from San Nicolas to Oranjestad.

Easter, however, is the event you may not expect. Aruba.com calls beach camping the biggest Easter tradition, and families pitch tents at Eagle Beach, Hadicurari and Baby Beach. However, camping isn’t allowed in front of the Palm Beach hotels. In 2025 the official camping season ran April 13–27, and campers needed a permit. As a result, expect busy public beaches that weekend.

King’s Day on April 27 opens with a ceremony and parade in Wilhelmina Park. Afterward, street fairs, sports and kite-flying contests fill the rest of the day.

May and June: wind, runners and bonfires

Aruba Hi-Winds is usually held in late spring or early summer (the 2026 edition ran May 13–18); check this year’s dates. Based at the Fisherman’s Huts at Hadicurari, it covers windsurfing, kiting and wing foiling, with beach parties for competitors and friends. Read our windsurfing and kitesurfing guide if you want to try it yourself.

A windsurf board lying on a beach during Aruba Hi-Winds
A board on the beach during Aruba Hi-Winds 2022. Photo: Darice de Cuba via Unsplash

However, one long-running event has left. The Soul Beach Music Festival was a Memorial Day fixture in Aruba for more than two decades. It then went to St. Maarten and moved to Curaçao for 2026. Regional press says the move may not be permanent, so check before booking around it.

The KLM Aruba Marathon ran on June 6–7, 2026, with full marathon, half, 10K and 5K options. Dates for both races, for 2027, are usually announced in the months before; check aruba.com.

Dera Gai, or St. John’s Day, on June 24 is the most Aruban event in this half of the year. Dancers in yellow and red perform the harvest ritual, while bonfires burn across the island. The 2026 government program sent a music trailer through Bushiri, Dakota and Mabon from 4 to 8 p.m. It then finished at Carnival Village in San Nicolas. The route changes, so look for the current notice in June.

July and August: a regatta, then a quiet stretch

The Aruba International Regatta is the summer highlight. The 16th edition ran July 10–12, 2026, with a Regatta Village at Surfside Beach, music on the Friday evening and races over the weekend. The 2025 edition was in late June, so don’t assume July. Dates for 2027 are usually announced in the months before; check aruba.com.

By contrast, we could not confirm a major festival for August. Our list of local experiences beyond the hotel strip gives you plenty for a quiet week.

If your dates miss every festival, an organized night out or island tour fills the gap nicely. These are a few that work any week of the year.

September and October: art, seafood and serious eating

This is the best stretch for visitors who like food and culture. It also falls in aruba.com’s off-season.

The Aruba Art Fair took over the streets of San Nicolas on September 11–13, 2026, with live painting, building takeovers, music and a culinary competition. Pair it with our San Nicolas street art walk.

The Savaneta Seafood Festival on September 27, 2026 was the pick for a low-key local afternoon. It ran from noon to 7 p.m. with free entry and more than 37 vendors. Dates for both September events, for 2027, are usually announced in the months before; check aruba.com.

Spectrum Aruba is a boutique mix of music and wellness that ran September 24–29, 2026.

Palm-lined street with shops in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba
Downtown Oranjestad, where many of the year’s public events take place. Photo: Jamie Tudor via Unsplash

Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival ran October 3–11, 2026. It combines a fixed-price restaurant week, limited-seat chef dinners and an open-air Pavilion party in Oranjestad. Book the small dinners first, since seats are limited. Dates for 2027 are usually announced in the months before the festival; check the Autentico site.

November and December: beach tennis, fashion and Dande

Carnival officially opens on November 11 at 11:11 a.m., though the parades come later. Next, the Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships follows at Bushiri Beach, set for November 12–15, 2026. The 2025 edition advertised free admission, so it’s an easy drop-in.

Aruba Fashion Week marks its 10th anniversary on November 19–22, 2026 at Tierra del Sol. Dates for the next edition are usually announced in the months before; check the aruba.com listing or the organizer’s site.

A tree beside a building in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba
A corner of downtown Oranjestad. Photo: Jamie Tudor via Unsplash

Sinterklaas reaches Aruba by boat weeks before December 5. The 2026 arrival was set for November 15 at the Oranjestad harbor. In 2025 the public welcome was on November 16 at the cruise terminal, followed by a children’s program at Plaza La Linda.

Finally, December ends with Dande, the New Year song tradition. Aruba.com calls the Dande Festival the island’s biggest traditional music event, with more than 50 singers. The Paranda Nacional di Dande toured neighborhoods on December 28–30, 2025. Dates for 2026 are usually announced close to the holidays; check aruba.com. Our Christmas and New Year guide covers the fireworks and holiday food.

Weekly events: what you can count on

However, there is less on a random weeknight than old guides claim. The Bon Bini Festival at Fort Zoutman is the one people still ask about. Visit Aruba lists it as on a short break, so check whether it’s running. For a dependable night out, use our Aruba nightlife guide.

Weather, crowds and prices through the year

Aruba.com sorts the year into three seasons, and they map neatly onto the event calendar. Air, rain and wind figures below are 1991–2020 normals from the weather service. Sea temperatures come from its 1971–2000 sheet.

Season Average highs Monthly rain Wind Sea (1971–2000) Crowds and prices
Peak: December–April 87–89°F 0.3–3.2 in 15–18 mph 79–81°F Busiest, highest prices
Shoulder: May–August 90–92°F 0.6–1.2 in 18–20 mph 81–82°F More budget-friendly than peak
Off-season: September–November 89–92°F 1.7–3.4 in 13–15 mph 83°F Lowest prices

The weather service puts the rainy season from September through January. Showers tend to come in the early morning or evening. Fall is also the calmest stretch for wind.

What to book and pack

  • Book rooms early for Carnival and anything from December through April.
  • Rent a car for San Nicolas and Savaneta events, or check bus times, because both are far from the hotel strip.
  • Stock up before holidays, when shops may close early or all day.
  • Pack a hat that stays on in the wind, closed shoes for street crowds and oxybenzone-free sunscreen.

Planning for 2027

  • Build your trip around fixed dates like Flag Day, King’s Day or Dera Gai if you want certainty.
  • Wait for confirmed dates before booking around a festival that moves.

FAQ

What is the biggest event in Aruba?

Carnival. The season officially opens on November 11 at 11:11 a.m., and the parades build for weeks until the Grand Parade in Oranjestad on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

When is the best month for festivals in Aruba?

January and February if you want Carnival. September and October suit food and art, with the Art Fair, the Savaneta Seafood Festival and Autentico in their most recent editions, and lower off-season prices.

Is the Soul Beach Music Festival still in Aruba?

No. After more than two decades in Aruba it left the island, and its 2026 edition was in Curaçao. Regional press has not confirmed whether that move is permanent. Check the festival’s own site before booking around it.

Is the Bon Bini Festival running?

Visit Aruba lists it as on a short break, so check whether it’s running before you plan an evening around it. Fort Zoutman, its usual home, is still there to visit in downtown Oranjestad.

Are Aruba’s festivals free?

Some are. The most recent Savaneta Seafood Festival was free to enter, and the Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships has listed free admission. Expect to need tickets or passes for Fashion Week, Autentico dinners and multi-day music events.

Sources