Soca Moca & Soca Massive Juniors win 51st Belize Carnival competition

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Sept. 7, 2026

    Belize’s 51st Carnival parade on Saturday afternoon, September 5, featured 6 junior bands and 9 senior bands; but only 4 of the senior bands were actually competing in the road march.

   Parade grand marshall Stanley Lizama led the road march along with the Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico marching band, and two other bands—the Police Uprising Drum Corps and the Pulse Nation—from the Memorial Park, along the Marine Parade and Princess Margaret Drive to the Marion Jones Sports Complex.

   The bands each amped up their tempo as they passed the judging station near BTL Park, and in their final performance inside the Marion Jones Sports Complex.

   In the final judging, among the junior bands, Soca Massive won 1st prize with 602 points; the Collet Royals garnered 582 points for 2nd prize; and the Black Pearl junior band won 493 points to claim 3rd prize. Two bands were disqualified for not having enough revelers: Sunshine Mas Band, which won 488 points, and the Rhythm Rockers, who garnered 411 points.

   Among the senior bands, Soca Moca once again were crowned the Road March champions after receiving 628 pts, while Mother Nature’s Creations secured the 2nd prize with 605 points. No 3rd prize was awarded, as two senior bands — the Fort Revelers with 449 pts and Trenchtown with 446 pts — were disqualified for not having enough troupers.

   Other senior bands who were just out for fun included the Kriol Haat Beat (in costumes reminiscent of Belize’s first carnival of the 1970’s), Fantasy Explosion, Belizean Jewels, the Sunshine Masqueraders, Titans Mas Band, and Rude Boy Band.

   The Tumblers, a traditional highlight, added their simultaneous somersaults and acrobatic backflips to entertain spectators along the entire length of the Carnival Road March.