Boukman Eksperyans and Roody Roodboy Open Carnival Season as Wyclef Jean and Samara Joy Make Global Headlines.

Haïti

Haiti’s carnival season officially took shape in late January 2026 with the Chaloska carnival event held at the Ritz Kinam II hotel in Pétion-Ville. The evening featured performances by Boukman Eksperyans, a historic force in Haitian carnival culture, and Roody Roodboy, winner of the 2018 Carnival title. The event formed part of the national carnival festivities launched on January 8, 2026, by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. Other artists and DJs, including Maestro T-Ansyto, DJ Anthony, DJ Nos, HBMIIX, DJ Stephano, Nickid, and the marching band Silibo Band, also took part.

Haiti’s cultural landscape is further reflected in cinema with the upcoming release of the documentary _Les âmes bossales_ by French filmmaker François Perlier. Filmed over seven years, the documentary explores social struggles, popular culture, and resistance movements in Haiti, drawing on the contemporary reappropriation of the term “bossale.” The film is scheduled for theatrical release on February 4, 2026, with screenings planned in Paris, Nantes, and Kinshasa.

Diaspora

Haitian artists and entrepreneurs continue to expand their presence abroad. Singer Bedjine was recognized at the Zikomo Africa Awards 2025 in Dar es Salaam, receiving awards for Best Afro-Caribbean Artist and Best Vocal Artist, highlighting the growing reach of Haitian music across African and international audiences.

In the creative economy, OpenWav, founded by Wyclef Jean and Jaeson Ma, announced a joint venture with Loud House Group. The partnership aims to develop a global, data-driven platform for artist merchandise using on-demand production, allowing creators and rights holders to engage directly with fans while reducing inventory risks.

In sports, Franco-Haitian athlete Stevenson Savart has qualified to represent Haiti in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, competing in four events.

International

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited the Fugees to lead an emotional tribute honoring Roberta Flack and D’Angelo, joined by artists including John Legend, Chaka Khan, Lucky Daye, and Raphael Saadiq.

The ceremony was also marked by a historic win for Bad Bunny, who took home Album of the Year for DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS, becoming the first artist to win the category with a Spanish-language album. He also received awards for Best Global Music Performance and Best Música Urbana Album.

Jazz singer Samara Joy secured her fourth consecutive Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy for Portrait, bringing her total to seven awards. She appeared on stage wearing a custom design by Haitian fashion designer Jovana Benoît, founder of the Jovana Louis brand.

The night included a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Fela Kuti, recognizing his lasting influence on African and global music.

Beyond music, Hollywood mourned the passing of actress Catherine O’Hara, who died on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71. Tributes poured in, including a message from Macaulay Culkin, her on-screen son in Home Alone

Soraya Ades.

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