With Bandi, a 2026 Netflix series set in Martinique, eight episodes have taken a Martinican Creole expression far beyond its native territory. “Sa sa pé foutew” means much more than “What’s it to you? It’s a way of setting a limit, sometimes with humor, sometimes with firmness, but always with an element of identity.
Three words, one border
Three Creole words, one question, and one attitude. When the Bandi series arrived on Netflix in 2026, it brought with it a phrase that many Martiniquais recognize: “sa sa pé foutew”. For some, it’s pride. For others, it’s a silent victory. For all those who know what these words mean in a conversation, it’s a moment that counts.
Literally, the phrase can be translated as “what’s it to you?” or “what’s it got to do with you?”. But the translation always gives us away. In reality, “sa sa pé foutew” functions like an air bubble between self and other. It means: you have no authority over my life, what I do is none of your business, I don’t expect your validation. It’s a boundary, not an aggression.
A short formula, many emotions
And it’s precisely this dual dimension – defense and tenderness – that makes the formula so special. Depending on the context, the tone and the face, “sa sa pé foutew” can be a burst of laughter between friends, an icy clarification, or a resigned sigh. The Creole language excels in these short formulas that carry several emotions at once.
Martinique Creole is rich in such expressions. According to the Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures, it is spoken by around 400,000 people in Martinique, with an equally large diaspora. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. A language doesn’t live by the number of speakers alone. It lives on through intonation, usage, everyday situations, the retorts that circulate in families, neighborhoods, markets, songs or conversations between relatives.
In “sa sa pé foutew”, there’s more than just a phrase. There’s a posture. That of a person who refuses to be intruded upon. It’s a popular voice that knows how to say no without making a speech. This is also why the expression remains difficult to translate properly. In French, it sounds abrupt. In Martinique Creole, it can be funny, dry, affectionate or sharp, depending on the mouth that utters it.
When Martinique Creole arrives on Netflix
The arrival of the formula on Netflix marks something. For a long time, Martinique’s Creole language circulated mainly in local cultural spaces, whether musical, theatrical, family or militant. Seeing it installed in a series broadcast on an international platform changes perception. What was local becomes audible elsewhere. What was familiar to some becomes a subject of curiosity for others.
This does not automatically transform the expression into a global phenomenon. We must not exaggerate. But it does give voice to a language in an area where it is still rare. And, for a regional language often reduced to orality or intimacy, this visibility has weight. It shows that Martinique Creole can carry a plot, a tension, an emotion and a strong line without being decorative.
A Caribbean resonance, without erasing differences
This upsurge in Martinique Creole does not stand alone. It is part of a wider movement to recognize Creole languages in the Caribbean. In Dominica, the country’s official profile mentions English and French Patois, also known as “Kwéyòl”. In Saint Lucia, Kwéyòl pride is expressed every October around Jounen Kwéyòl, linked to International Creole Day on October 28. In Haiti, the 1987 Constitution recognizes Creole and French as the official languages of the Republic.
In Guadeloupe, there are also sister formulas. “Ki sa ou ka chèché?” carries a similar intensity, even if it doesn’t say exactly the same thing. But each island has its own music. Guadeloupe Creole is not Martinique Creole. Saint Lucian kwéyòl is not Haitian Creole. They are related languages, not a single language.
A popular phrase, a demand for autonomy
What makes “sa sa pé foutew” singular in the Martinican context is its social significance. The phrase expresses a relationship with authority, whether familial, social or institutional, and a demand for autonomy that runs through part of popular culture. In zouk songs, in comic theater, in carnival, we find this posture: I hold my place, I don’t ask permission.
When a formula like this leaves its home territory and reaches the ears of viewers who don’t necessarily have a direct link with Martinique, it doesn’t become universal. It becomes curious. And curiosity, for a language long kept at a distance from the major cultural circuits, is already a form of victory.
Next week, we cross the sea to Trinidad to find the equivalent. What expression over there will say the same thing differently?
“Sa sa pé foutew” can be translated as “what’s it got to do with you” or “what’s it got to do with you? In Martinican Creole, the expression is often used to set a limit, with humor, firmness or distance, depending on the context.
The expression is brought back into the spotlight by the Bandi series, broadcast on Netflix and set in Martinique. Its presence in an international production gives new visibility to Martinique Creole and its popular formulas.
“Sa sa pé foutew” is not just a literal translation. The expression conveys an attitude, a way of refusing intrusion and asserting autonomy. It demonstrates the expressive power of Martinique Creole in everyday life.
The 2025-2026 cruise season in Martinique has come to a close on a strong note, with 568,348 passengers announced and a clear increase in patronage over the previous season. In a region where tourism relies as much on hospitality as on the quality of experiences offered ashore, these results reflect the destination’s growing presence on Caribbean itineraries. They also show that Fort-de-France, Saint-Pierre and the local players are moving in the same direction: better welcome, better orientation and better promotion of Martinique’s heritage.
Two long-awaited final stops in Fort-de-France
The 2025-2026 cruise season will close on Friday, April 24, 2026 with two calls to Fort-de-France. RCCL’s ship is expected to call at the Tourelles terminal with around 2,000 passengers, while Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess is scheduled to call at the Pointe Simon terminal with around 3,500 passengers. Most of the cruise passengers are expected to be American, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
This final day also includes a cultural component. A class from the Alexandre Stellio secondary school in Anses-d’Arlet will welcome passengers to the Grand Port des Tourelles with a traditional dance performance. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the ship with crew members. The stopover thus becomes a moment of exchange: visitors encounter a living culture, while young Martiniquans gain access to a professional world often far removed from their daily lives.
Increased visitor numbers and a stronger economic role
Figures for April 1, 2026 show 234 calls between October 2025 and March 2026, compared with 208 in the 2024-2025 season. Cumulative traffic reached 568,348 passengers, versus 469,432 the previous season. This increase establishes the 2025-2026 cruise season in a phase of consolidation, with higher volumes and a greater capacity to attract customers from several geographical areas.
Head of line business accounted for 151,615 passengers over the season. This point deserves attention, as 59.7% of the passengers concerned are Martiniquais. The 2025-2026 cruise season therefore also functions as a gateway for the local population, beyond the mere reception of foreign visitors. This reality reinforces the role of the port, agencies, transport services and hospitality professionals.
Excursions sold on board are another important indicator. Over 83,000 excursions were sold over the past season, with a ratio to ship capacity ranging from 18% to 24%, depending on the month. The 2025-2026 cruise season thus generates spin-offs for the sites visited, guides, land-based service providers, craftsmen, restaurateurs and businesses located along passenger routes.
An international clientele broadens the destination's reach
Martinique attracts cruise passengers from a wide range of countries. Europe is the main source, with over 200,000 European cruise passengers, notably from France, Germany, Italy and the UK. The United States accounts for more than 84,000 passengers, Canada for nearly 18,000, and South America, the Caribbean and other markets are also represented.
This diversity gives the 2025-2026 cruise season a strategic dimension. It forces the destination to think in terms of welcoming visitors in several languages, adapting the information available, structuring travel and proposing offers capable of speaking to visitors with different expectations. For a Caribbean territory, this plurality is an asset if it is accompanied by sincere, well-organized experiences that respect the place.
Miami Seatrade as barometer for next season
From April 13 to 16, 2026, the Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme, accompanied by the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique, shipping agencies, incoming agencies and cargo handlers, took part in the Seatrade trade show in Miami. Exchanges with cruise lines, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, American Airlines and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association confirmed the interest of professionals in the destination.
Feedback from cruise lines ranged from 7 to 8 out of 10 on destination attractiveness before and passenger satisfaction after a stopover. For the 2025-2026 cruise season, these ratings underline the gains made, while reminding us that Caribbean competition calls for constant improvement.
Martinique’s partners also highlighted a number of developments: modernization of reception infrastructures, directional signage to merchants, maintenance of emblematic sites, ongoing training of players, professionalization of services, digitization of information and marketing of innovative products. The 2025-2026 cruise season is thus moving forward on two fronts: attracting cruise lines and enhancing the passenger experience.
2026-2027: a season heralded as exceptional
The outlook communicated for 2026-2027 gives an idea of the ambition of the local players. Nearly 300 calls are announced, with the arrival of some particularly eagerly-awaited ships. The MSC Opera is due to call at Fort-de-France from November 20, 2026 to September 24, 2027, with 32 scheduled calls. This programming opens up the possibility of a continuous year-round season, a major change for the tourism organization.
The MSC World Europa is scheduled to arrive in Fort-de-France on December 5, 2026. Saint-Pierre is also due to welcome the Orient Express Corinthian, a 54-suite luxury French yacht, scheduled for October 27, 2026, with 6 calls. The 2025-2026 cruise season thus enters a sequence in which volumes, the quality of ships and the diversification of host ports can change the perception of the territory.
A challenge of hospitality, culture and territory
The 2025-2026 cruise season emerges from this period with a clear message: the island has solid assets, but the real value of this activity will depend on its ability to transform each stopover into an organized experience that benefits the territory. The figures are favourable, the prospects are strong, and the cultural reception on April 24 reminds us of something obvious: Martinique wins when its tourism gives a visible place to its inhabitants, its young people and its places of memory.
The press release announces 568,348 passengers for the 2025-2026 season. This figure marks a significant increase on the 2024-2025 season, which recorded 469,432 passengers.
The last two calls are scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026 in Fort-de-France. RCCL’s ship is expected to dock at the Tourelles terminal with around 2,000 passengers, while Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess is scheduled to dock at the Pointe Simon terminal with around 3,500 passengers.
The next season is set to feature almost 300 calls. Highlights include the MSC Opera’s 32 scheduled calls between November 2026 and September 2027, the MSC World Europa’s arrival in Fort-de-France and the Orient Express Corinthian’s 6 calls in Saint-Pierre.
On January 28, 2026, the French Senate sent a strong political signal in favor of Martinique’s Caribbean roots. On April 16, the French National Assembly approved the agreement on accession to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Caribbean Community. Clearly, Martinique’s membership of CARICOM has reached a decisive stage in the French procedure, following a process that began with the signing of the agreement in Bridgetown on February 20, 2025.
From Senate vote to National Assembly agreement
This sequence gives real continuity to the Senate vote in January. With the vote on April 16, France has now completed the parliamentary phase of this dossier. The French Ministry for Overseas Territories speaks of “definitive approval” of the agreement by the French Parliament, confirming that Martinique’s membership of CARICOM is now moving forward on a consolidated institutional basis, even if the legal wording still needs to be clarified.
What this new stage means in concrete terms
What this new stage really changes is that Martinique’s membership of CARICOM is no longer just a matter of political intention or diplomatic symbolism. It is part of a framework validated by French institutions, giving the territory a more solid basis for participation in the work of the regional organization and its agencies. The French government also points out that this move could eventually pave the way for other communities in the Antilles-Guyana basin interested in similar status.
A status distinct from that of member states
Essentially, associate membership is not the same as sovereign membership. The parliamentary and institutional documents specify that the territorial community of Martinique will be able to take part in the work of the organization within the framework provided by this status, without this calling into question its French and European legal anchorage. It is precisely for this reason that Martinique’s membership of CARICOM represents a major institutional step forward, without upsetting the existing balance.
More operational regional integration
Martinique’s membership of CARICOM goes beyond mere institutional recognition. In concrete terms, the benefits lie in access to more regional information, more direct participation in sectoral programs, and the opportunity to more clearly articulate its priorities in the Caribbean. Economic cooperation, mobility, higher education, public health, risk management, culture and climate: several fields of action can benefit from more regular dialogue with Caribbean bodies. From this perspective, Martinique’s membership of CARICOM would appear to be as much a tool for regional positioning as a lever for cooperation.
A broader signal for the French territories of America
This dossier also says something wider about the place of the French territories of the Americas in their immediate environment. For years, there has been a gap between their geographical membership of the Caribbean and their level of institutional integration in the major regional organizations. The vote on April 16 does not solve everything, but it does reduce part of this gap. It gives Martinique a clearer capacity for action in an area where responses to economic, climatic and health challenges increasingly require regional coordination. In this respect, Martinique’s membership of CARICOM marks a strategic shift that goes far beyond a simple parliamentary text.
Setting course for July 2026
The next political deadline will be closely scrutinized. The CARICOM Heads of Government have accepted Saint Lucia’s invitation to hold their 51st ordinary meeting from July 5 to 8, 2026. This regional rendezvous will give particular prominence to the momentum generated since Bridgetown, as Martinique now seeks to transform this institutional advance into a useful, visible and lasting presence. More than a procedural victory, Martinique’s membership of CARICOM opens up a new phase of responsibility: that of bringing this new framework to life in the interests of the territory and its Caribbean relations.
On April 16, 2026, the French National Assembly approved the agreement on accession to the CARICOM Protocol on Privileges and Immunities. Following the Senate’s vote in January, this decision completes the French parliamentary sequence on this issue.
No. The official texts speak of associate member status, not member state status. This allows Martinique to participate in some of the organization’s work, but without being placed in the same category as CARICOM’s sovereign member states.
The parliamentary documents indicate that Martinique will be able to participate in the deliberations of several subsidiary bodies and organizations without the right to vote. It will also be able to attend meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government and the Council of Ministers of the Community, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
According to the French Ministry for Overseas France, this step forward will enable Martinique to participate more fully in the work of the organization and its agencies, gain access to more comprehensive information on regional dynamics, and strengthen its capacity to act in its immediate geographical environment. In other words, the stakes are institutional, diplomatic and practical for future cooperation.
The next major regional event is the 51st ordinary meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, scheduled to take place in Saint Lucia from July 5 to 8, 2026. This meeting will be particularly closely followed, as it is a continuation of the process launched around Martinique.
The Loto du Patrimoine 2026 is more than just a list of endangered monuments. For the Caribbean territories, this selection highlights three sites that each bear a sensitive part of local history: the Maison de l’historien Lacour in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, the former mill of the Loyola dwelling in Rémire-Montjoly, French Guiana, and the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation in Gros-Morne, Martinique. The French Ministry of Culture has selected them as one of the 18 emblematic regional sites for the 2026 edition.
Why the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 is important for the Caribbean
For a media attentive to the Caribbean, this selection has a particular significance. It shows that the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 doesn’t just fund technical worksites: it also supports places that structure collective memory, urban identity, historical narratives and cultural transmission. Since 2018, the Mission Patrimoine lottery has raised over 210 million euros and supported 1,080 sites; 70% of projects have now been saved or are on the verge of being saved, and 500 worksites have been completed.
In this context, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique appear as three very different but complementary cases. One relates to intellectual and urban history, the other to the plantation economy and archaeology, and the third to the persistence of a religious heritage marked by natural disasters. It is this crossover that gives the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 its real significance in the Caribbean.
Guadeloupe: Auguste Lacour's house, a heritage challenge for Basse-Terre
In Basse-Terre, the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 awards the Maison de l’historien Lacour, a house linked to Auguste Lacour, a major figure in Guadeloupean history. It’s a small, modest colonial building, similar to a Creole hut, but now badly damaged and at risk of advanced deterioration. The project involves not only the complete restoration of the house, but also the ashlar fountain, the wrought-iron gate and the vegetable garden. Work is scheduled to start in the second half of 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2027.
The interest of this site goes far beyond the mere preservation of an ancient building. The house has been used for a number of purposes: as a historian’s residence, as a birthplace, then as an interpretation center within the framework of the Ville d’Art et d’Histoire label. Listed as a historic monument in 2016, the house and its surroundings could be used for a tourism or cultural project in the future, helping to revitalize Basse-Terre’s town center. With this in mind, the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 also acts as a lever for urban reactivation.
French Guiana: Loyola, a mill at the heart of a wider history
In French Guiana, the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 focuses on the former mill of the Loyola dwelling in Rémire-Montjoly. The aim is to restore the entire mill, including its wind intake, transmission and grinding mechanisms. Work is scheduled to start at the end of 2026 and be completed in 2027.
But the real strength of this site lies in its historical depth. The Loyola dwelling, acquired by the Jesuits in 1668, is presented as the largest slave dwelling in French Guiana. The mill is therefore not an isolated vestige: it is part of a whole that sheds light on sugar production, colonial organization and the reality of slave labor. Since 1994, archaeologists have been studying the site, part of which remains to be discovered. The Loto du Patrimoine 2026 gives visibility to a site where built heritage, colonial memory and historical research meet in a very direct way.
Martinique: in Gros Morne, the urgent need to save a weakened church
In Martinique, the site selected for the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 is the Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation church in Gros-Morne. Built in 1743, it has been closed to the public since 2016 and no longer complies with paraseismic standards since it was weakened by the earthquake of September 29, 2009. The announced works will secure the main nave and aisles, restore the two sacristies and the forechoir, as well as the choir and nave enclosure. Start-up is scheduled for summer 2026, with completion scheduled for 2027.
Here again, heritage interest goes far beyond religious architecture. Today’s parish is the result of successive reconstructions after cyclones, earthquakes and other hazards. Its history reflects that of a Martinican society forced to constantly adapt its heritage to the island’s natural realities. Against this backdrop, the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 awards a building that embodies both faith and resilience.
Three territories, three interpretations of heritage
By selecting Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique, the Loto du Patrimoine 2026 is in fact drawing up three ways of thinking about heritage in the French Caribbean region: preserving a literary house in the heart of a town, restoring a major vestige linked to the history of slavery and the sugar industry, and saving a church marked by the ravages of time and nature. This trio reminds us that a monument only has meaning if it remains legible for local residents, useful for the region and capable of transmitting a complete history, even in its most difficult areas.
In the French Caribbean, three territories are involved in the Loto du Patrimoine 2026: Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique. These three sites are included in the official list of 18 emblematic regional sites announced by the French Ministry of Culture.
In Guadeloupe, the chosen site is the Maison de l’historien Lacour in Basse-Terre. The project involves restoring the house, the ashlar fountain, the wrought-iron gate and the kitchen garden. Work is due to start in the second half of 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2027.
The former mill of the Loyola dwelling in Rémire-Montjoly is a major heritage site, bearing witness to the history of sugar production, the Jesuit presence and the slave system in French Guiana. The Fondation du Patrimoine points out that the Loyola dwelling, acquired in 1668 by the Jesuits, is considered to be the largest slave dwelling in French Guiana. The selected project aims at a complete restoration of the mill and its mechanism.
In Martinique, the selected site is the Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation church in Gros-Morne. Built in 1743, it has been closed to the public since 2016 and was weakened by the earthquake of September 29, 2009, making restoration work particularly urgent.
The Loto du Patrimoine 2026 is used to provide financial support for monuments and sites in peril identified throughout France, including overseas territories. The Mission Patrimoine scheme, launched in 2018, has already supported 1,080 sites since its inception, with 500 worksites completed and 70% of projects saved or in the process of being saved.
There’s an energy in Caribbean swimming that the stands of Le Lamentin captured every April evening. When the finals began, the stands filled and the flags of twenty-four nations mingled above the pool, the XXXIXth CARIFTA Aquatics Championships ceased to be a mere competition. They became what they have always been in essence: a gathering, a promise to the youth of the Caribbean.
From April 4 to 8, more than 480 swimmers and a hundred staff from 24 countries converged on Martinique for three disciplines: swimming races in Le Lamentin, artistic swimming and the 5 km open water event in Anses d’Arlet. Ten years after the previous edition, the organizing committee led by Alex Badian mobilized 150 volunteers, 60 officials per day and some 40 partners. Giant screens and 500 mobile bleacher seats, a first for the event, gave this edition a unique character, with packed stands every evening.
Coralie Balmy, Olympic medal-winning swimmer from Martinique and director of Coco An Dlo, was this year’s godmother. For her, the CARIFTAs are “like mini-Olympic games”, a springboard to international competitions. Her message to the athletes: “Write history, sublimate yourself, find that little bit of magic that will make the difference.”
In the basin: the Caribbean confirms its vitality
The four days of competition produced 117 events of a remarkable standard. The Bahamas finished first on points (795), followed by Jamaica (754.5), Trinidad & Tobago (747), Barbados (638.5), Cayman Islands (547.5) and Martinique (489). In the gold medal table, Barbados leads with 23 titles, ahead of the Bahamas (21), Trinidad & Tobago (20) and Jamaica (15).
Individual performances gave the CARIFTAs their texture. Liam Carrington (Trinidad & Tobago, 17) dominated the sprint and backstroke, winning the 100 m freestyle in 49.75s. Christon Joseph (Bahamas, 14) won five individual titles in the boys’ 13-14 age group. Heidi Stoute (Barbados, 16) won a quadruple in the girls’ 15-17 freestyle. Reagan Uszenski (U.S. Virgin Islands) was the most successful 13-14 girls. Christian Jerome (Haiti) gave his country two gold medals in the butterfly, proving that talent is blossoming throughout the Caribbean. Young Sapphire Parks (Saint Lucia, age 12) collected six medals, flying the flag for a delegation that was modest in number but remarkable in quality.
Artistic swimming: a fast-growing discipline at the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships
Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Cayman Islands competed in a full program of solos, duets and team events in three age categories. The Cayman Islands shone at CARIFTA, winning solo gold in all three categories, thanks to Isabelle Young, Ava Crâne and Maureen-Catherine Kohler. Guadeloupe took the title of Best Nation in the 12 and under age group, while Martinique, crowned Overall Champion, dominated the 13-15 and 16-19 age groups. The discipline now benefits from a genuine Caribbean development plan, with the prospect of a 2027 edition in Coral Springs (Florida) supported by USA Artistic Swimming.
Open water: the Anses d'Arlet 5 km race
The 57 swimmers took to the turquoise waters of Martinique’s south coast. In the 16-18 age group, Enzo Doussot (Martinique, 1 h 05 min 24 s) beat Arubais’ Matthew Gobert by two seconds in a three-way final of rare intensity, while Maylis Lestrade (Martinique) won the girls’ race. In the 14-15 age group, Antoine Pertuzon (Guadeloupe) and Marena Martinez (Trinidad & Tobago) took first place.
An emerging future
The CCCAN Congress, chaired by Stephen Joachim (Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines), took a number of key decisions: adoption of the new CARIFTA Manual, designation of the Bahamas as host for 2027 (confirmation is expected at the end of June) and election of Jamaica for 2028, and tightening of requirements for the protection of young athletes. The possibility of an 18+ category test has been opened up for the 2028 edition, the Olympic year.
Stephen Joachim was enthusiastic about the future of the event, pointing out that several countries had applied to host future editions, a sign of the good health of Caribbean swimming. For Alex Badian, the wish is clear: that the CARIFTA come back to Martinique every four or five years, to capitalize on the expertise acquired.
From Anguilla to Trinidad & Tobago, from Bermuda to Suriname, each federation, whatever its size, contributes to this collective dynamic. CARIFTA Aquatics is more than just a championship: it’s a space where young people from twenty-four nations, speaking French, English or Dutch, come together around a pool and a sea that unite them. As Coralie Balmy sums up, the CARIFTAs are a springboard. And this year, in Martinique, that springboard did its job.
The next editions of CARIFTA Aquatics will be held in the Bahamas in 2027 and in Jamaica in 2028.
The CARIFTA Aquatics Championships are a major swimming competition for young Caribbean athletes. They include several disciplines such as pool swimming, artistic swimming and open water, and serve as a springboard to international competitions.
CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 took place in Martinique, mainly in Le Lamentin for the pool events, and in Anses d’Arlet for the open water competitions.
The Bahamas topped the overall rankings, followed by Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. This hierarchy confirms the dominance of the great historical nations of Caribbean swimming.
Over 480 swimmers and around 100 supervisors from 24 Caribbean countries took part, confirming the growing importance of the event in the region.
The next editions are scheduled for the Bahamas in 2027 and Jamaica in 2028, with the aim of further strengthening the development of swimming throughout the Caribbean.
After two days of competition in Fort-de-France, CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 already confirms the region’s strongest output in junior swimming: density, minimal gaps in the overall standings and several swimmers capable of turning an evening on its head. The Bahamas are in first place overall, but Jamaica is still in touch, while Trinidad & Tobago is relying on a very strong men’s base to stay in the race. Behind this trio, Barbados, the Cayman Islands and Martinique continue to advance in a championship where every final, every relay and every point counts.
First day kicks off tight duel
On the first day of the CARIFTA Aquatics 2026, Saturday, April 4, 2026, the Bahamas took the lead in the combined standings with 196 points, ahead of Jamaica with 191 points.a gap of just five units. Trinidad & Tobago followed with 152 points, just ahead of Barbados at 150, then the Cayman Islands at 145. Martinique, buoyed by a solid start at home, was already in sixth place with 114 points. This hierarchy reflected a clear trend: nothing was decided yet, neither for the title nor for the podium.
On this first day, several names stood out. Liam Carrington, for Trinidad & Tobago, excelled in the 50 m freestyle and also took a podium in the 100 m butterfly. The men’s 100 m butterfly was won by Christian Jérôme, representing Haiti. On the girls’ side, Heidi Stoute for Barbados and Reagan Uszenski for the US Virgin Islands stood out, while Sapphire Parks, for Saint Lucia, had a particularly outstanding day, with three races contested, two victories and a third place.
Martinique holds its own in front of its home crowd
In this first review of the CARIFTA Aquatics 2026, Martinique didn’t just benefit from the basin advantage. Several results immediately weighed on the rankings: Jade Bering won gold in the 200 m breaststroke, Malia Soroman took bronze in the 100 m butterfly, Lucas Patron silver in the 200 m breaststroke and Lucas Wato bronze in the 50 m backstroke. In such a tight competition, these medals enabled the Martinique squad to stay in touch with the extended leading group.
The second day of CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 confirmed the pressure at the top
The second day of the CARIFTA Aquatics 2026On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the positions became clearer, but the gap did not really widen. After 56 events, the Bahamas retained first place overall with 386.5 points. Jamaica follows with 375 points, then Trinidad & Tobago with 357 points. Barbados remains fourth with 318 points, the Cayman Islands fifth with 282.5 points, and Martinique sixth with 211.5 points.
The detailed rankings also show a balanced battle by gender. Jamaica leads in the girls’ category with 189 points, ahead of the Bahamas at 186, while Trinidad & Tobago dominates in the boys’ category with 208 points, ahead of the Bahamas at 200.5 and Jamaica at 186. This second day was not one of absolute domination by a single territory. On the contrary, several nations shared the podiums, confirming the very homogeneous level of this edition of CARIFTA Aquatics 2026.
Christon Joseph, Liam Carrington and Reagan Uszenski set the pace
The evening of Sunday April 5 established Christon Joseph as one of the great faces of this early competition. The 14-year-old Bahamian won the boys’ 13-14 200 m freestyle in 2:00.27, then the 50 m butterfly in 26.07, before also winning the 400 m medley in 5:03.73. He then took part in the Bahamian victory in the boys’ 13-14 4 x 100 m medley, winning in 4:12.92. Few swimmers have weighed so much in a single session.
In the 15-17 age category, Liam Carrington confirmed his status. The Trinidadian won the 200 m freestyle in 1:50.99, followed by the 100 m backstroke in 54.93, two performances that reinforced Trinidad & Tobago’s lead in the men’s rankings. He has already established himself as one of the most memorable names of the first two days.
Reagan Uszenski, for the U.S. Virgin Islands, also had a top second day. She won the 200 m freestyle 13-14 in 2:09.35, the 50 m butterfly in 28.67, then the 100 m backstroke in 1:06.97. Her name keeps cropping up among the best performances of this early championship, proof of a rare consistency at this level.
Relays that already count
The relays also redistributed vital points on this second day. The Bahamas won the girls 11-12 4 x 100 m medley in 4:56.41 and the boys 13-14 4 x 100 m medley in 4:12.92. Barbados won the boys 11-12 age group in 4:44.41, Jamaica the girls 13-14 age group in 4:43.08, Bermuda the girls 15-17 age group in 4:33.17, while Trinidad & Tobago finished strongly with gold in the boys 15-17 age group. In such a tightly-packed championship, these relays are never secondary: they have a direct impact on the overall ranking.
Competition still wide open
On the evening of Sunday April 5, 2026, CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 remains wide open. The Bahamas have the advantage, Jamaica refuses to give in, Trinidad & Tobago is asserting itself, and Martinique remains firmly established in the top third of the standings. The competition continues in Fort-de-France until April 8, 2026, with artistic swimming starting on Monday April 6.
After two days, one thing is already clear: CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 is not just a succession of results. It’s also confirmation that Caribbean junior swimming relies on a structured, ambitious up-and-coming generation capable of raising the level of the championship race after race.
After two days of competition, the Bahamas occupy first place in the combined ranking with 386.5 points. Jamaica follows close behind with 375 points, while Trinidad & Tobago completes the provisional podium with 357 points.
CARIFTA Aquatics 2026 takes place from April 4 to 8, 2026 in Fort-de-France, Martinique. The first two days, April 4 and 5, have already revealed the first trends in the rankings.
A number of swimmers made their mark at the start of the competition, including Christon Joseph (Bahamas), Liam Carrington (Trinidad & Tobago) and Reagan Uszenski (US Virgin Islands), all of whom scored multiple individual victories.
Martinique is in sixth place in the combined ranking after two days, with 211.5 points. The local team relies on several podium finishes to remain competitive with the region’s big nations.
Relays play a key role in the overall standings, as they allow a significant number of points to be scored in a single race. On the second day, several nations consolidated their positions thanks to their collective performances.
Some days are like no other. Days when an entire island holds its breath, opens its arms, and lets in the entire Caribbean Sea. On Friday, April 3, 2026, the Georges-Gratiant stadium in Le Lamentin was one of those days, as the opening ceremony of the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026.
The 39th edition of the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 opened under a Martinique sky. Ten years after its last stopover on the island, this major Caribbean swimming competition returned to Martinique. Five hundred young swimmers from twenty-four nations trod the same turf, dreamed the same dreams and sang the same songs. And for a few hours, before the starting-blocks of the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 lit up and the pools went wild, sport gave way to something even greater: the culture, pride and shared identity of an archipelago that all too often looks at itself from afar.
The opening ceremony of the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 got off to a fitting start, led by the master of ceremonies, with the official speeches. The mayor of Le Lamentin, the prefect and the president of the Collectivité territoriale de Martinique were all represented, a sign that the event was a success. Carifta Aquatics Championships called for more than just sporting protocol. The speeches alternated French and English with a welcome fluidity: it’s as much a political gesture as a human one to speak the other’s language, and Martinique did so naturally. In a Caribbean where colonial legacies have sometimes erected walls where geography has created bridges, hearing the two languages respond on the same stage is already a sign of reconciliation.
Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026: when culture takes the lead
It was when the music took over that something changed in the air.
A steel pan band got the ball rolling, and not just any old way. These singing steel blades, an instrument born in the back alleys of Trinidad and now a symbol of the entire Caribbean, resonated here, tinged with local Martinican rhythms. A gentle, bold way of saying: we’re different, and that’s precisely what unites us. Tambou Bô Kanal Junior Then came the drums, the voices of Martinique that have been beating since ancient times, since the maroons, since the resistance. The traditional music of the island invaded the stadium, and the young Caribbean athletes discovered, perhaps for the first time, the deep heart of the island that welcomed them.
And then there was Paille. The artist from Martinique set the place alight – that’s the only word for it. Wandering through Caribbean musical genres as one crosses the sea from island to island, he took the audience from Jamaica to Trinidad, from reggae to soca, re-adapting the great hits of the region with infectious generosity. Alternating between French and English, with the help of a friendly interpreter, he watched hundreds of young athletes from all over the Caribbean, making them dance, laugh and share. This moment was not to be found in any ranking or list of records. Yet it was the most precious moment of the day.
Twenty-four flags, one horizon
Then came the parade. To the notes of Nou pa sa nation after nation, flag after flag, the delegations took to the track with the quiet, luminous pride of young people who know they represent something beyond their own performance. From eleven-year-olds to seventeen-year-olds, they all had the same thing in their eyes: impatience, seriousness, and that lightness typical of those who have not yet learned to be afraid of dreaming big. To see the colors of twenty-four Caribbean territories marching down the same runway, on the same island, is one of those spectacles that remind us why sport, at its best, remains a school of humanity.
From Saturday April 4 to Wednesday April 8, the Centre Aquatique Communautaire Pierre-Samot will be the venue for the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026. The Bahamas, the undisputed masters of Caribbean swimming for the past decade, will have their work cut out. Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and their prodigies, including the redoubtable Heidi Stoute, multiple Carifta Aquatics Championships record-holder, promise top-flight competition. Martinique, on the other hand, swims at home. And at home, with the public, the family and ten years of waiting in the legs, you don’t swim the same. In 2016, when the last edition was held here, the locals came third overall. The goal is there, written in the memories, burning in the corridors of Le Lamentin.
Coralie Balmy, Olympic medallist and official ambassador for this edition, remembers being ten years old when she first took part in the Carifta Aquatics Championships. Today, a new generation is writing its first lines. And if the Carifta Games deserve more media attention than they are getting, this Friday evening at the Georges-Gratiant stadium was a reminder of why they count: because they are one of the rare spaces where the Caribbean sees itself as a whole, recognizes itself, and chooses to applaud itself.
The competition starts tomorrow. But perhaps the most important part has already taken place.
The Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 is one of the Caribbean’s major sporting events for young swimmers. The competition brings together delegations from numerous Caribbean territories to compete in a number of aquatic events, in a setting that goes far beyond a simple sporting confrontation. It provides an opportunity to measure the level of the region’s up-and-coming swimmers, to showcase emerging talent and to strengthen ties between islands that share a common history, geography and ambitions. In this 2026 edition, Martinique becomes both host country, sporting stage and cultural showcase.
Martinique not only hosts a competition, it also welcomes the entire Caribbean youth community in a rare moment of regional visibility. Ten years after a previous edition was held on the island, this return gives a special significance to the event. The region is demonstrating its ability to welcome international delegations, mobilize its institutions and offer an opening ceremony that links sport, culture and identity. For Martinique, hosting the Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 is also a way of asserting its Caribbean roots, recalling its place in the region and promoting its image far beyond its immediate borders.
The opening ceremony left a lasting impression, giving the sport a strong cultural and symbolic dimension. Official speeches in French and English set a framework for regional unity, while musical performances embodied the richness of the Caribbean in all its diversity. The steel pan, Martinican drums and the presence of artist Paille gave this opening a depth that went beyond protocol. The parade of delegations then reinforced this sense of common belonging. This kind of moment is extremely important, as it gives meaning to the competition and reminds us that behind each swimmer, there is also a territory, a memory and a collective pride.
The sporting stakes are high, as this competition brings together delegations renowned for their level of Caribbean swimming. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados arrive with solid reputations and eagerly-awaited athletes. For Martinique, the stakes are even higher, as it will be competing on home soil, with all the pressure and energy that this entails. The memory of the previous edition held on the island is fuelling local ambitions. The Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 are a high-level test for young swimmers who want to shine individually, improve their country’s ranking and follow in the footsteps of the great figures of regional swimming.
The Carifta Aquatics Championships 2026 are important because they offer the Caribbean a concrete space where it can see itself as a whole. In a region often fragmented by languages, colonial legacies and institutional realities, this type of event creates a direct encounter between island youth. It’s not just about breaking records, but also about sharing a common experience, getting to know each other better and building positive regional references. The event puts the spotlight on an ambitious, talented Caribbean capable of organizing major events. It also gives valuable visibility to young athletes, who already represent the sporting and symbolic future of their territories.
April 2, 2026 provided the first concrete indication of the scale of the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026. In just one day, 426 people checked in, divided between 21 delegations, 9 airlines and 4 accommodation sites. Even before the start of the competitions, the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 already boasts a major regional dimension.
A busy day of arrivals from morning to night
The sequence began at 9:05 a.m. with Caribbean Airlines and ended at 9:30 p.m., again with Caribbean Airlines. Between these two times, 27 arrivals were recorded. This time span, spread over more than twelve hours, shows an organization already fully mobilized, capable of absorbing successive flows without concentrating on a single slot. The reception was built up in waves, with high points in the late morning, mid-afternoon and evening.
In the early hours, Barbados and Trinidad set the scene with 36 then 33 people on flight BWA474. At 11 a.m., the Bahamas marked the first day with 61 arrivals, the largest contingent of the day. At 12:15 p.m., Cayman confirmed the level of commitment to these championships with 50 people. The rest of the day maintained this high rhythm, with 24 arrivals from Guadeloupe at 3 p.m., 19 from Antigua at 4.10 p.m., 39 from Jamaica at 4.45 p.m., 22 from Aruba at 7 p.m. and finally 24 from Bermuda at 9.30 p.m.
The most important delegations already on site
At the end of this first day of arrivals, the Bahamas dominate the table with 61 people. Cayman follows with 50, ahead of Jamaica with 42 people spread over two flights. Barbados has 38 arrivals, also spread over several routes, while Trinidad has 33. Behind this leading group come Guadeloupe and Bermuda with 24 people each, Aruba with 22, then Antigua with 20. This panorama already gives a clear indication of the logistical scale of the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 on a Caribbean scale.
Some delegations arrived in a single block. This was the case for the Bahamas, Cayman, Guadeloupe, Aruba, Curacao and Bermuda. Others were spread over several flights, revealing a more fragmented organization. Antigua arrived in two stages, with 1 person at 2:18 pm, then 19 at 4:10 pm. Saint Kitts was recorded on two separate movements, with 5 then 5 people. Jamaica recorded 3 arrivals at 2:18 pm, then 39 at 4:45 pm. Barbados was present at three different times during the day.
A broad Caribbean geography
The list of delegations already welcomed to the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 reflects the diversity of the Caribbean basin gathered around these championships. On this day alone, Barbados, Trinidad, the Bahamas, Saint Kitts, Sint Maarten, Cayman, St Vincent&Grenadines, Guyana, Haiti, Antigua, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Turks&Caicos, US Virgin Island, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, Dominica, Aruba, Curacao, Bermuda and Suriname were registered. By bringing together 21 delegations in this first phase, the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 immediately demonstrates its regional scope.
This diversity is also reflected in the companies involved. Caribbean Airlines occupies a central place in the scheme, but it is not alone. Bahamas Air, Air Caraïbes, Cayman Air, Air Adelphi, Air France, Air Canada, American Airlines and Liat Air also feature in this first day of arrivals. This variety of carriers alone shows that the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 is not based on a single air route, but on a network of connections covering a large part of the region.
Four accommodation sites already mobilized
The distribution across the hotels sheds further light on the organization in place. Karibea Sainte-Luce has the highest volume, with 223 people. Pierre et Vacances follows with 164 guests. Cayalines welcomed 27, while the Centre International de Séjour welcomed 12. This breakdown confirms that the delegations were not welcomed at a single point, but at several hubs capable of absorbing distinct volumes according to group size.
Karibea Sainte-Luce is home to the Bahamas, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, Dominica and parts of Antigua and Turks&Caicos. Pierre et Vacances is home to Barbados, Trinidad, Cayman, Anguilla, Bermuda and Suriname. Cayalines welcomes Saint Kitts, Sint Maarten and Haiti. As for US Virgin Island, the delegation is directed to the Centre International de Séjour. This distribution reflects an already structured system, with a clear allocation logic according to contingents.
A start that heralds the scale of the event
The CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 already boast an impressive volume of visitors, even before the sporting launch. With 426 people registered in a single day, arrivals spread out from morning until night, 21 delegations already on site and a spread over four accommodation sites, this first phase of hosting confirms that the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026 is immediately entering a concrete, dense and regional dimension. The stakes are no longer simply those of future performances: they are already those of a visible, coordinated and massive Caribbean mobilization.
On April 2, 2026, 426 people checked in. This total includes all the movements listed for the day, from the first flight at 9:05 a.m. to the last flight at 9:30 p.m. This figure already gives a clear idea of the logistical scale of the event, even before the start of the competitions.
The Bahamas top the list with 61 people, followed by Cayman with 50. Jamaica has 42 arrivals, Barbados 38 and Trinidad 33. Next come Guadeloupe and Bermuda with 24 each, then Aruba with 22 and Antigua with 20. This hierarchy shows that several territories have already mobilized large contingents on the first day.
Twenty-one delegations appear in the arrivals registered on April 2, 2026. This single day already brings together a wide range of Caribbean territories, immediately underlining the regional scope of the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships 2026.
Four accommodation sites have already been mobilized. Karibea Sainte-Luce accommodates 223 people, Pierre et Vacances 164, Cayalines 27 and the Centre International de séjour 12. This breakdown shows that the organization is based on several accommodation hubs, with a capacity to distribute delegations according to their size and arrival.
Nine airlines feature in the April 2, 2026 arrivals: Caribbean Airlines, Bahamas Air, Air Caraïbes, Cayman Air, Air Adelphi, Air France, Air Canada, American Airlines and Liat Air. This diversity of carriers illustrates the wide range of routes used to bring delegations to Martinique.
The Bandi series arrives on Netflix on April 9, 2026 with eight episodes and a clear ambition: to tell a Martinique story without reducing the island to a mere backdrop. The starting point is brutal. After the death of their mother, eleven brothers and sisters aged 7 to 23 have to stand their ground, protect the younger ones, pay what they have to pay, and decide how far they’re willing to go to stay afloat. For some of the siblings, trafficking becomes a temptation. For others, it’s a red line.
Created by Éric Rochant and Capucine Rochan, the series is based on strong family material. It’s not a drama built solely around violence. It’s a story about grief, solidarity, coping, social pressure and the way a family can fall apart when the central pillar disappears. This basis gives the project more depth than a simple crime drama. It also allows the series Bandi to enter into a Martinican reality where questions of the future, precariousness and transmission can never be treated lightly.
Martinique filmed from the inside
One of the most interesting aspects of the series is its territorial anchoring. The series was shot in Martinique, making the island a dramatic space in its own right. The streets, the working-class neighborhoods, the vegetation, the social contrasts and the tension of everyday life are all part of the story. The series Bandi is not based on a tourist image of Martinique. Instead, it chooses a rougher, denser framework, closer to the realities that run through part of the territory.
This choice gives the series a real visual identity. It also avoids the common pitfall of filming the Caribbean as a postcard backdrop. Here, the island weighs on trajectories, choices and power relationships. Martinique is not behind the story. It’s in the story. This is what gives the series its special significance for Caribbean audiences, who are increasingly looking for works that show their territories in ways other than worn-out clichés.
Martinique faces in the foreground
The Bandi series also stands out for its cast. Netflix features Djody Grimeau, Rodney Dijon, Ambre Bozza, Hay-Lee-Jah Caloc, Amah Fofana, Kahela Borval, Cédric Camille, Teyvan Misat, Liyem Lostau and Nahël Demar. At the Madiana preview, other names associated with the series were also highlighted, including William Paul Joseph, Jonathan Zaccaï, Lucas Pernock, Evan Lienafa, Steeven Mornet and Souane Rosamont.
The strongest fact remains elsewhere: 75 of the 82 speaking roles are played by local actors, not to mention 1,500 extras recruited locally. This profoundly changes the scope of the project. The Bandi series not only shows Martinique, it also gives it its own faces. For some of these actors, this production represents unprecedented exposure, in a series destined for international circulation.
A shoot that left its mark on the local audiovisual landscape
The series Bandi is not limited to its on-screen results. The filming was also important for the local audiovisual industry. Martinique’s talents were mobilized in front of and behind the camera, and the production created a working environment rare in its scope. For a region where opportunities at this level are still limited, a series like this is also worthwhile as an experience, as accelerated training and as a point of support for the future.
A few lines in Creole also contribute to this anchoring. This detail is not incidental. In a production aimed at a very wide audience, keeping a portion of the local language helps to preserve texture, rhythm and truth. The series thus gains in cultural density, while remaining accessible to a global audience.
Madiana, a preview that lives up to expectations
The preview organized on March 19, 2026 at the Madiana cinema in Martinique gave a glimpse of what the Bandi series already represents for the territory. The first episode was screened there before going online worldwide, in an evening that brought together crew, actors and audience. The symbolism is strong: before traveling the world, the series first met the people whose faces, voices and tensions it bears.
The preview also confirmed that the Bandi is more than just a platform novelty. It is already part of Martinique’s recent cultural history, because it links several dimensions rarely found together on this scale: worldwide distribution, a largely local cast, filming rooted on the island and a story that takes the risk of tackling sensitive social realities.
A series that's already making a difference in the Caribbean
The Bandi series may mark a turning point. Not because it will single-handedly settle debates on the image of the Antilles, but because it opens up a wider space for Caribbean stories on screen. It shows that ambitious fiction can be shot in Martinique, supported by local talent, and then broadcast far beyond the island. In this way, the series is not just a Netflix release. It becomes a test, a signal, and perhaps the beginning of a new stage for Martinique’s audiovisual visibility.
Bandi is an eight-episode drama series shot in Martinique. The story follows a sibling confronted with the death of his mother, precariousness, family tensions and survival choices that can turn a life upside down. The interest of the series lies not only in its plot, but also in its ability to place Martinique at the center of a story broadcast internationally.
The Bandi series is attracting attention because it gives Martinique rare visibility on a global platform. It showcases local actors, extras and technicians, while using real sets on the island. It also generates interest because it raises an important question: how can Martinique be portrayed on screen with intensity, without confining it to a reductive image?
The Bandi series was shot in Martinique. This local anchoring gives the project a real identity, as the island is not used as a mere visual backdrop. Landscapes, neighborhoods, atmospheres and some of the local language all play their part in the narrative. This reinforces the sense of authenticity and gives the series a texture closer to the territory.
The Bandi series features several actors, with a strong presence of Martinican talent in the speaking roles. This aspect is essential, as it enables the production to bring out the faces of the region in a drama that is destined to travel far beyond the island. The casting thus contributes to the cultural scope of the series as much as to its audiovisual impact.
The Bandi series is important for the Caribbean audiovisual industry, because it shows that an ambitious project can be filmed in Martinique with strong local involvement, and then broadcast on a large scale. Beyond its release on Netflix, it represents a signal for the industry: more visibility, more filming experience, and the possibility of opening the way to other Caribbean narratives carried by the territories themselves.
From Monday 6 to Friday 10 April 2026, Fort-de-France will host the Martinique bioclimatic design workshop, an international participatory design and construction workshop devoted to a bioclimatic structure installed in the gardens of the Martinique Cultural Affairs Directorate, at Villa Les Pergolas. Bioclimatic design workshop is supported by abitē commissioned by the DAC Martinique with the Caribbean Arts Campus, La Station Culturelle and the Maison de l’Architecture de Martinique. The ambition is clear: in april, to design a project rooted in the realities of Martinique’s climate and landscape, prior to completion announced for the third quarter 2026.
The bioclimatic design workshop takes place within a specific framework. The public program covers the days from April 6 to 10, 2026, with a daily rhythm structured around a welcome at 10:30 am, a master class at 11:00 am, lunch at 12:30 pm, a design workshop at 2:00 pm and an evening activity or meeting at 6:30 pm. In parallel, the call for entries presented a global immersion from April 6 to 11, 2026 for selected participants.
A workshop designed for Martinique's climate
This week’s theme is the design of a bioclimatic bioclimatic structure capable of interacting with its environment. The chosen site, the gardens of Villa Les Pergolas, meant that we had to work within very specific constraints: natural ventilation, solar protection, water management, suitable materials and landscape integration. So the challenge is not to produce a theoretical object, but a situated architectural response, designed for a tropical territory, with its climatic, cultural and human realities.
The bioclimatic design workshop is not just about training. His course is already set: workshop phase followed by technical development with an architectural firm and design office, before construction 1/1 scale construction in the third quarter of 2026. This continuity gives the event particular weight. The exchanges, sketches and arbitrations carried out during the week are intended as the first stage in a project destined to truly exist in Martinique.
Who is taking part in the bioclimatic design workshop in Martinique?
The bioclimatic design workshop is designed for some twenty young talents. The call for applications targeted students in their second year of study and young professionals under the age of 40 with backgrounds in architecture, design, engineering or the visual arts. The idea is not to juxtapose profiles, but to form mixed groups capable of confronting methods, project cultures and ways of inhabiting the territory. The bioclimatic design workshop also includes an academic component, with CCA students able to validate ECTS credits or internship hours, as well as a certificate of pedagogical participation co-signed by the CCA and the DAC Martinique. Applications are now closed.
The complete program, day by day
Monday, April 6, 2026: cartography and water territories
The first day of the bioclimatic design workshop is devoted to cartography and water territories. The 11:00 a.m. master class is given by La Cabina de la Curiosidad, announced between France and Ecuador with Marie Combette and Daniel Moreno Flores. Their approach questions material resources, urban development models, waste management and the valorization of natural ecosystems. Their presence sets the tone for the workshop from the outset: to think of architectural projects in terms of materials, territories and uses, rather than in terms of an imposed form. The afternoon is reserved for the design workshop at the Caribbean Arts Campus.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026: adaptability and climate awareness
Tuesday is all about adaptability and climate awareness. The master class brings together Débora Pronzola and Kathleen Surena, two Martinican architects specializing in architecture and major risks. Trained at ENSA Paris-Belleville and Paris-Est, they bring a wealth of experience in urban projects, bioclimatic architecture and land exposed to natural hazards. Their contribution is particularly important for Martinique: it deals with sustainable and resilient design in the face of natural hazards. earthquakes, cyclones and floods with keys applicable to island territories. At 6h30 pm the day continues with “Don’t shave it all off!” presented by abitē, rue Garnier Pagès.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026: design and local materials
Wednesday is dedicated to design and local materials. The 11:00 a.m. master class features BAHO Design Studio with Cyrille Rochambeau, a native of Fort-de-France. His career has taken him from the Caribbean to Asia and Africa, linking product design, construction and international practice. His presence brings a valuable insight into how a technical constraint can become a creative lever, without losing the link with the territory. The evening continues with a CinéArchi organized by the Maison de l’Architecture de Martinique at the Galerie-École of the Caribbean Arts Campus.
Thursday, April 9, 2026: landscapes and building strategies
On Thursday, the workshop focuses on landscapes and building strategies. The master class is entrusted to Tephra Studio presented between France and Colombia with Fabrice Henry in the program. The studio approaches architecture as a sensitive intervention in a site already charged with memory, where material, climate and landscape are never secondary. For a project located in the gardens of the DAC Martinique, this approach is decisive: it allows us to think of the future pavilion not as an autonomous object, but as an additional layer in the history of the site. At 6h30 pm with La Station Culturelle is planned at 33, a cultural venue.
Friday, April 10, 2026: anthropology and memories of living
The final day focuses on anthropology and memories of living. The master class is led by Carole Diop from Senegal. Her approach is based on exploring the city as a living laboratory, particularly in Dakar, through urban narratives, architectural strolls and heritage enhancement. In the context of this workshop, this approach broadens our thinking: it’s no longer just a question of building in a given climate, but also of questioning what places preserve, tell and transmit. At 6h30 pm the week draws to a close with the opening of the “Los Caminos del Agua” exhibition brought to you by La Cabina de la Curiosidad in the gardens of the DAC.
A college of international experts, but a strong Martinique base
One of the major benefits of thebioclimatic design workshop lies in its balance. The speakers come from different backgrounds: Martinique, France, Ecuador, Colombia, Senegal. But the subject remains firmly rooted in the realities of Fort-de-France. The lobby of the Campus Caraïbéen des Arts thus becomes a space for public debate, where theories circulate, confront the field and feed the afternoon’s projects. This method gives the bioclimatic design workshop a real density: the transmission doesn’t float above the site, it keeps coming back to the central question of tropical habitat and situated construction.
Why does this event deserve attention?
The bioclimatic design workshop in Martinique is important because it simultaneously addresses several urgent issues in contemporary Martinique: architectural quality, climate adaptation, transmission between students and young professionals, dialogue between disciplines and the ability to produce a project that leaves a concrete mark. It’s not just a meeting place for specialists. The bioclimatic design workshop is also a signal of how Martinique can think about architecture today: starting from the climate, the site, the materials, the memories and the uses, rather than applying external models.
The bioclimatic design workshop in Martinique is an international workshop organized in Fort-de-France from April 6 to 10, 2026, dedicated to the design of an architectural structure adapted to the tropical climate. It brings together students, young professionals and experts from several disciplines – architecture, design, engineering, landscape and anthropology – around a concrete objective: to imagine a project capable of responding to local environmental constraints while fitting in with Martinique’s landscape and customs. This work does not remain theoretical, as a full-scale construction is planned at a later stage.
The event takes place mainly in Fort-de-France, in two complementary locations. Design workshops and master classes take place at the Campus Caraïbéen des Arts, while the project is designed to take place in the gardens of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles de Martinique, at Villa Les Pergolas. This choice of site is central, as it forces the participants to work in direct contact with a real environment, integrating the landscape, climate and constraints of the territory.
The program runs over five days, from Monday April 6 to Friday April 10, 2026, with a structured daily schedule. Each day begins with a welcome at 10:30 a.m., followed by a master class at 11:00 a.m. led by an international expert. After lunch, participants work in design workshops from 2:00 pm. At the end of the day, cultural activities, conferences and meetings are offered at 6:30 p.m. at various venues in Fort-de-France. The themes change every day: water territories, climate risks, local materials, landscape and anthropology.
The workshop brings together a college of international speakers with complementary profiles. Among them, La Cabina de la Curiosidad (France/Ecuador) works on resources and sustainable urban models. Martinique-based architects Débora Pronzola and Kathleen Surena contribute their expertise on major risks in an island context. Cyrille Rochambeau, with BAHO Design Studio, develops an approach linked to design and construction sites. Tephra Studio (France/Colombia) examines the link between architecture, landscape and memory. Finally, Carole Diop (Senegal) proposes an anthropological reading of the city and ways of living.
The bioclimatic design workshop in Martinique is aimed at around twenty selected participants: students from the second year upwards and young professionals under 40 in the fields of architecture, design, engineering or visual arts. The deliberately limited format allows for high-quality supervision and work in small groups. The experience also includes academic recognition, with the possibility of validating ECTS credits or internship hours, as well as a certificate issued by the Caribbean Arts Campus and the DAC Martinique.
