When Brandy and Monica take to the big stage on Pigeon Island together, they won’t be inaugurating the 34th edition of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Rather, they will be signing one of the last great moments in a long history which, in thirty-four years, has become one of the major cultural affirmations of the English-speaking Caribbean. In 2026, the festival takes place from April 30 to May 10, between Castries, Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island.
Eleven days of jazz, arts and Caribbean music
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival takes place over eleven days. Saint Lucia, with its 617 km² and 180,000 inhabitants, welcomes local, regional and international audiences with a program that combines jazz, gospel, soca, reggae, R&B, afrobeats, pop, zouk and cultural creations. The most emblematic venue remains Pigeon Island National Landmark, in Gros Islet, a major heritage site in the north of the island and the central stage for the final weekend.
From 1992 to 2026, an expanded identity
The festival has changed a great deal since its inception in 1992. Born around jazz, with a focus on music and tourism, it has gradually opened up to the visual arts, theater, fashion, gastronomy and scenic expressions. In 2026, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival will keep jazz as its heritage, while leaving more room for the music of the present.
The complete musical program
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival program opens on April 30 at Mindoo Philip Park, Castries, with Opening Night. The evening features Capleton, Valiant, Asa Banton, D’YANI, Shervon Sealy, LM Stone and Amber Digby. On May 5, Pure Jazz: Ladies in Concert takes place at Pavilion on the Ramp, Rodney Bay, with Esperanza Spalding, Chantal Esdelle & Moyenne, Camille Charlemagne and Leandra Modeste.
On May 6, Kingdom Night brings gospel to Pigeon Island with Tye Tribbett, Ada Ehi, Shirleyann Cyril-Mayers, Nigela St. Clair-Daniel and Saint Lucian gospel voices. On May 7, Pure Jazz: Elements of the Arts returns to Rodney Bay with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Jesse Billy and an artistic production supported by the Cultural Development Foundation.
The final weekend concentrates the big stages on Pigeon Island. On May 8, Caribbean Fusion brings together Kes the Band, The Original Wailers with Al Anderson and Skip Marley, Dexta Daps, and a Saint Lucian Mélange led by Imran Nerdy. On May 9, World Beats welcomes Tems, Ella Mai, X-MAN, Lu City, Princess Lover, Les Aiglons de Guadeloupe and October 4. On May 10, The Ultimate Celebration closes the festival with Mervin Wilkinson and Friends, Beverley Knight, Billy Ocean, Brandy and Monica.
Caribbean, Africa and diaspora
This program says something important. The festival is no longer just a jazz event extended to other genres. It has taken on the role of Caribbean and Afro-diasporic aggregator. Trinidad appears with Kes the Band. Jamaica resounds with Capleton, Valiant, D’YANI, Dexta Daps and The Original Wailers. Nigeria arrives with Tems. The UK is represented by Ella Mai, Beverley Knight and Billy Ocean. Guadeloupe enters the story with Les Aiglons, Martinique with X-MAN, and Saint Lucia keeps its place thanks to Lu City, Imran Nerdy, Camille Charlemagne and Leandra Modeste.
Art and the City, the other program
In the backyard of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, Art and the City transforms Castries into an open-air creative space. Running from April 25 to mid-May, with selected exhibitions announced until May 16, the program combines exhibitions, theater, spoken word, local and regional cinema, crafts, gastronomy and urban activations.
The program includes the Cultural Icon Series around Edward “Chef Harry” Joseph, the Film Showcase, the exhibition Life in Colour, Ten to One: The Mighty Sparrow Musical, Fish Friday: Art and the City Edition, the play Triptych, Voices of the Underground, ARTSCAPE, then Ti Tak Ste. Lisi. This section reminds us that a major festival also has its cultural roots.
Tourism, culture and local creativity
What makes the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival unique in the Caribbean landscape is its ability to meet two requirements. On the one hand, to attract international artists capable of putting Saint Lucia on the map of major cultural events. On the other, to maintain a strong local presence: Community Jazz, Saint Lucian artists, programming in Castries and a focus on national creation.
Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is produced by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Cultural Development Foundation and the Events Company of Saint Lucia. This combination of tourism, culture and events gives a clear idea of Saint Lucia’s strategy: to make the festival a tool for international visibility, without reducing it to a simple tourist operation.
When Caribbean culture brings the world in
Because the Caribbean speaks to itself as much as it does to the world, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival poses a useful question for the entire region. How do you keep a festival going for more than three decades without exhausting it? How do you broaden a musical identity without diluting it? Saint Lucia proposes a concrete answer: keep jazz as a memory, open the stage to the music of the present, and place local creation at the center of the narrative.
When Brandy and Monica sing at Pigeon Island, it won’t just be a closing concert. It will be an affirmation of one simple thing: when Caribbean culture structures itself, programs itself and tells its story seriously, it brings the world in.
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2026 takes place from April 30 to May 10, 2026 in Saint Lucia, with concerts and cultural events organized in Castries, Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island.
The program for the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2026 includes Brandy, Monica, Tems, Ella Mai, Beverley Knight, Billy Ocean, Kes the Band, The Original Wailers, Dexta Daps, Capleton, Valiant and several Saint Lucian artists.
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is important because it links music, heritage, local creativity and tourist appeal. In 2026, it confirms Saint Lucia’s role as a Caribbean cultural platform open to jazz, reggae, soca, gospel, R&B, afrobeats and the visual arts.
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.
Earth Day: April 22 offers a particularly apt entry point for re-examining the Caribbean through its major protected sites. Recognized by the UN as International Mother Earth Day, this date invites us to look at landscapes in a different way: not as a mere backdrop, but as spaces where biodiversity, human memory, ancient knowledge and the power relationships inherited from history intersect.
In the region, Earth Day takes on a special resonance, as several UNESCO-inscribed sites demonstrate an often underestimated truth: in the Caribbean, the mountain, the forest, the reef or the volcano preserve concrete traces of the past. Some sites tell of the struggle for freedom, others of the geological formation of the islands, still others of the fragile balance between marine environments, human activities and the protection of life itself.
In Jamaica, the forest has protected a history of resistance
For Earth Day, the Blue and John Crow Mountains are perhaps the strongest example of this alliance between nature and history. Classified by UNESCO as a mixed property, this vast 26,252-hectare complex of tropical mountain forest is located in eastern Jamaica, within two ranges that cover around 20% of the island’s surface. The site’s interest lies in its remarkable biodiversity, with numerous habitats and a high level of endemism, but also in its role as a refuge.
UNESCO recalls that these mountains were first home to Taino people fleeing slavery, then to Maroon communities, who established trails, hideaways, observation points and settlements linked to the Nanny Town Heritage Route. Here, the rugged terrain has offered much more than shelter: it has enabled the organization of a self-sufficient life and the transmission of a cultural heritage that is still very much alive.
In Belize, the reef tells the long ecological story of the Caribbean Sea
In Belize, Earth Day brings us back to another kind of memory: that of the marine world. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, inscribed in 1996, comprises seven protected areas and forms the largest reef complex in the Atlantic-Caribbean region;UNESCO also describes it as the second largest reef system in the world. This listing protects a complex of barrier reefs, atolls, mangroves, cays, lagoons and estuaries.
This underwater landscape tells the story of the reefs’ evolution over time, but it also sheds light on some very topical issues for the Caribbean: coastal protection, the survival of endangered species such as the West Indian manatee and several sea turtles, and the dependence of many island economies on the health of the marine environment. Through this site, the sea emerges as a major ecological archive for the region.
In Saint Lucia, the Pitons link geology, Amerindian presence and visual identity
From an Earth Day perspective, the Pitons Management Area offers a densely-packed view of Saint Lucia. Inscribed in 2004, this 2,909-hectare site combines land and sea around the famous Gros Piton and Petit Piton, which rise to 770 and 743 meters respectively.UNESCO emphasizes the geological richness of the site, marked by the Soufrière volcanic center, fumaroles, hot springs and fringing reefs covering more than 60% of the marine area.
The site also preserves petroglyphs and various objects linked to the Amerindian presence in the Caribbean. In other words, this emblematic St. Lucia landscape bears the imprint of both the Earth’s internal forces and early human occupation.
In Dominica, volcanic soil recalls the founding power of the islands
For Earth Day, Morne Trois Pitons National Park provides a clear understanding of the geological matrix of the Eastern Caribbean. The park, inscribed by UNESCO in 1997, covers 6,857 hectares, or around 9% of Dominica’s territory. UNESCO describes a landscape of steep volcanoes, deep canyons, natural lakes, rivers, hot springs and active areas such as the Valley of Desolation.
Morne Trois Pitons itself is one of the park’s five active volcanic centers. On a regional scale, this site is a reminder that many of the Caribbean islands were built on a constant dialogue between the beauty of the landscape, natural hazards, water resources and the fertility of the land. The memory of the region can be read as much in the rock as in the vegetation.
What these heritages say about the Caribbean today
Earth Day is a reminder that a sound heritage policy in the Caribbean is as much about culture as it is about the environment. Protecting these places means preserving stories of resistance, knowledge linked to natural environments, powerful identity markers and ecosystems on which tourism, fishing, water resources and coastal equilibrium depend. For today’s reader, the stakes are clear: Caribbean World Heritage helps us understand how the region was formed, how its societies have adapted, and why conservation remains a long-term issue.
In the Caribbean, Earth Day takes on a special depth. From the mountains of Jamaica to the reefs of Belize, from the Pitons of Saint Lucia to the volcanic landscapes of Dominica, nature speaks of history, freedom, settlement, ecological fragility and collective responsibility. It is precisely this link between territory and memory that gives these UNESCO sites a significance that goes far beyond their beauty.
April 22 is International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN. This date provides a relevant framework for talking about UNESCO sites in the Caribbean, as many of them combine the protection of biodiversity, the memory of peoples and an understanding of the formation of islands.
The Blue and John Crow Mountains in Jamaica are a particularly strong example. UNESCO highlights both the ecological importance of the massif and its historical role as a refuge for Taino and then Maroon peoples, with material traces associated with the Nanny Town Heritage Route.
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System shows that the Caribbean’s heritage also extends to the sea. Registered in 1996, it comprises seven protected areas and represents the largest reef complex in the Atlantic-Caribbean region. Its protection covers habitats, endangered species and the ecological balance of coastal areas.
The Pitons Management Area allows visitors to explore the geology, ancient occupation and richness of the coastal environment. UNESCO mentions two volcanic pitons, fumaroles, hot springs and coral reefs, as well as petroglyphs and objects linked to the Amerindian presence in the Caribbean.
Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a powerful reminder that the Caribbean is a region shaped by volcanism. The park covers around 9% of the Dominican territory, and brings together steep volcanoes, canyons, lakes, hot springs and areas of geothermal activity. It helps us understand how geology has shaped the landscapes, resources and living conditions of many of the region’s islands.
On March 25, 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that marks a milestone in the international recognition of the history of slavery. The text qualifies the transatlantic African slave trade and racialized chattel slavery as the most serious crime against humanity. The text, sponsored by Ghana, was adopted by 123 votes in favor, with 3 against and 52 abstentions. Opponents included the USA, Argentina and Israel, while several European countries, including the UK, chose to abstain. Behind this strong wording is more than just a symbolic gesture. For the Caribbean, this decision is part of a historical and political continuity, echoing decades of work, demands and struggles for fairer recognition of this memory.
Recognition that redefines the international debate
By classifying slavery as a major crime against humanity, the UN has crossed a threshold rarely reached by international bodies. This recognition does not create an immediate legal obligation for States, but it profoundly alters the framework of global debate. It introduces a more explicit reading of history, in which the transatlantic slave trade is no longer merely evoked as a past tragedy, but as a crime whose consequences continue into the present.
This evolution in international discourse is not insignificant. It comes at a time when issues relating to colonial legacies, structural discrimination and historical inequalities are taking on increasing importance in public debate. By taking a clear stance, the UN is helping to legitimize the analyses long put forward by Caribbean researchers, institutions and cultural players, who stress that the history of slavery cannot be dissociated from contemporary realities.
The Caribbean, at the heart of history and current issues
For the Caribbean territories, this decision is more than just a historical observation. It has a direct bearing on their very construction. The transatlantic slave trade and the slave system have shaped the region’s economies, societies, languages and cultures. Plantations, land structures, social hierarchies and even some of today’s economic dynamics have their roots in this period.
Recognition by the UN thus confirms a reality that the Caribbean has never ceased to bear: that of a founding history, the effects of which are still visible. It also repositioned the region in the global narrative, not as a peripheral space, but as a central territory in the understanding of the great historical transformations linked to slavery and colonization.
This international recognition also offers a strategic opportunity. It strengthens the capacity of Caribbean territories to influence global discussions on memory, justice and reparations. It gives added legitimacy to the steps already taken by certain regional institutions, which have been working for several years to structure concrete proposals on these issues.
Reparations and memorial justice: a new dynamic
One of the most important effects of this resolution concerns the issue of reparations. By classifying slavery as a major crime against humanity, the UN opens the way to more structured discussions on forms of restorative justice. This includes avenues such as official apologies, the restitution of cultural property, the funding of educational programs and public policies aimed at correcting the inequalities inherited from this history.
In the Caribbean, these issues are not new. They are part of a long-standing process, driven in particular by regional initiatives seeking recognition of the lasting consequences of slavery. The UN decision does not create a binding framework, but it changes the balance of power by giving international support to these claims.
It can also encourage better structuring of remembrance policies. In many regions, the transmission of the history of slavery remains uneven and sometimes fragmented, despite the fact that it is central to understanding today’s societies. UN recognition can serve as a lever to strengthen educational programs, support research and enhance the value of places of remembrance.
Recognition that also reveals tensions
The vote on this resolution highlights persistent differences within the international community. While a large majority of States supported the text, certain oppositions and abstentions show that the issue remains sensitive. The reservations expressed relate in particular to the political and historical implications of this qualification, as well as to the consequences it could have in terms of reparations.
These tensions are a reminder that there is no absolute consensus on the recognition of slavery as a major crime. It remains a subject of debate, where diplomatic stakes, historical responsibilities and economic considerations are intertwined. For the Caribbean, this situation confirms that the battle for full recognition of this history is still ongoing.
Rethinking the Caribbean narrative on a global scale
Beyond the political stakes, this decision offers an opportunity to redefine the way the Caribbean is told internationally. All too often reduced to a simplified tourist or cultural image, the region has a complex history marked by violence, resistance and reconstruction.
The UN’s position puts this history back at the center of the global narrative. It invites us to consider the Caribbean not only as a space of memory, but also as a place of intellectual and political production. The region’s reflections on slavery, colonization and their consequences continue to inform contemporary debates far beyond its borders.
For a medium like RichèsKarayib, this news underlines the importance of offering a demanding, contextualized reading of the Caribbean territories. It reminds us that the region’s culture, history and economic issues are deeply intertwined, and must be approached in their entirety.
Turning recognition into leverage
The real impact of this resolution will depend on the actions that follow. International recognition is a step forward, but it is not enough on its own to bring about concrete change. For the Caribbean, the challenge now is to transform this decision into a lever for action, by strengthening cooperation, structuring public policies and consolidating research and transmission initiatives.
The UN has set an important milestone by classifying the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as a major crime against humanity. For the Caribbean territories, this recognition represents an opportunity to advance essential debates linked to their history and development. It opens up a new way of thinking about international relations, by fully integrating the legacies of the past into the construction of the present and the future.
The UN decision adopted on March 25, 2026 recognizes the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as the most serious crime against humanity. It aims to affirm the historical gravity of these events, and to encourage international discussions on remembrance, justice and reparations.
No, this UN resolution is not legally binding. It does not impose direct obligations, but it does have a strong political and symbolic impact that can influence international discussions and public policy.
The Caribbean has been deeply marked by the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. This recognition by the UN validates a historical reading that has long been held in the region, and can support initiatives linked to remembrance, education and reparations.
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie has published a figure that reshuffles the deck in the global language debate: 396 million people now speak French. With this total, the French language in the world rises from 5th to 4th position behind English, Mandarin and Spanish, but ahead of standard Arabic. This is more than just an announcement. It marks a fundamental change in the place of French on the international stage, and confirms that the language continues to make headway in strategic areas such as education, economic exchanges, digital technology and cultural mobility.
Global progress changes the narrative around French
For years, French has often been portrayed as a language of great influence, but weakened in the face of global competition. The OIF’s 2026 report introduces an important corrective. The French language in the world is not only holding its own: it is gaining ground in terms of the number of speakers and international visibility. Moving up to 4th place in the world ranking not only gives it strong symbolic weight, but also political, educational and economic weight. A language that rises in the world rankings is not simply a language handed down by heritage; it’s a language that continues to be learned, used, relayed and invested in.
French should not be analyzed solely as an institutional or diplomatic language. It remains a language of concrete circulation, spoken, taught, worked on and adapted to very different contexts. The French language in the world today is driven by demographic and social realities that go far beyond the European framework, and this is precisely what the 2026 report highlights.
396 million speakers: what this figure really means
The figure of 396 million must be read with care. It refers to a linguistic community spread over the five continents and not a homogeneous block. This means that French continues to exist in a wide variety of contexts: as a mother tongue for some, as a language of instruction for others, and as an administrative, professional, cultural or communication language in multilingual societies. This diversity is at the heart of the French language in the world as it really exists in 2026.
This fact also has a strong editorial impact. It reminds us that we can no longer speak of French as a language confined to a single territory or a single national history. French circulates in very different spaces, with multiple uses and its own dynamics. It is this plurality that is its strength today. So the figure of 396 million doesn’t just tell of an increase; it tells of the geographical, social and cultural scope of a global language.
Africa, the decisive center of gravity for the French language worldwide
One of the key findings of the 2026 report is the importance of the African continent. The OIF states that 65% of French speakers live in Africa. This proportion alone is enough to shift the focus. The future of French is no longer being played out primarily in the areas where it has long concentrated its institutional prestige; it is now being played out in young, numerous, urban, creative African societies, with profound educational and economic issues at stake.
This reality forces us to rethink old ideas. Talking about french language around the world without acknowledging the central role of Africa would be to miss the main point of the report. The growth of the French language today depends not only on powerful demographic dynamics, but also on the ability of African education systems, media, cultural industries and French-speaking economies to maintain and expand the use of French. The report’s focus on Africa is not a footnote; it is a structuring element.
A language that's also moving forward through schools, digital technology and business
The 2026 report points out that French is the 2nd most widely-learned foreign language in the world, with almost 170 million learners, confirming its importance in education systems and its appeal well beyond the French-speaking world… It is also listed as 4th most popular language on the Internet and 3rd language of business and economics. These factors give substance to the figure of 396 million: they show that the growth of the French language is based not only on demographics, but also on learning, digital uses and the professional value of the language.
This data is extremely important today. A world language doesn’t just exist through its past or its official status. It also exists through its ability to remain visible in search engines, digital content, educational networks, platforms, commercial exchanges and working environments. The report therefore suggests a more comprehensive reading: the The French language continues to be of practical use around the world, which helps to explain its resilience and progress.
2050: why do IOF projections already count today?
The report’s other strong point is its projection for the coming decades. The IOF estimates that, on current trends, French could be spoken by 590 million people in 2050 including 9 out of 10 in Africa. This is not a mechanical certainty, but a projection based on observed dynamics. It highlights a central issue: the future progress of French will depend less on symbolic rhetoric than on policies for education, training, transmission and access to content.
In other words, the future of the French language in the world is more than just a flattering ranking. It depends on very concrete decisions: quality of teaching, presence of French in career paths, adaptation to digital uses, cultural and media production, the place of the language in student and economic mobility. The 2026 report therefore gives a positive signal, but this signal remains linked to conditions of consolidation.
What the 396 million figure really says
TheOIF ‘s 2026 report not only delivers an impressive total. It redraws the mental map of contemporary Francophonie. 396 million people speak French; the language is moving up the world rankings; its African roots are strengthening; and its weight in learning, the digital world and the economy remains significant. Taken together, these elements provide a more accurate picture of the French in the world: an international language, diverse, in transformation, and still capable of widening its scope.
For a media outlet, a cultural player, an educational institution or a company, this observation has a clear consequence: French should not be seen as a language of retreat, but as a language of the future, provided it is considered in all its geographical and social diversity. This is where the real interest of the 2026 report lies: behind the number lies a reshaping of the global linguistic landscape.
According to the report The French language in the world 2026 published by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, 396 million people around the world now speak French. This is an important figure, as it shows that the French language retains real international weight and continues to make inroads into the global linguistic landscape. It is not just a language inherited from a shared history between several countries, but one that is still transmitted, learned and used in very different educational, economic, administrative and cultural contexts.
According to the OIF, French is now the 4th most widely spoken language in the world, behind English, Chinese and Spanish, and ahead of standard Arabic. This change in rank is significant, as it reflects a concrete evolution in the place of French on a global scale. This ranking reinforces the idea that French remains a major international language, present in many fields, and that it should no longer be considered as a purely institutional or heritage language.
The growth of the French language can be explained by a number of complementary factors. Firstly, the language benefits from a strong demographic dynamic in several French-speaking countries, particularly in Africa, where the majority of French speakers now live. Secondly, French continues to play an important role in education, international cooperation and certain economic sectors. The OIF also points out that French remains the 2nd most widely-learned foreign language, with almost 170 million learners, showing that it continues to attract people far beyond the territories where it is an official language.
From March 16 to 21, 2026, 35 programmers from mainland France, Quebec and the French overseas territories are in Martinique to meet with local artists and companies. Organized by the Office National de Diffusion Artistique (ONDA), this week of meetings is a concrete opportunity for Martinique’s performing arts professionals to forge lasting links with national and international venues.
An unprecedented delegation to promote the arts in Martinique
Thirty-five performing arts professionals made the trip to Martinique this week. Among them were directors of national stages, festival programmers including the co-programmer of the Avignon Festival, heads of national drama centers, and a director of a festival for young audiences from Montreal. A composition that testifies to the growing interest of the French network in Martinique’s creations.
"For the first time, there are people from all the overseas territories in the delegation. There are people from Guadeloupe, Reunion and Guyana. And a programmer from Quebec as well, so we know it's not that far away."
The delegation was drawn up in collaboration with the Direction des Affaires Culturelles (DAC), Tropiques Atrium Scène Nationale, Korzémo L’Envol, Les Coulisses de Saint-Esprit and other local structures. This territorial network ensures that the encounters reflect the true diversity of the island’s artistic ecosystem.
Multiple disciplines, professional artists
Encounters cover the full range of performing arts: theater, dance, circus, creative music (improvised jazz, contemporary music), spoken word and visual arts. This last dimension is a specific feature of Martinique, recognized by the delegation itself: several of the venues represented have galleries and are interested in visual artists.
The artists we met this week are professionals, some of them very young and still emerging, but all part of a contemporary creative process. ONDA does not support the reproduction of traditional forms per se, but is interested in approaches that work with tradition to take it elsewhere.
"We tend to encourage contemporary approaches. Sometimes tradition is very interesting when it's not just about reproducing gestures, but also taking you somewhere."
Around fifty artists from Martinique are presented over the course of the week, in a variety of formats: indoor shows, presentations strolling around the territory, work tables. Some don’t have the space to show a full show, but are able to present their work directly to programmers, which, at this level of the network, is already a decisive step.
Young audiences, a strategic focus for artistic dissemination in Martinique
Among the professionals present this week is Estelle Picot-Derquenne, Director of Scènes d’enfance, ASSITEJ France, the national association that federates players in artistic creation for children and young people. Her presence in Martinique illustrates one of the delegation’s key areas of focus: young audiences, already highlighted by the visit of a Quebec programmer specializing in youth festivals.
"I coordinate regional networks that bring together programmers and artists around issues of cooperation, distribution and circulation of works and artists."
It also supports the Rézo Filibo network for young audiences in Martinique, with an entire day devoted to it on Monday March 23, featuring meetings between professionals, elected representatives, journalists and institutions. The aim is clear: to make life easier for artists and promoters who choose to work with young audiences, by creating the conditions for a lasting relationship between local players and the national network.
Artistic dissemination: what these encounters produce in concrete terms
Artistic distribution is built up, often slowly, through the accumulation of links and trust. Marie-Pia Bureau is clear on this point: with each edition of these traveling meetings, organized every four years in each of the French overseas territories, two or three artists find new long-term partners in France.
"I'm thinking of Véronique Kanor, for example, who is now an associate artist at the scène nationale de Chambéry and whose productions have been supported for three years. She's the one who comes to me, but there are others like her every time."
These links can take many forms: a programming date, an invitation to a residency, a co-production. The logic is often one of progressive loyalty: first we welcome, then we co-produce, then we program. Johan Hillel Hamel, Director of the DAC Martinique, stresses the economic importance of these openings for local companies.
"The possibility of distribution outside Martinique is absolutely fundamental to a company's economy, but also to the diversity of audiences it will reach and the feedback it will have on the artists' work."
A changing gaze: the end of exoticism
Twenty years ago, being programmed as a Martinican artist in France often meant being associated with a folkloric image: music, rum, sunshine. This is no longer the dominant image. The programmers who make the trip to Martinique aren’t looking for exoticism: they’re looking for singular voices, artistic points of view that broaden their own understanding of French history and society.
"We try to listen to singular voices that look at our entire history from a different angle, and share it on set - not necessarily for overseas populations, but for all French people."
It’s a significant cultural shift. For Martinican artists, it opens up a space for artistic dissemination that is no longer based on the need to conform to an expected image, but on the singularity of their approach.
A week to build bonds that last
The Rencontre Itinéraire ONDA in Martinique runs from March 16 to 21, 2026. It is a dense sequence: performances at Tropiques Atrium, presentations at Korzémo L’Envol (Ducos), Les Coulisses in Saint-Esprit, Espace A’zwel in Schoelcher, Campus Caraïbéen des Arts, Terre d’Arts and ETC Caraïbes in Fort-de-France. A performance laboratory closes the week at Savane des Pétrifications, in the presence of Annabel Guérédrat and other Martinican performance artists.
For the island’s artists and cultural professionals, this week is less a one-off event than a starting point. The links forged here can lead to tours, residencies and co-productions. ONDA is committed to supporting the resulting projects, provided they are the result of a genuine, long-term encounter.
ONDA (Office National de Diffusion Artistique) is a public operator that supports the distribution of performing arts in France. It is a signatory to the Pacte de Visibilité des Artistes Ultramarins (Visibility Pact for Overseas Artists) with the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Overseas France. Its role is to strengthen links between artists from the French overseas territories and programmers in France, notably through touring meetings organized every four years in each territory.
ONDA events in Martinique cover theater, dance, circus, creative music (improvised jazz, contemporary music), spoken word and visual arts. ONDA mainly supports contemporary artistic approaches, including those that reinterpret traditional forms in innovative ways.
The meetings enable artists to present their work directly to programmers from national stages, national drama centers and festivals. Collaborations may result: programming dates, residencies, co-productions. ONDA then supports the projects that come to fruition. By way of example, Véronique Canor is currently associate artist at the Chambéry national stage, a link born of this type of encounter.
On Saturday March 14, 2026, the Hotel de l’Assemblée de la CTM in Fort-de-France hosted the 6th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise (CBC). Organized by Isanaja Consulting in partnership with Martinique Développement this economic morning brought together Caribbean entrepreneurs from Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia and Antigua & Barbuda to work towards a common goal: to turn the Caribbean into a concrete area of economic cooperation.
A business cruise, a pioneering concept in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Business Cruise is no ordinary networking event. Created in 2019 by Isabelle Adelis Flandrina, founder and CEO of Isanaja Consulting, the Caribbean Business Cruise is presented as the first Caribbean business cruise. The concept is to enable business leaders to meet aboard a ship, away from busy schedules, to build real business relationships.
"Together with my husband, we created the first edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise in 2019, which was originally founded to enable business leaders to go on mission with their families."
In six years, Caribbean Business Cruise has evolved to include an increasingly structured economic dimension. Caribbean Business Cruise 6 now boasts a partnership agreement with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), making Isanaja Consulting one of the few private French companies to hold this partnership, according to its founder. This recognition opens up access to an English- and Spanish-speaking network that Martinique is still struggling to exploit to the full.
Martinique as a host and investment destination
The Caribbean Business Cruise kicked off with a speech by Alexandre Ventadour, territorial councillor at the Martinique Assembly and President of Martinique Développement. His message: Martinique isn’t waiting for investors, it’s getting ready to receive them.
"Our Martinican companies are here to showcase what Martinique can do best."
Yann Yala also of Martinique Développement, gave an economic overview of the region: GDP in excess of €10 billion, with growth of around 1%, per capita GDP of €29,000, a population of 356,000, and a trade balance that is largely in deficit, with a coverage rate of around 20% by 2025. Three sectors have been identified as priority development drivers: tourism (6% of GDP, €600 million in annual sales), renewable energies and the digital economy.
With this diagnosis in mind, the question of export support became central. Martinique Développement focuses on attractiveness and installation support, while the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIM) has taken over responsibility for exports, notably via the Caribbean Trade Facilitation Team. Stéphanie Pujar, project manager for Caribbean cooperation at the CCIM, presented this bilingual (French and English) program, which supports companies from Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana in their export development.
"International business support is truly a tailor-made service. Every company has its own project, so every company also has services that suit it."
French companies can benefit from grants from the French Ministry for Overseas France covering between 50% and 75% of the cost of international assignments. It’s a little-known lever that’s regularly highlighted at this type of event.
Caribbean entrepreneurs in search of partners
Caribbean Business Cruise 6 gave a dozen companies the opportunity to present themselves in two minutes, before getting down to B2B business. A deliberately tight format to get straight to the point.
Among the English-speaking participants, Celia Samuel representative of Go To Enterprise (Antigua & Barbuda) and board member of the Antigua Chamber of Commerce, was back for the second year running. She distributes wholesale food products: fruits, vegetables, meats, agro-processed products, from producer to end customer, and is looking for manufacturers wishing to export to the English-speaking Caribbean.
"I am passionate about working with other Caribbean islands and other Caribbean companies. Time waits for no man. So if you see an opportunity, jump on it. "
"I'm passionate about working with other Caribbean islands and companies. Time waits for no one. So if you see an opportunity, seize it."
Her testimonial is a concrete illustration of the value of the Caribbean Business Cruise: during the previous edition, she forged a relationship with a producer in Grenada, and is now the exclusive distributor of his brand in Antigua, with prospects for expansion to other islands.
Chantal Alexander, General Manager of Abby’s Exotic Blends (Saint Lucia), was presenting a range of preservative-free agro-processed products based on plantain, breadfruit, sweet potato and green banana, potato chips, confectionery and rum punches, and was looking for distributors or production partners.
On the Guadeloupe side, the sectors represented covered a broad spectrum: cybersecurity with CyberCorsair (Jérémy Benallal) water and renewable energy engineering with Prest’eau Caraïbes (Luigi Apoari), management consulting with Auxiliary Being (Franciane Morvany), software and digital training with ISP Informatique and cultural and tourist development with the association Fout Gwada Bel (Leslie Morvany). Guadeloupe’s Chambre des Métiers de l’Artisanat was also on hand to promote its Artisans Pays de Guadeloupe label and explore synergies with its counterparts in Martinique.
A mindset to build
Isabelle Adelis Flandrina was keen to point out a reality with which the room is familiar: French-speaking and English-speaking entrepreneurs don’t arrive at the same meetings with the same frame of mind.
On the English side, when they go there, they go there to do business. Clearly, if they come to meet you, it's to find out if you can meet their demand."
This difference in entrepreneurial culture runs like a thread through the successive CBCs. This year, the Martinique and Caribbean delegations were more cautious than expected: the founder refers in particular to the Caribbean geopolitical context linked to US policies and its impact on regional business dynamics. A Haitian delegation, initially scheduled, was unable to join the event for logistical reasons.
Despite these absences, the Caribbean Business Cruise 2026 confirmed the usefulness of these regional meetings. The B2B exchanges that followed the presentations, in the Assembly hall, materialized what the CBC seeks to provoke: real connections between players who, geographically close, do not spontaneously cross paths.
Digicel Business a partner of the event, emphasized through the voice of its Administrative and Financial Director René Klock the importance of this type of initiative in strengthening the regional economic fabric around Caribbean VSEs and SMEs.
The 7th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise is already on the cards, with organizers hoping for a larger Martinique delegation on board.
The Caribbean Business Cruise (CBC) is the first Caribbean business cruise, created in 2019 by Isanaja Consulting. Each year, it brings together business leaders from all over the Caribbean – French, English and Spanish speakers – for B2B exchanges and regional partnership opportunities. The 6th edition was held on March 14, 2026 in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Martinique boasts a GDP of over 10 billion euros, a largely service-based economy and identified growth sectors: tourism, renewable energies and digital technology. Martinique Développement and the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry offer tailor-made support for setting up and exporting, with grants covering 50-75% of the costs of international missions for French companies.
The 6th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise in Fort-de-France brought together companies in five sectors: agro-processing (Abby’s Exotic Blends, Saint Lucia), cybersecurity (CyberCorsaire, Guadeloupe), water and environmental engineering (Prest’eau Caraïbes, Guadeloupe), distribution and international trade (Go To Enterprise, Antigua), and business training and support.
The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation marks an important step in the evolution of tourism policies in the Caribbean. At the ITB Berlin 2026 international trade fair, the region’s tourism leaders confirmed that they would strengthen their cooperation to support a more sustainable tourism model, more resilient to climate change and more focused on local communities.
In a region where the economy is heavily dependent on tourism, climate change is no longer an abstract issue. The effects of global warming, the intensification of weather phenomena and the erosion of coastal ecosystems now represent immediate challenges for many island territories. It is against this backdrop that the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation takes on a strategic dimension. The objective is clear: to transform climate commitments into concrete actions capable of supporting the economic and social future of Caribbean destinations.
ITB Berlin, a strategic venue for the voice of the Caribbean
Every year, ITB Berlin brings together the world’s key tourism players: ministries, international organizations, airlines, destinations and industry experts. For the Caribbean, this event is an essential platform for recalling a reality that is often underestimated on an international scale: small island states are among the territories most exposed to the effects of climate change.
At a session devoted to the gap between climate risks and adaptation solutions in tourism, the Secretary General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Dona Regis-Prosper, highlighted the region’s real-life experience. The devastating hurricanes that regularly hit the Caribbean, rising sea levels and increasing pressure on marine ecosystems have had a profound impact on the territories. Today, this first-hand experience is a driving force for rethinking the region’s tourism strategies. The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation is precisely in line with this dynamic of transformation.
Moving from climate talk to concrete solutions
At the heart of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation lies one overriding conviction: climate strategies must now go beyond declarations of intent. Caribbean destinations already have numerous studies, scientific data and prospective scenarios on climate risks. However, a persistent challenge remains: transforming this information into genuinely funded and operational projects.
This is one of the points raised by Narendra Ramgulam, Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism at the Caribbean Tourism Organization. According to him, the region has no shortage of ideas and analyses, but the concrete implementation of projects is often hampered by a lack of access to funding. In this context, the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation aims to bridge the gap between strategic planning and real action on the ground.
A tourism model focused on local communities
One of the major thrusts of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation concerns the role of local populations in tourism development. In many Caribbean destinations, the economic benefits of tourism sometimes remain concentrated in certain segments of the industry. The new cooperation framework aims to foster a more inclusive approach in which tourism projects generate direct benefits for communities.
This vision also implies a strengthening of local skills in sustainable tourism professions, as well as increased support for economic initiatives that enhance the region’s natural and cultural resources. This approach is in line with a global trend in the tourism sector. Today’s travelers are increasingly interested in responsible, authentic experiences that are closely linked to the realities of the areas they visit.
Caribbean tourism faces structural transformation
The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation comes at a pivotal time for the Caribbean tourism industry. Several profound transformations are redefining the future of the sector. The intensification of extreme climatic phenomena, the gradual weakening of coral reefs, the erosion of certain beaches and the evolution of travelers’ expectations in terms of sustainability are gradually changing the balance of regional tourism.
These elements are not just about the environment. They directly influence the tourism experience, the competitiveness of destinations and the livelihoods of many local populations. Against this backdrop, strengthening the resilience of Caribbean tourism is becoming as much an economic priority as an environmental one.
International cooperation to strengthen resilience
The renewal of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation formalizes a strengthened collaboration between two organizations committed to the transformation of global tourism. The Travel Foundation has been working for several years on initiatives to make tourist destinations more sustainable, notably through climate planning, tourism flow management and ecosystem protection.
For its part, the Caribbean Tourism Organization represents the tourism interests of many of the region’s territories and plays a central role in coordinating regional policies. By combining their expertise, the two institutions aim to develop tools and strategies that will enable Caribbean destinations to better anticipate climate risks, while maintaining their attractiveness to tourists.
A regional vision for the future of Caribbean tourism
Beyond technical cooperation, the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation is also part of a broader vision: that of a coordinated regional approach to sustainable tourism. The Caribbean shares many common realities. The economies of many territories rely heavily on tourism, the islands remain particularly exposed to climatic risks, and the region boasts an exceptional natural and cultural heritage.
In view of these common characteristics, regional cooperation appears to be an essential lever for developing solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of island destinations. This approach is also in line with the ambitions of the CTO Reimagine Plan, a strategy that aims to reposition Caribbean tourism around sustainability, innovation and resilience.
The Caribbean, a global laboratory for sustainable tourism
Through the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation, the Caribbean is also seeking to assert its role in international debates on the future of tourism. The challenges facing the region today could foreshadow those that other tourist destinations will have to face in the coming decades. From this perspective, the Caribbean can become a veritable laboratory of innovation for climate-resilient tourism strategies, sustainable management of island destinations and the integration of communities into the tourism economy.
The stakes involved in the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation extend far beyond regional borders. The solutions developed in the Caribbean could inspire other regions of the world facing similar challenges.
The partnership aims to develop concrete strategies to make Caribbean tourism more resilient in the face of climate change, while supporting local communities.
Caribbean destinations have to cope with intensifying hurricanes, beach erosion, coral reef degradation and rising sea levels.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization aims to position the Caribbean as a sustainable destination, capable of reconciling tourism development, ecosystem protection and benefits for local populations.
On the southwest coast of Saint Lucia, near the town of Soufrière, Anse Chastanet is one of the most remarkable sites on the Caribbean coast. This bay, bordered by tropical hills and facing the Caribbean Sea, combines a preserved natural environment, a discreet historical heritage and one of the island’s most accessible reefs. Today, Anse Chastanet is an ideal vantage point for travellers with a keen eye for the landscape and marine life of the Caribbean islands.
A natural bay in the heart of Saint Lucia's volcanic coastline
Anse Chastanet lies a few kilometers north of Soufrière, on a stretch of coast dominated by volcanic relief and tropical forests. The landscape is characteristic of this part of Saint Lucia: steep hills covered in vegetation, a deep sea close to shore and, offshore, the silhouette of the Pitons, two volcanic mountains listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bay itself is relatively protected, which explains the clarity of the waters and the richness of the marine ecosystem. The sand here is of volcanic origin and often has a dark hue, typical of many beaches in the south of the island. This geological configuration is a reminder that Saint Lucia is first and foremost a volcanic island, where sea and mountain coexist within a very short distance.
A reef accessible directly from the beach
One of the things that sets Anse Chastanet apart in the Caribbean is its close proximity to the coral reef. Just a few meters from the shore, visitors can observe a marine zone rich in tropical fish and coral formations. The reef starts around ten meters from the water’s edge and then develops into a plateau before gradually descending to greater depths. This configuration allows snorkeling directly from the beach. Over 150 species of fish have been recorded in this area, making it one of Saint Lucia’s best-known coastal diving sites.
To protect this fragile environment, certain areas of the reef are marked to prevent boat access. This organization helps to preserve the marine fauna while ensuring safe viewing for visitors.
A beach open to the public
Although the bay is associated with a hotel establishment, Anse Chastanet beach remains open to the public. Visitors can spend the day here, swimming or snorkeling, even if they are not staying in nearby accommodation. This accessibility contributes to the site’s popularity, particularly with travelers exploring the Soufrière coast. On-site services include restaurants, a diving center and water sports facilities.
A coastal path also leads to the nearby beach of Anse Mamin, just a few minutes’ walk away. This second, more discreet bay is surrounded by the remains of an old colonial plantation.
A site marked by the history of plantations
Behind Anse Chastanet beach lie the ruins of a plantation dating back to the XVIIIᵉ century. These remains bear witness to Saint Lucia’s agricultural history, when sugar production dominated the island’s economy. Today, these traces of the past are integrated into the landscape. Trails allow visitors to explore the ancient stone structures and observe how tropical vegetation has gradually reclaimed the site.
This historical presence adds an extra dimension to the visit: Anse Chastanet is not just a beach, but also a place where colonial history, nature and tourism meet.
A bay integrated into a protected environment
The Anse Chastanet area lies at the heart of Saint Lucia’s marine reserves. These protected areas were set up to preserve the coral reefs and marine ecosystems surrounding the island. This environmental management is essential to maintain the balance between tourism and conservation of the natural environment. Nautical activities are therefore restricted, and certain areas are reserved exclusively for underwater observation.
A destination representative of the natural Caribbean
Anse Chastanet encapsulates several major characteristics of the Caribbean landscape: a sea rich in biodiversity, a dense tropical forest and a coastline shaped by volcanic activity. This combination explains why the bay attracts divers, photographers and travelers in search of an unspoilt environment. Located in one of Saint Lucia’s most spectacular regions, in the immediate vicinity of the Pitons and the mountainous relief of the island’s south, Anse Chastanet offers a clear reading of the local geography. It is a reminder that the Caribbean is not just about beaches, but also about landscapes, history and marine ecosystems.
For visitors wishing to explore Saint Lucia beyond the classic seaside resorts, Anse Chastanet is today a benchmark site, where nature, sea and heritage meet in a relatively unspoilt area.
Anse Chastanet is located on the southwest coast of Saint Lucia, near the town of Soufrière, in the Caribbean Sea.
The bay is renowned for its coral reef, accessible directly from the beach, which is home to over 150 species of fish and is one of the island’s best-known dive sites.
Yes, the beach at Anse Chastanet is open to the public, and visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling or any of the services available on site.
TeMeUm 2026 marks a new stage in the policy of supporting local biodiversity initiatives in the French overseas territories. Launched by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), this annual campaign aims to finance micro-projects undertaken by associations, small communities and managers of natural areas who are active in the field.
At a time when island ecosystems are under heavy pressure from urbanization, climate change, pollution and biodiversity erosion, this program provides financial and technical resources to transform local initiatives into concrete, measurable actions. Project leaders have until April 14, 2026 to submit their applications via a fully paperless procedure.
Since its creation in 2010, the program has supported more than 420 micro-projects in the French overseas territories, confirming its role as a structuring force in supporting local environmental dynamics.
Financing tailored to small structures
One of the major assets of TeMeUm 2026 lies in its accessibility. The program deliberately targets smaller structures, which often have difficulty accessing traditional financing. Grants awarded range from a few thousand euros to 20,000 euros and can cover up to 80% of the total budget.
Aid is paid out in a single instalment as soon as the project is launched, enabling project sponsors to get their initiatives off the ground quickly, without having to wait for lengthy administrative procedures. This approach responds to a well-known reality in the French overseas territories: local players have solid expertise, but often lack immediate financial resources.
In addition to financial support, the OFB provides technical and administrative assistance to secure the implementation of projects and promote their development on a regional scale.
Three complementary schemes to structure projects
The campaign TeMeUm 2026 campaign is built around three distinct systems, designed to meet a variety of needs.
Springboard: supporting immediate local action
The Tremplin scheme is the operational heart of the program. It supports micro-projects for the protection or restoration of biodiversity, from first experiments in ecological management to innovative pilot initiatives.
Each year, around thirty projects are co-financed for amounts of up to 15,000 euros. The actions supported cover a wide range of fields: species monitoring, restoration of natural habitats, raising public awareness, and experimentation with new ecological management methods.
Among the initiatives supported in 2025 are participatory monitoring of marine biodiversity in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a project to mobilize citizens around sustainable urban development in French Guiana, and the creation of a botanical trail in Polynesia to preserve endangered endemic flora.
Cooperation: strengthening technical skills
The Cooperation component aims to structure partnerships between biodiversity stakeholders in order to strengthen local technical capacities. With a grant of up to 20,000 euros. This scheme supports collaborative projects involving several organizations.
These cooperative ventures enable us to pool scientific expertise, improve ecological management methods and develop more coherent territorial strategies. In 2025, a wetland restoration project in Mayotte benefited from this funding following a cyclone that weakened local ecosystems.
Companionships: transmission and training in the field
The Compagnonnages program focuses on vocational training and the transmission of know-how. It enables teams from the French overseas departments and territories to spend short periods of time – one to two weeks – working within expert structures.
The OFB will cover travel, accommodation and catering expenses, up to a maximum of 5,000 euros. This format encourages direct technical exchanges and rapid skills transfers.
In 2025, environmental agents in the Indian Ocean were trained in techniques for capturing and studying chiropterans, while an international partnership studied the impact of microplastics on green turtle egg-laying sites and seabird nesting.
Simplified procedures and local support
The program TeMeUm 2026 is based on a clear commitment to administrative simplification. Applications are submitted entirely electronically via the Démarches Simplifiées platform, making it easier for organizations located far from major administrative centers to apply. Applications are examined by local juries made up of biodiversity stakeholders from each region. This organization guarantees an assessment adapted to the ecological and social realities of each overseas zone.
Support doesn’t stop at the selection stage. TeMeUm’s national teams and the OFB’s regional delegations follow project leaders through the entire process, from dossier preparation to operational implementation, evaluation and valorization of results.
A handbook detailing eligibility criteria and expected commitments is available to applicants. Two information webinars are also scheduled on March 23 and 25, 2026 to help structures prepare their bid.
A major challenge for the Caribbean and Indian Ocean territories
For the French overseas territories, biodiversity is both an exceptional natural heritage and a factor of economic, cultural and tourist resilience. The marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Caribbean, French Guiana and the Indian Ocean play a central role in protecting against climate risks, ensuring food security and enhancing the attractiveness of these territories. Against this backdrop, TeMeUm 2026 represents a strategic opportunity for local players wishing to develop concrete projects, whether to restore natural habitats, protect endemic species or raise public awareness.
The program also contributes to structuring a network of committed players, encouraging the circulation of skills and the sharing of experience between overseas territories.
Local mobilization for sustainable biodiversity
By renewing its call for projects, the OFB confirms the importance of a territorial approach to biodiversity, based on the expertise of local players. TeMeUm 2026 is more than just a funding scheme: it’s part of a global strategy designed to strengthen the capacity for action of structures in the French overseas territories, and to support initiatives tailored to the ecological realities of each territory. Applications for the three schemes – Tremplin, Coopération and Compagnonnages – are open until April 14, 2026. Project sponsors can contact their local OFB delegation or the TeMeUm team directly for further information.
Through this new campaign, TeMeUm 2026 confirms that preserving biodiversity in the French overseas territories depends above all on the commitment of local players, who are capable of transforming targeted initiatives into sustainable solutions for their territories.
TeMeUm 2026 is a program run by the French Biodiversity Office to finance micro-projects to protect and restore biodiversity in the French overseas territories. It supports associations, local authorities and natural area managers working in the field.
Associations, small local authorities, public establishments and managers of natural areas in the French overseas territories are all eligible to apply. The program is designed to be accessible to small structures with concrete projects in favor of biodiversity.
Applications for the Tremplin, Coopération and Compagnonnages schemes are open until April 14, 2026. Applications must be submitted online via the Simplified Procedures platform of the French Biodiversity Office.
