Carnival at the Museum: A Climate Fete

Thursday, February 19, 2026

7-10 pm

Women dressed in colorful costumes during Carnival. Brightly colored feathers and plumes comprise their headresses.
Venus Major/Unsplash
Grab a drink, savor Caribbean bites, and dance under the Blue Whale with beats from Hot 97’s DJ Young Chow.

Join us to browse a pop-up marketplace featuring local makers, then explore the Museum after-hours, visit the Invisible Worlds immersive experience, and more during a high-energy celebration of Caribbean culture, from Barbados to Trinidad to New York City.

In collaboration with I Am CaribBeing and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI), the evening honors the Caribbean legacy of resilience, resistance, and joy.

At this event, you’ll:

  • Taste curried patties and coco bread from chef Kwame Onwuachi, of acclaimed New York City restaurant Tatiana, as well as doubles from Trinciti and currant rolls from Allan’s Bakery.
  • Feel the energy as performers, including Mas dancers and Moko Jumbies, transform the space into a living expression of Caribbean pride.
  • Experience an installation of a grand Mas costume by Jamaican artist Annaixe, who creates masterpieces from found and sustainable materials and pays homage to the resilience of her home country, Jamaica, as it rebuilds from Hurricane Melissa.
  • Kick off #BlackClimateWeek with a conversation about how extreme weather and the intensifying heat island effect are reshaping life across Caribbean islands and across New York City. Moderated by Ana Porzecanski, director of the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity & Conservation, the panel will feature Pepukaye Bardouille, director of Bridgetown Initiative and special adviser on climate resilience in Barbados Prime Minister’s Office, Nyiesha Mallet, UPROSE Climate Justice Organizer, and Jauna Vitale, chair of NYU’s Environmental Racial Justice Network and assistant director of NYU’s Office of Sustainability. Opening remarks by Sabine Blaizin, CCCADI’s deputy director and head of programs.

Lightning Lectures with Caribbeans for Climate 
ThemeState of Caribbean Climate Change: Air, Seas, and Society

  • 7:15 pm: “Air” with Gabriel Rios, Ph.D. candidate, Princeton University 
  • 7:30 pm: “Seas” with Sheila Cáceres Ferreras, research staff assistant, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 
  • 7:45 pm: “Society 1” with Erin Friedman, assistant professor, Hunter College, and adjunct assistant professor, CUNY Graduate Center
  • 8 pm: “Society 2” with Kevon Rhiney, associate professor at Rutgers

A portion of this program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.