Colour Me Red Marks 20 Years with an ‘Encore’ as Machel Montano and Skinny Fabulous Return

One of Saint Lucia’s biggest carnival events, Colour Me Red (CMR), is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a fitting theme – “Encore.” This year’s milestone edition will reunite returning favourites and soca legends as thousands of revellers prepare to descend on the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground for one of the island’s premier carnival concert on Friday 17th of July 2026.

At the official media launch, organisers explained that the “Encore” theme was chosen to celebrate the artists who have helped shape Colour Me Red over the past two decades, welcoming many familiar faces back to the stage.

Among those returning are Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Montano and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Skinny Fabulous, two of soca’s biggest names whose history with Colour Me Red stretches back many years.

Skinny Fabulous reflected on his long-standing relationship with the event, revealing that he has been performing at Colour Me Red since his University of the West Indies (UWI) days. He also recalled opening for Saint Lucian soca star Ricky T early in his career. This year marks 19 years since Skinny first performed at the event, making his return even more special.

For Machel Montano, this appearance marks his first Colour Me Red performance in five years. Looking back on his early visits to Saint Lucia, he joked that when he first came to the island at nine years old, he was “too young for soca.”

Although they represent different islands, both artists spoke passionately about their love for Saint Lucia and shared how excited they were to begin their carnival weekend on the island. Machel described returning to Saint Lucia as “a family affair,” while both performers praised the warm hospitality they continue to receive whenever they visit.

During the press conference, members of the media asked questions about the artists’ future music, their continued involvement with Saint Lucia, and what fans can expect from their performances. Both Machel and Skinny shared stories from previous visits and expressed how much they enjoy returning to the island and connecting with Saint Lucian audiences.

Organisers also reflected on Colour Me Red’s evolution over the past two decades. Originally staged on a Wednesday, the event has grown into one of the signature concerts of Saint Lucia Carnival, now taking place on Friday and attracting thousands of patrons from across the Caribbean and the diaspora.

With 20 years of unforgettable memories behind it, Colour Me Red: Encore promises to deliver another spectacular night of world-class soca, electrifying performances and carnival energy when it takes over the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, continuing its legacy as one of the must-attend events on the Saint Lucia Carnival calendar.

Reporting by Worlmag – Your home for Caribbean music, culture and entertainment.