Junkanoo is the Bahamian festival known for parades, music, dancing, and elaborate costumes around New Year's Eve.
The largest Junkanoo parades take place in Nassau, with major events traditionally held in the early hours of December 26 and January 1. Groups called “shacks” or competing teams prepare costumes, choreography, music, and decorated parade units for judging.
Goombay drums, cowbells, whistles, and brass instruments contribute to the energetic sound. The festival's history is linked to African cultural traditions and the experiences of enslaved people in the Bahamas, though accounts of the name's precise origin vary.
Junkanoo is not limited to New Year's Eve: the Boxing Day parade on December 26 is also a central event. It should also be distinguished from Caribbean carnival celebrations, which use different calendars and local traditions.