Sport

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Yard Mas Carnival has officially announced Anna-Lisa Guthrie as its creative director for the 2026 carnival season.

The announcement comes ahead of the official band launch set for late November 2025, which the company says “promises to reveal a new era of design depth, inclusivity and artistry for the Yard Mas brand”.

In a statement, Yard Mas described Guthrie as a multidisciplinary creative celebrated for her innovative approach to costume design and storytelling through art.

Guthrie has already made a name for herself on social media showcasing her design skills in building outfits from different materials that have gone viral across multiple platforms.

Managing Director Andrew Bellamy expressed confidence in the band’s choice.

“Yard Mas has always prided itself in empowering Jamaicans, especially those who excel within our local creative industry. Anna-Lisa’s rise in the design world has been impressive, consistent and remarkable. I’ve worked with her in the past when she just entered the carnival design space," he said.

Bellamy continued, "Undoubtedly, Anna’s work has gone viral multiple times both locally and internationally, mainly because of her innovation that connects deeply and resonates with people and our culture; similarly to how Yard Mas connects with our masqueraders. We are proud and confident that her creative direction will guide and ‘wow’ our 2026 theme, and without a doubt, her personal designs will also excite and satisfy masqueraders”.

Already in full creation mode, Guthrie shared, “Art has always been my language — it’s how I translate emotion, culture and identity into visual form. What Yard Mas has built in such a short time is nothing short of extraordinary — a community connected by creativity, culture, pride and vibes. I designed for the band for the first time this year, but I’ve worked with the members in various capacities in the past, and I can’t wait for the ‘yardies’ to see what our slate of designers have created for 2026!”

Public Relations Director Dania Beckford revealed that the 2026 theme will be released in short order with a hybrid launch that epitomises Caribbean art and design translated into mas.