Kaiso folk happy Pic O De Crop returning to Kensington

News of the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals returning to Kensington Oval after three years is hitting the right notes among some members of the calypso fraternity.

Not only that, the return of the Party Monarch and Sweet Soca competitions as well as Cohobblopot, as announced at Saturday’s launch of the 2026 Crop Over Festival at Hilton Barbados, has also evoked a positive response.

The festival’s events calendar on the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) Facebook page schedules the premier contest for the Oval and not the National Botanical Gardens in Waterford, St Michael, as was done from 2023 to last year.

New president of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes Barry Knight said “returning to the Oval “brings a sense of familiarity that artistes need”.

“It restores comfort, removes past uncertainties and creates the right environment for performers to thrive, bringing out the very best in every contestant.

“As it relates to the Party Monarch and Soca Monarch competitions, our members warmly welcome their return to Crop Over 2026.

“For years, our artistes have called for its revival, and this announcement is both timely and encouraging. It represents opportunity, visibility and renewed investment in our local talent. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure the competition’s return truly benefits the creatives it was built to showcase,” Knight added.

Four-time Pic O De Crop monarch Ian iWeb Webster, who won crowns at both venues, told the DAILY NATION the Oval should offer more comfort to the artistes and patrons.

“The facility at Kensington Oval is a lot more conducive to proper management and logistics of the event, especially if there’s bad weather. I think that people generally prefer Kensington Oval, so for me, it’s twofold.

“I am absolutely happy that the [soca competitions] are back. I understand that they were trying to get money to push behind the artistes and move away from the whole competition aspect, but I figure – and I said this in a forum – that the NCF could walk and chew gum. You could do both. You can support the artistes and you can also facilitate the competitions for those persons who may not necessarily be getting gigs or performing here or there at different events,” Webster said.

While 2015 and 2019 monarch William Classic Waithe said he was “neither for or against the move” as he always does his best, Billboard Murrell said he was looking forward to competing at the Oval after doing so in 2018.

The 2023, 2024 and 2025 Pic O De Crop finalist noted it was a “different stage, a different atmosphere and a different vibe altogether”. He added he was “especially glad for the time in between” the announcement of the finalists and the competition night, as it allowed contestants to better prepare, unlike last year when there was a shorter period that impacted him as songwriter and arranger.

Frequent finalist Ronnie De Announcer Clarke said the Oval was “a tremendous venue” and he was grateful that it would be used once more, as the facilities were “infinitely better” for calypsonians and patrons. His tent manager, Julie Sealy of Shining Stars, agreed.

“I’m not saying that anything is wrong with Botanical Gardens, but there are some challenges at Botanical Gardens, especially if it rains, so Kensington is welcomed. I guess I can speak on everybody’s behalf that we welcome the return because we have been lobbying for it for a few years now, so we are elated,” she said.

Sealy also pointed out that people experienced challenges backstage at Waterford that they did not have at the Oval.

Eleanor Rice, manager of All Stars Calypso Tent, who said she was “doubly, triply, quadrupling happy about Cohobblopot” returning, added that “people should not have a fundamental problem” with the Oval owing to the existing infrastructure.

(GBM)

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