SHTA, CC1 launch 2027 events calendar and photo contest, call for island events

GREAT BAY--The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and main partner CC1 have officially begun preparations for the 2027 Events Calendar, inviting event organizers, NGOs, clubs, hotels, restaurants and other organizations across the island to submit their 2027 activities, while also opening the annual Calendar Photo Contest to photographers locally and abroad.

The 2027 publication will mark the 11th edition of the SHTA Events Calendar and will introduce a new design after 10 years. Since its launch, the calendar has developed into both an islandwide events guide and a promotional tool highlighting St. Maarten’s culture, creativity, attractions and year-round activities to residents and visitors.

CC1 Calendar Project Leader Charika Caines said the company is looking forward to once again partnering with SHTA on the project.

“We are delighted to enter the second decade of this landmark calendar as SHTA’s main calendar partner for 2027. From Carnival to the SMART tradeshow, sporting events such as the Round the Island Relay Race and football tournaments, to Nature Foundation Beach Cleanups, CC1 has been a partner in many island events. Now, we are taking this feature to a new level by supporting even more events that make the island vibrant throughout the year,” Caines said.

As part of preparations, SHTA is encouraging organizations planning events for 2027 to submit their dates as early as possible for inclusion in the calendar. Events can range from cultural and sporting activities to conferences, community initiatives, entertainment, hospitality events and other activities of interest to residents and visitors.

Beyond its function as an event guide, the calendar has become an important promotional “business card” for the destination, showcasing the island’s culture and vibrancy to visitors, travel agents, foreign dignitaries, journalists and others planning trips to St. Maarten.

Thousands of printed copies are distributed locally and internationally, while the calendar also reaches a significant digital audience. SHTA said its printed editions and digital platforms generated more than 60,000 views during 2026.

The launch of the 2027 calendar season also means preparations are underway for the announcement of the next Cultural Icon, which will be selected by a binational committee and featured in the new edition.

The 2026 Cultural Icon was the National Institute of Arts, NIA, which showcased various art forms at historic Fort Amsterdam. Previous Cultural Icons have represented areas including fashion through Zillah Duzon-Hazel, steelpan music through Dow Orchestra, painting through Ruby Bute and Roland Richardson, calypso through Beaubeau Brooks, choreography through Clara Reyes, as well as Carnival.

Caines hinted that the 2027 selection will take the feature in a new direction.

“The committee has allowed me to share the scoop that the art form featured in the 2027 calendar is one that has never been highlighted in this way before,” she said.

Alongside the calendar preparations, SHTA has also opened its 2027 Events Calendar Photo Contest, inviting residents and visitors, including emerging and established photographers, to submit images capturing the attractiveness and character of St. Maarten.

Photographs can feature the island’s landscapes, cultural symbols or art. Participants may submit up to three images, which must be provided in high resolution suitable for print. The submission deadline is September 15, and the winning photograph will be featured in the 2027 calendar.

The competition has attracted photographers from St. Maarten and abroad over the years. In 2024, local photographer Mara Bailey won with an image of men playing dominoes in front of a mural celebrating the island’s local dialect. In 2025, Husam El Aswad of the Netherlands won with a photograph combining an old Fort Amsterdam window with a modern cruise ship. American photographer Richard Santaga won the 2026 contest with an image of the Black Pearl in Simpson Bay.

The winner of the 2027 contest will receive a weekend at Seaview Beach Hotel on the Philipsburg Boardwalk, with additional prizes to be announced. Seaview continues to support the arts through its new Artist-in-Residence program, welcoming local and visiting artists and incorporating their work throughout the historic property.

In addition to main partner CC1, SHTA announced that TelEm, AMA Jewelers and Grant Thornton will continue supporting the 2027 Events Calendar, following their involvement with the 2026 and previous editions.

Since the calendar's inception in 2016, residents of both sides of the island have also been able to reserve personal copies in advance. Once published, the 2027 calendar will again be distributed throughout St. Maarten and shared with travel partners abroad.

Event organizers wishing to have their 2027 activities included, photographers entering the photo contest, and residents interested in reserving a free copy of the calendar can contact events@shta.com. Event dates and photo contest submissions should be received by September 15.

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