Cayman Pirates Week is a national festival celebrating all things Piratey
Pirates Week began in 1977 when the Cayman Islands’ Tourism Board created a “pirate landing” event in George Town to boost tourism during the slow season. Attracting over 3,000 people, nearly one-fifth of the islands’ population at the time, the festival quickly grew from a small local celebration into a major, multi-island national festival. While it leans into playful pirate theatrics, the week is as much a celebration of Caymanian culture, heritage, music, food, and community spirit as it is about pirate fun. It now spans all three Islands.
Held each November, Pirates Week’s flagship events are centered in Cayman’s capital, George Town, where the main “landing,” parades, street parties, and other large festivities take place. Sister-island events on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman occur later in the month and tend to be smaller but equally rich in local flavour and community engagement.
The festival mixes theatrical spectacles with cultural showcases. Highlights include a mock pirate invasion into the harbour, colourful float parades, street parties full of music and dance, and Caymanian cultural exhibitions featuring local food, crafts, and storytelling. There are also family-friendly activities like treasure hunts, costume contests, fun runs and sea swims, and evening entertainment with live music, DJs and fireworks. Organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, Pirates Week supports local businesses and artisans and offers visitors an immersive, festive way to experience Caymanian heritage and community life.
Pirates Week 2025
Pirates Week took place in Grand Cayman from 8-15 November and November 21-22 in the Sister Islands events.
As with all years, Pirates Week 2025 was a vibrant and exciting event. The celebration immersed visitors in the captivating world of pirates, with a series of exciting attractions and lively parades, and a host of activities for all ages.
As usual, the Grand Cayman element of the festival kicked off with the Pirates Landing Ceremony, where a flotilla of colourful pirate sailed into George Town harbor, led by the legendary Captain Morgan. The streets came alive with costumed revellers, transforming the Island into a swashbuckling spectacle.