As many are overlooking the U.S. and are wanting to reconnect with vibrant cultures, rich heritage, and luxurious coastal living. Barbados is a perfect place to discover or visit, especially with so many exciting new developments and signature events in 2025 & 2026!
What’s New in Barbados:
Accommodations: Barbados now features over 13,000 villa and vacation rental options!
2025 will see the groundbreaking of Beaches Barbados, a 600-room family resort from the Sandals brand, offering a range of beachfront suites and family-friendly amenities.
At Apes Hill Barbados, the “Little Apes” 9-hole golf course opens this spring, alongside four brand-new Bedroom Golf and Sea View Villas available for booking started May 1. Guests can now enjoy in-villa chef experiences, private spa services, and complimentary golf rounds. A new partnership with Oyogo introduces wellness specialists to enhance the guest experience, and a beach shuttle service has launched for added convenience.
Luxury resort upgrades are also in full swing at:
-
- Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club reopens summer 2025 with 28 fully renovated rooms from the global luxury brand.
- Marriott’s The House Boutique Hotel reopened April 1, 2025.
- Tamarind Resort returns on January 1, 2026, fully refreshed.
- In 2025, Marriott expands its portfolio with adult-only icons The Waves and Treasure Beach, both long-time favourites on the island.
Looking ahead, Royalton CHIC Barbados, an adults-only all-inclusive resort will bring a vibrant blend of luxury and entertainment to the island’s prestigious Gold Coast in Spring 2026. This stylish addition promises to redefine Barbados’ luxury travel scene with its unique ‘Party Your Way’ concept, offering guests a dynamic mix of relaxation, social experiences, and high-end amenities.
Pendry Barbados, the luxury boutique hotel chain’s first international resort, is set to open by the end of 2026 on the island’s west coast, offering 80 newly designed beachfront guestrooms and 46 private residences alongside a range of upscale amenities. This development will enhance Barbados’ luxury tourism offerings with its contemporary Caribbean elegance, signature dining concepts, and exclusive access to a private marina and other resort facilities.
New Culinary Gems
Barbados continues to shine as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with bold new additions:
- Derriere French Brasserie in Limegrove opened in December 2024. This French dining experience offers classics in a chic and contemporary space that revisits the French-style dining Canadians are used to. Its owner Chef Jean Jacques Carquillat also runs Les Shack Restaurant & Bar in St. Philip.
- Madison Bistro on Christ Church opened in late 2024 and fuses Bajan cuisine and Southern American soul food. The menu celebrates these cultures and takes a modern twist on traditional recipes.
The Oistin’s Experience – Now at Wyndham Grand
New for 2025, the Oistin’s Experience at Wyndham Grand Barbados takes place every Tuesday at 6pm. It delivers the vibe of Oistin’s, a beloved staple of Barbadian culture, to the resort. There is handcrafted jewellery from local artisans, Bajan dishes such as BBQ Ribs, Baked Macaroni Pie, and Jam puffs, and other entertainment like live music and dazzling fire breathers to stilt walkers and singers.
A Monumental Moment in History: Barbados Heritage District
In Spring 2025, the new Barbados Heritage District opened. It is a landmark destination honouring the island’s enslaved ancestors. Located at Newton, Christ Church, home to the Caribbean’s largest and oldest known slave burial ground, the site will include a memorial, museum, and research institute. The opening aligns with the 400th anniversary of British arrival and precedes the island’s 60th independence anniversary in 2026.
We Gatherin’: A Cultural Homecoming
The year-long We Gatherin’ celebration invites locals and visitors alike to explore each of Barbados’ parishes through monthly festivals, live performances, culinary showcases, and interactive community events. For the diaspora with Caribbean roots or simply a love for authentic cultural experiences will find connection and celebration all year long. Find the latest events here.
My family is Bajan and I’d love to share what a vacation there would look like!
Reach out to me today. Calendly.com/theurbantraveler/15min
Jasmin Linton at
TICO licensed Travel Agent
Visit me on Instagram @Urban_Traveler
