New York’s Guyanese community will mark 60 years of independence as a nation on May 26, a celebration known as the Diamond Jubilee.
The former British colony declared its independence after its citizens battled for years to gain it, growing dissatisfied with centuries of British rule. Soon after gaining independence in May 1966, many Guyanese settled in New York City, as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 broke barriers against migration to the United States from the Caribbean and other non-European nations.
Today, about 140,000 Guyanese live in New York City, making them the fifth-largest immigrant group here. Many of them have planted roots in Flatbush, East Flatbush and Canarsie in Brooklyn and Richmond Hill and Ozone Park in Queens.
Since establishing communities within and around the city, Guyanese immigrants and their descendants continue to celebrate the land of many waters each year. Documented gathered a list of festivities marking Guyana’s independence across the New York metro area:
Roots & Rhythms Pop-Up Concert
A musical display of steel pan and drums will fill the air at the Roots & Rhythms Pop-Up Concert in Prospect Park. The concert will take place by the Lefferts Historic House, just within the bounds of Brooklyn’s vibrant Caribbean community. The musical experience is a collaboration between the Prospect Park Alliance and the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., meant to honor the cultural link between Guyana and New York City.
- Date & Time: Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Address: Lefferts Historic House, 452 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
- RSVP here
Aerial Flyover Featuring the National Flag of Guyana
For two days, proud Guyanese can witness the national flag flying across the New York Metropolitan area. The flyover is organized by the Consulate General and the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations. No RSVP is required.
- Date & Time: Monday, May 25 & Tuesday, May 26 | 12:00 – 6:00 PM, both days
- Address: Lido Beach, Coney Island Beach, Hudson River (New York side), George Washington Bridge, Battery Park, Liberty Park in New Jersey
Flag Raising & Reception at Helen Marshall Cultural Center
Not far from the Indo-Guyanese bastions in Richmond Hill, a flag-raising and reception at Queens Borough Hall will be held, honoring the nation’s Diamond Jubilee. In past years, the event featured performances, a dining experience and awards for Guyanese Queens community members. The Helen Marshall Cultural Center inside Borough Hall is home to the event, named after the former Queens borough president of Guyanese descent.
- Date & Time: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
- Address: Helen Marshall Cultural Center (Queens Borough Hall) 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY, 11424
- The event is free and open to the public
Guyana Independence Day Celebration 2026
Hosted by the New York City Council, visitors will be welcomed into the Council Chambers to celebrate Guyana’s 60th year of independence. Guests may expect refreshments, food and music relative to Caribbean heritage. The event is co-sponsored by several council members including Speaker Julie Menin, Chris Banks, Rita Joseph and Farah Louis.
- Date & Time: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 5:30 PM (Doors open at 5 PM)
- Address: Council Chambers, New York City Hall
- RSVP here
Flag Raising Ceremony at East Orange City Hall
Another flag-raising ceremony is happening across the Hudson River in the Caribbean enclave of East Orange, New Jersey. Guests can expect music, Guyanese delicacies and an award ceremony. Mayor Ted R. Green of East Orange will attend, alongside Guyanese-American New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud, New Jersey Senator Britnee Timberlake, and several officials from the Consulate General of Guyana.
- Date & Time: Friday, June 5, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Address: 44 City Hall Plaza East Orange, NJ, No RSVP is required
Annual Guyana Independence Parade and Unity Concert
Every year, the Guyana Independence Parade attracts thousands of visitors, donning the Diamond Arrowhead flag and in masquerade costumes, marching alongside bands and floats travelling through the streets of Brooklyn. This year, the parade route will make its way southeast from the starting point at Church and Utica avenues to its end point at 10101 Foster Avenue in Canarsie, the location of the Unity Concert.
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The Unity Concert will feature performances from an array of Caribbean artists. Past concerts featured Guyanese-born artists such as Trevon Vibez, Adrian Dutchin and Saiku. Tickets bought in advance cost $20 and are $25 at the door.
- Date & Time: Sunday, June 7, 2026 | Parade – 12:00 PM, Concert – 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Address: Parade – Church & Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, Concert – 10101 Foster Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11236
- Tickets: Here via Eventbrite for the concert or at the following locations:
- Pam’s Bakery, 4620 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203
- German’s Restaurant, 410 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
- Caribbean Vision Center, 1012 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Grand Diamond Jubilee Independence Gala
The event will honor 16 Guyanese individuals who have made a meaningful impact on Guyana’s development and will receive United States Congressional Awards. Held by the Guyanese Independence Celebration Committee, attendees will be entertained through musical performances, including steel pan and dances and can feast on an array of Guyanese dishes. Guests invited include Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana Yonette Cummings-Edwards.
Different pricing tiers are available for the gala, ranging from $180 for a general ticket to $5,000 for the VIP table, which includes a full-page ad in the Committee’s souvenir commemorative journal. This journal will be created to memorialize the Diamond Jubilee celebration (the 60th anniversary of independence). Interested groups and individuals are permitted to place celebratory messages and ads in the journal to stamp their position in independence history. The funds collected for the gala will cover operating costs and the remainder is donated to a charity selected by the Committee.
- Date & Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM
- Address: Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
- RSVP here
