Kingston Pirates Week to Spotlight Port Royal’s UNESCO Recognition

A new eight-event cultural festival, set for October 30 to November 2, aims to spotlight Jamaica’s rich maritime legacy while bringing global attention to Port Royal’s historic significance

The recent Launch of Kingston Pirates Week & Kingston City Run 2025.

The historic town of Port Royal has officially been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking a monumental moment for Jamaica’s cultural and archaeological legacy. Following the announcement at UNESCO’s 47th session in Paris on July 12, 2025, the upcoming Kingston Pirates Week, set for October 30 to November 2, is poised to spotlight this achievement with a heritage-based cultural celebration that supports the renewed global focus on Port Royal.

Conceptualised as a transformative cultural tourism initiative, Kingston Pirates Week blends history, entertainment, and community engagement to honour Jamaica’s maritime legacy while creating meaningful economic and educational opportunities.

Executive Producer of Kingston Pirates Week, Peter Shoucair, J.P., remarked, “Port Royal’s UNESCO status is not just an accolade—it is a call to action. It reinforces the value of what we have long known: that our heritage is world-class and must be actively celebrated and protected. Kingston Pirates Week will activate Port Royal’s potential by transforming it into a living stage where the past meets present through immersive storytelling, cultural expression, and inclusive tourism”.

The week of events will feature heritage tours, pirate reenactments, sound system tributes, a seafood and cultural festival, educational forums, and community-based environmental initiatives. The festival also offers curated experiences at the Port Royal Museum, the Giddy House, and Fort Charles, creating powerful links between historical education and visitor engagement.

Joanne Paxton, Executive Producer of Kingston Pirates Week with Delano Seiveright, Minister of State in the Ministry

The festival’s long-term vision aligns with UNESCO’s goals for sustainable heritage management. Through partnerships with local stakeholders, cultural institutions, and key government bodies—including the Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, TPDCo, and the Tourism Enhancement Fund—the event aims to drive inclusive economic growth, promote cultural pride, and position Jamaica as a regional leader in heritage-based tourism.

Kingston Pirates Week will feature a dynamic schedule of eight events, including food fairs, street festivities, the Kingston City Run: Pirates Run Di City, Pirates Beach Clean-Up, and the Port Royal Pirates & Seafood Festival. The series offers a timely platform to boost Port Royal’s visibility, raise public awareness, and place the historic town firmly in the global spotlight.