Junkanoo is a street parade with music, which occurs in many towns across The Bahamas every Boxing Day (December 26), New Year's Day and, more recently, in the summer on the island of Grand Bahama. The largest Junkanoo parade happens in Nassau, the capital. In the USA, there are also Junkanoo parades in both Miami, in June and Key West, in October, where the local Black American populations have their roots in the Bahamas or Jamaica.

The origin of the word Junkanoo is rather obscure. Some people believe it comes from the French "L'inconnu", which means, "the unknown", in reference to the masks worn by the paraders. Others believe it comes from "junk enoo", the Scottish settlers' reference to the parades , meaning "junk enough"^{[dubious – discuss]}; or "John Canoe," the name of an African tribal chief who, in the 17th century, demanded the right to celebrate with his people even after being brought to the West Indies in slavery. Junkanoo may have West African origins as the costumes and conduct of the masqueraders bear similarities with the Yoruba Egungun festivals.