Global change is altering interactions between ecological disturbances. We review interactions between tropical cyclones and fires that affect woody biomes in many islands and coastal areas. Cyclone-induced damage to trees can increase fuel loads on the ground and dryness in the understory, which increases the likelihood, intensity, and area of subsequent fires. In forest biomes, cyclone–fire interactions may initiate a grass–fire cycle and establish stable open-canopy biomes. In cyclone-prone regions, frequent cyclone-enhanced fires may generate and maintain stable open-canopy biomes (e.g., savannas and woodlands). We discuss how global change is transforming fire and cyclone regimes, extensively altering cyclone–fire interactions. These altered cyclone–fire interactions are shifting biomes away from historical states and causing loss of biodiversity. Tropical cyclone–fire interactions are key drivers of the distribution, composition, and dynamics of woody biomes on islands and in coastal regions.Cyclone-induced damage to trees can increase fuel loads on the ground and dryness in the understory, which in turn increase the likelihood, intensity, and area of subsequent fires.Historically, cyclone–fire interactions have been rare in closed-canopy forests, but have maintained open-canopy savanna and woodland biomes via cyclone-enhanced fires.Global change is modifying cyclone and fire regimes worldwide, producing increased frequencies and intensities of cyclone–fire interactions that change biomes and their distributions.Increased frequencies and intensities of cyclone–fire interactions shift closed-canopy forests into open, degraded biome states and open-canopy savannas and woodlands into treeless grasslands.