Events and festivals
Carnivals, festivals, patron saint celebrations and also the matches that move the region.
Upcoming events
Palenque Drum Festival
October 10 – 14, 2026 · San Basilio de Palenque
October 10-14, 2026. A celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture in San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in the Americas.
Cartagena Night of Drums
20 days to go
October 30 – 31, 2026 · Cartagena
October 30-31, 2026. A night celebration in the historic squares with drum music, dance and Afro-Cartagenan culture.
Cartagena November Festivities
22 days to go
November 1 – 16, 2026 · Cartagena
November 1-16, 2026. Independence Grand Parade on the 12th, Nautical Festival on the 13th and 14th, and election and coronation of the queens on the 15th and 16th.
Cartagena Independence Grand Parade
33 days to go
November 12, 2026 · Cartagena
November 12, 2026, along Avenida Santander: the main parade of the Independence festivities.
Independence Nautical Festival
34 days to go
November 13 – 14, 2026 · Cartagena
November 13-14, 2026, with musical performances, as part of Cartagena's Independence festivities.
2026 Copa Sudamericana Final
42 days to go
November 21, 2026 · Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
November 21, 2026. The CONMEBOL tournament final is played at Barranquilla's renovated Metropolitano Stadium.
Cartagena International Music Festival
91 days to go
January 9 – 17, 2027 · Cartagena
January 9-17, 2027. Concerts, master classes and cultural activities of classical music in the walled city.
January 20 Festivities
92 days to go
January 10 – 20, 2027 · Sincelejo
January 10-20, 2027 in Sincelejo, with the main day on the 20th. Parades, fandango, popular pageant and band music.
Hay Festival Cartagena
110 days to go
January 28 – 31, 2027 · Cartagena
January 28-31, 2027. Festival of literature and ideas with public readings by guest authors.
Barranquilla Carnival
119 days to go
February 6 – 9, 2027 · Barranquilla
Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO). Held 4 days before Ash Wednesday, so the dates change every year.
Battle of Flowers
119 days to go
February 6, 2027 · Barranquilla
February 6, 2027: the official opening of Carnival with a parade of floats, musical groups and costumed troupes led by the Carnival Queen.
Carnival Metroconcierto
119 days to go
February 6, 2027 · Barranquilla
February 2027, during the Barranquilla Carnival (date to be confirmed). A big concert with national and international artists.
Death of Joselito Carnaval
122 days to go
February 9, 2027 · Barranquilla
February 9, 2027: the end of Carnival with the symbolic burial of Joselito, between humor and nostalgia.
Holy Week in Mompox
162 days to go
March 21 – 28, 2027 · Mompox
March 21-28, 2027. Centuries-old processions through the historic center, with the 14 floats on Holy Thursday and the Holy Burial on Good Friday.
Donkey Festival
166 days to go
March 25 – 28, 2027 · San Antero
Holy Week 2027 (dates to be confirmed). A parade of costumed donkeys, music and humor in San Antero, a tradition of almost a century.
Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI)
178 days to go
April 6 – 11, 2027 · Cartagena
April 6-11, 2027, its 66th edition. Ibero-American cinema with competitions, special screenings and tributes.
Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata
200 days to go
April 28 – May 1, 2027 · Valledupar
April 28 to May 1, 2027, in Valledupar (60th edition). Accordion, unreleased song and verse-duel contests; this year the Queen of Queens contest is added for the first time.
Caribbean Food Festival
245 days to go
June 12 – 14, 2027 · Santa Marta
June 12-14, 2027 (dates to be confirmed). A showcase of Caribbean cuisine with traditional dishes, live cooking and well-known regional chefs.
National Bullerengue Festival
257 days to go
June 24 – 28, 2027 · Puerto Escondido (Córdoba)
Late June 2027 (dates to be confirmed) in Puerto Escondido, Córdoba. Singers, drums and dance from the Afro-Caribbean tradition.
National Porro Festival
258 days to go
June 25 – 28, 2027 · San Pelayo (Córdoba)
Late June 2027 (dates to be confirmed) in San Pelayo, Córdoba. Porro band contest and the traditional dawn call with hundreds of musicians.
Francisco el Hombre Festival
258 days to go
June 25 – 28, 2027 · Riohacha
Late June 2027 (dates to be confirmed) in Riohacha. Accordion contests, parades and vallenato concerts.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
279 days to go
July 16, 2027 · Bahía de Cartagena
July 16, 2027 (date to be confirmed). A procession of decorated boats in honor of the patron saint of sailors across Cartagena Bay.
Santa Marta Sea Festival
283 days to go
July 20 – 29, 2027 · Santa Marta
July 20-29, 2027 (dates to be confirmed). A tribute to the Caribbean Sea with water sports, concerts and parades in Colombia's oldest city.
Barranquilla Independence Festivities
298 days to go
August 4 – 7, 2027 · Barranquilla
August 4-7, 2027 (dates to be confirmed). August 7 celebrations with parades, concerts and cultural events across the city.
National Cumbia Festival
299 days to go
August 5 – 8, 2027 · El Banco (Magdalena)
August 2027 (dates to be confirmed) in El Banco, Magdalena, near Mompox. Cumbia contests, food fair and concerts; a National Cultural Heritage event.
Mompox Jazz Festival
327 days to go
September 2 – 4, 2027 · Mompox
September 2027 (dates to be confirmed). Free jazz concerts in the squares of the historic center, with food and cinema.
Colombian Film Festival
335 days to go
September 10 – 16, 2027 · Barranquilla
September 10-16, 2027 (dates to be confirmed). A showcase of national and international cinema with awards and cultural events in public spaces.
National Tourism Pageant
345 days to go
September 20 – 26, 2027 · Cartagena
September 20-26, 2027 (dates to be confirmed). A tourism and cultural event bringing together representatives from across the country in the Walled City.
The agenda is updated as official dates are confirmed.