Carnival of Barranquilla 2027: Dates, Parade Schedule and Ticket Guide

The Carnival of Barranquilla is Colombia’s biggest public celebration and, after Rio de Janeiro, usually described as the second-largest carnival in the Americas. UNESCO listed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003 for its blend of Indigenous, African and European traditions. The main four days always end on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, so the dates move each year. In 2027 that means Saturday 6 February to Tuesday 9 February, with Ash Wednesday falling on 10 February.

This page is our event guide. For the wider story and history, see our Barranquilla Carnival guide.

Carnival 2027 schedule

Official dates published for 2027 put the pre-carnival build-up and the main parades as follows. The hourly programme is normally released closer to the event, so check carnavaldebarranquilla.org before you plan your days.

Date	Event
Saturday 16 January	Lectura del Bando, the royal proclamation that opens the season
Sunday 17 January	Bando and Coronacion de los Ninos (children’s coronation)
Friday 29 January	La Guacherna, the night parade of lit-up costumed groups
Friday 5 February	Coronacion de la Reina (queen’s coronation)
Saturday 6 February	Batalla de Flores, the opening grand parade on Via 40
Sunday 7 February	Gran Parada de Tradicion y Folclor
Monday 8 February	Gran Parada de Comparsas (Fantasia) and orchestra festival
Tuesday 9 February	Joselito Carnaval, the mock funeral that closes the festival

What each day feels like

Batalla de Flores (Saturday) is the flagship. Floats, queens, costumed comparsas and cumbia bands travel Via 40 through the afternoon. It is the busiest and most expensive day.

Gran Parada de Tradicion y Folclor (Sunday) is the best day for culture. Traditional groups perform cumbia, mapale, garabato, congo and the famous Marimonda costumes, each rooted in a Caribbean coast tradition.

Gran Parada de Comparsas (Monday) is the fantasy parade, with choreographed groups in large, modern costumes. The Festival de Orquestas, where salsa and vallenato bands compete, also takes place around this day.

Joselito Carnaval (Tuesday) is part theatre, part wake. Revellers “mourn” Joselito, the personification of the festival, in a funeral procession through the city, and the party winds down.

The Guacherna on 29 January is a strong alternative if you cannot be in the city on carnival weekend: it is a night parade with lights and music, and cheaper to reach.

Tickets and prices

Grandstand seats (palcos and sillas) along Via 40 are sold through official vendors and authorised resellers. As of late 2026, the official 2027 palco prices and the ticket seller had not been announced. In past editions seats have ranged from approximately COP 100,000 to COP 400,000 per day, with Saturday the priciest and first to sell out. Plan on those figures as an estimate only, and buy from the official carnival channels, not street touts.

You do not need a ticket to enjoy carnival. Large stretches of the route are free to watch, and neighbourhood street parties (cumbiambas) are open to all. Arrive by about 9 a.m. for kerbside space on Saturday. Note that organisers have studied moving some events to the Gran Malecon on the river, so confirm the route when the programme is published.

Where to stay

Rooms book up and rates jump sharply. Hotels that cost COP 200,000 to COP 300,000 off-season can reach COP 450,000 to COP 900,000 for carnival nights, as of 2026 estimates. The best-placed neighbourhood is El Prado, with a 15 to 20 minute walk to Via 40; Villa Country is quieter and a little cheaper. Hotel El Prado, Hotel Dann Carlton and Hotel Barranquilla Plaza are the established choices, and we compare them in detail in our Barranquilla Carnival hotel guide. If you want cheaper options, hostels in El Prado often run COP 60,000 to COP 100,000 for a dorm bed on carnival nights. You can also search Barranquilla hotels and book early with free cancellation.

If Barranquilla is full or too pricey, some travellers base in Cartagena (about two hours away by road) and day-trip in, though late return journeys after the parades are tiring.

Getting there and around

Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport has direct flights from Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. Carnival-weekend flights sell out months ahead, so book as soon as you fix your dates. In the city, taxis and ride apps are the easiest option, though roads around Via 40 close for parades. Expect prices to rise for rides on parade days and allow extra time.

Practical tips

• Heat: daytime temperatures sit around 30 to 33 degrees Celsius. Wear light cotton, a hat and sunscreen, and carry water.
• Costume: fancy dress is welcome. A feathered headpiece or a sombrero vueltiao fits in.
• Cornstarch and foam: revellers spray foam and throw cornstarch, so wear clothes you do not mind ruining and protect your phone and camera.
• Safety: crowds attract pickpockets. Keep phones in front pockets, carry only needed cash and leave passports at the hotel.
• Food: try arepa de huevo, butifarra, fried fish and fresh coconut water from street stalls.
• Alcohol: consumption is heavy. Pace yourself in the heat and agree meeting points with your group.

For help planning the rest of your trip, see our Colombia festivals and events calendar and the Barranquilla city guide. You can also book tours in Barranquilla for the days between parades. Official information is on the Carnaval de Barranquilla site and the regional tourism board at Visit Atlantico.

Plan your trip

• Hotels in Barranquilla: rooms near the event fill early, so book ahead.
• Guided tours in Barranquilla: walking, food and day tours to fill the days around the event.
• Airport transfer to Barranquilla: pre-book a pickup instead of queuing for taxis at peak times.