Barranquilla Carnival 2027: Dates & Planning Guide
Barranquilla Carnival 2027 runs Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 9. That's early, because Ash Wednesday falls on February 10. The season starts well before that, with the Lectura del Bando on January 16 and La Guacherna on January 29.
UNESCO recognized the carnival as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Here are the confirmed dates and how to plan your trip.
2027 Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Jan 16 | Lectura del Bando (the opening proclamation) |
| Friday, Jan 29 | La Guacherna (night parade) |
| Sunday, Jan 31 | Children's Carnival |
| Friday, Feb 5 | Crowning of the Queen |
| Saturday, Feb 6 | Batalla de Flores: official opening |
| Sunday, Feb 7 | Gran Parada de Tradición |
| Tuesday, Feb 9 | Burial of Joselito Carnaval: closing |
The Four Days
Saturday 6: Batalla de Flores. The opening parade, held since 1903, with floats, dance troupes and the carnival queen along Vía 40. In 2026 it started at 11am.
Sunday 7: Gran Parada de Tradición. The folk-tradition parade: cumbia, congo, mapalé and garabato dancers with live bands, also on Vía 40.
Monday 8: Gran Parada de Comparsas and the Festival de Orquestas. That's been the Monday line-up in recent years. The official 2027 program will confirm it.
Tuesday 9: Joselito Carnaval. The mock funeral of Joselito, who "dies" from too much partying and closes the carnival until next year.
The 2027 Royal Court
- Carnival Queen: Salwa Maloof Habib.
- Rey Momo: Abraham Roosevelt Cáceres.
- Child monarchs: Isabella Daes García and Pedro Alejandro Fandiño Camelo.
Before the Carnival
Lectura del Bando, January 16. The queen reads the decree ordering the city to give itself over to the party. It opens the pre-carnival season.
La Guacherna, January 29. A night parade through the city's neighborhoods, lit by lanterns and candles. Many locals call it the most beautiful event of the season.
Children's Carnival, January 31. The child monarchs lead their own parade.
Calendar of the Carnival Weeks
The carnival builds week by week, from the Lectura del Bando to the Gran Parada de Comparsas. These six dates have their own listing on events.lat, and each names the Fundación Carnaval de Barranquilla as the seller. Confirm venues, times and which events need a ticket with the foundation before you plan around them.
- Saturday, Jan 16: Lectura del Bando
- Friday, Jan 29: La Guacherna
- Thursday, Feb 4 to Sunday, Feb 7: Baila la Calle
- Saturday, Feb 6: Batalla de Flores
- Sunday, Feb 7: Gran Parada de Tradición
- Monday, Feb 8: Gran Parada de Comparsas
Planning Tips
Book your hotel now. Barranquilla fills up for carnival. Some visitors stay in Santa Marta or Cartagena, but that adds hours of driving on the busiest days.
Buy grandstand seats (palcos) from official channels only. The parades are watched from grandstands along Vía 40. Use the sellers the carnival organization announces; in 2026 that was Tu Boleta. Skip resellers on social media.
We don't publish prices. They vary by grandstand, day and location, and a wrong number costs readers money.
Heat and cornstarch. It's hot. Bring water, sunscreen, clothes you don't mind ruining and sunglasses, because cornstarch (maicena) flies everywhere.
Spanish helps. Barranquilla sees fewer foreign tourists than Cartagena, and a few phrases go a long way.
FAQ
When is Barranquilla Carnival 2027? Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
When is the Batalla de Flores 2027? Saturday, February 6, 2027, on Vía 40.
When is La Guacherna 2027? Friday, January 29, 2027.
Who is the 2027 Carnival Queen? Salwa Maloof Habib.
How does it compare with Rio? Rio is a ticketed Sambadrome spectacle; Barranquilla is rooted in Afro-Colombian and Caribbean folk traditions, with much of it on the street. Both fall on February 6–9 in 2027, so you have to choose. Our Carnival 2027 guide covers Rio, Salvador and Oruro.
Summary
January 16: Lectura del Bando. January 29: La Guacherna. February 6–9: Batalla de Flores, the Gran Parada, dance troupes and Joselito. Book your hotel now and buy grandstand seats only from official sellers.
Leer en español: Carnaval de Barranquilla 2027.
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