The new queen of the 2026 Barranquilla Carnival was officially announced yesterday: Michelle Char has been chosen as the cultural ambassador of Colombia’s most important festival and will lead the celebration under the theme “A Carnival on Another Level,” which will take place from Feb. 14 to 17, 2026.
The Barranquilla Carnival 2026 has its queen
Through a videocall made by the Mayor of Barranquilla Alejandro Char and his wife, Katia Nule, Michelle Char received the exciting news that she had been selected as the new queen of the Carnival. With this appointment, she becomes the 90th queen of this iconic celebration.
Today, Char fulfills a dream shared by thousands of young women from Barranquilla: to wear the crown of the Carnival, a symbol of joy, culture, and tradition.
From now until Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, the city enters full carnival mode with the official announcement of its queen. Char will be responsible for bringing the joy, folklore, and festive spirit of the carnival to another level.
The young woman from Barranquilla was selected from among six candidates, each of whom presented their artistic background and connection to carnival traditions to the Carnival Board of Directors. All the candidates had strong training in dance, folklore, and active participation in comparsas and cumbiambas, which are essential requirements for aspiring to the crown.
Char stood out for her experience in the Ballet de Barranquilla, her leadership as youth captain of the Country Club, and her involvement in renowned folkloric groups such as Fuerza Negra and La Revoltosa.
Meet Michelle Char
Michelle Char Fernandez has a solid artistic and cultural background, making her a queen with deep roots in the Barranquilla Carnival. From a young age, she has been involved in the arts and dance, beginning her training at the prestigious Julie de Donado school, one of the most renowned in the city.
For 10 years, she was a member of the Ballet de Barranquilla, honing her talent and discipline in dance. She has also actively participated in groups such as Fuerza Negra — with which she has won two Congos de Oro, one of the most important cultural awards of the Carnival — as well as Kadanza, La Revoltosa, and Pasion Latina. In 2018, she was named youth captain of the Country Club, standing out as a promoter of local folklore.
Regarding her academic background, Michelle studied Interior and Product Design at NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) in Milan, Italy, showcasing her creative profile and international outlook.
In addition to her outstanding artistic career, Char Fernandez, recently chosen as Queen of the Barranquilla Carnival 2026, has a direct family connection to the city’s mayor, Alejandro Char. Michelle is the daughter of Miguel Char, who is the mayor’s cousin, making her part of one of the most influential families on the Colombian Caribbean coast, with strong ties to politics, economics, and culture.
She is part of a dynasty of carnival queens, as her aunt, Laura Char Carson, was crowned Queen of the Carnival in 1989, marking the beginning of the family’s legacy in this celebration. Her cousins have also carried the crown: Andrea Jaramillo Char reigned in 2012, standing out for her charisma and deep connection to the city’s cultural roots, and Victoria Char was crowned Queen of the Children’s Carnival in 2022, showing that the love for this festivity runs in the family from an early age.
Char describes herself as “a woman from Barranquilla, passionate about my culture, creative, talented, and with a good heart.” She expresses deep admiration for cumbia, for its historical value, and for mapale, for its strength and celebration of freedom.
On her social media, she has shared her excitement with phrases such as “You’re born with Carnival,” and has promised that the Carnival 2026 will be unforgettable.