Colombia’s Valledupar Carnival returned to the streets with strength in 2026, marking the institutional rebirth of one of the most traditional celebrations in the capital of the department of Cesar. After nearly a decade without a formal organization, the festival came back with the support of the Mayor’s Office and the Central Carnival Committee, restoring to the city an event that even predates the Vallenato Legend Festival.
The official opening took place on Jan. 17 in the emblematic Plaza Alfonso Lopez, with the reading of the proclamation, a symbolic act that kicked off the festivities. The ceremony was led by the 2026 Carnival Queen, Xiomara Garcia Nieto, and the Rey Momo, representative figures of the festive spirit. Since then, the program has been running through Feb. 15, with activities spread across communes, neighborhoods, and towns throughout the department of Cesar.
A carnival reclaiming its place in Valledupar’s history
The return of the Valledupar Carnival holds special meaning for the region’s cultural identity. The last time it was held with an institutional structure was in 2016. Since then, some festive expressions survived spontaneously in certain areas, but without the coordination or scale of previous years.
In 2026, local authorities decided to restore the tradition with a stronger organizational framework, aiming to bring the community together and recover the popular character of the celebration.
This carnival represents not only a space for festivity but also a symbol of collective memory. Even before the accordion, caja drum, and guacharaca took center stage at the Vallenato Legend Festival — which this year will take place from April 29 to May 2 — Valledupar already had these festive traditions filled with music, costumes, and street expressions.
The essence of the Valledupar carnival remains intact: cornstarch powder, foam, comparsas (dance troupes), floats, satirical verses, and traditional rhythms such as cumbia and tambora. It is a celebration where popular joy takes the lead and the streets become a stage for collective creativity.
Decentralized programming and community leadership
One of the key features of this edition is decentralization. The program is not focused solely on the city center but extends to different areas of the city and several towns. This strategy seeks to make the carnival feel like a people’s celebration again, rather than a centralized event.
Among the most notable activities are comparsa parades, costume contests, folkloric performances, and cultural events that highlight the Caribbean roots of the region. The Carnival Pageant is also being held, with representatives from neighborhoods and towns participating, strengthening the sense of belonging. The coronation of Xiomara Garcia Nieto as the central queen symbolizes the cultural and community leadership driving the festivities.
Folkloric figures such as composer Gustavo Gutierrez Cabello also took part in the opening, reinforcing the connection between traditional music and this celebration.
Highlights of the Valledupar Carnival 2026
The schedule includes events that connect tradition, territory, and cultural diversity. On Feb. 1, the Afrocarnival will be held in the district of Guacoche, featuring tambora, cumbia, and Afro-Colombian dance performances that showcase the African heritage of the Caribbean region.
On Feb. 7, the River Carnival will take place on the Guatapuri River, with a water parade combining comparsas, traditional music, and festive expressions along the banks of the city’s iconic river.
On Feb. 14, the official coronation of Carnival Queen Xiomara Garcia Nieto will be held, along with awards for the comparsas and satirical groups that participated throughout the program.
Finally, on Feb. 15, the grand closing parade will take place at Plaza Primero de Mayo, with floats, foam, cornstarch powder, and vallenato music, in a celebration expected to gather thousands of attendees and bring a historic return to a vibrant close.