The queen and king of Colombia’s Barranquilla Carnival 2026, Michelle Char Fernandez and Adolfo Maury Cabrera, are ready for their coronation tonight.
The city is preparing for one of the most emblematic and solemn events of its most important celebration — an occasion that blends tradition, spectacle, and cultural symbolism to officially usher in the four main days of the carnival.
The coronation, held on the Friday before the official days of celebration, marks the moment when the carnival monarchy is formally invested as the festive leadership of the people of Barranquilla.
This year, the ceremony will take place at the Romelio Martinez Stadium, which will be transformed into a grand showcase of music, dance, and Caribbean folklore.
Michelle Char and Adolfo Maury: a monarchy that represents the Barranquilla Carnival 2026
Although the coronation marks the official moment of investiture, the process of representation begins long before. Traditionally, the queen and king Momo of the Barranquilla Carnival are announced in August of the previous year. In the case of Char and Maury, their designation was made on Aug. 15, 2025.
However, it was in January 2026 that both formally began their agenda as cultural ambassadors of the city. Since then, they have participated in pre-Carnival events such as the Reading of the Bando and La Guacherna, two key celebrations that prepare Barranquilla for the grand festival.
La Guacherna, a nighttime parade filled with music and dance troupes, serves as the great popular prelude to the carnival. After this massive expression of collective joy, the coronation arrives as a solemn and institutional act.
At this moment, the carnival’s 2025 monarchs officially pass their crowns to their successors, marking the symbolic transition from one monarchy to the next.
This order is no coincidence: First, the people’s energy is celebrated in the streets, and then those who embody that festive spirit are formally legitimized. In this way, the carnival enters its main phase with its leaders officially proclaimed.
The spectacle and symbolism of the coronation
This year’s ceremony promises a large-scale artistic production. The musical show will be headlined by renowned Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, accompanied by invited Colombian artists such as Kapo, Diego Daza, and Juan Carlos Coronel, along with traditional dance troupes that will fill the stage with color, movement, and Caribbean rhythms.
One of the most anticipated moments will be the presentation of the “Caribe Esmeralda” crown, designed by Adela Char Warner and officially bestowed upon Queen Michelle Char.
Inspired by Colombian emeralds, the piece stands out for its green tones, symbolizing fertility, natural wealth, and the feminine legacy within the Carnival tradition. More than a ceremonial ornament, the crown is intended to tell stories and represent the cultural identity of the Colombian Caribbean.
The coronation is not only an artistic spectacle but also a deeply symbolic act. It represents festive leadership, cultural identity, and the union of tradition and modernity that characterizes the Barranquilla Carnival, recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.