The Barranquilla Carnival is the world's second-largest carnival after Rio de Janeiro, and was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. The 2027 edition runs February 6–9 with four days of music, dance, costumes and pure joy. This guide has everything you need to plan your visit; for the day-by-day schedule and latest news, see the official Carnival 2027 page.
When is the Barranquilla Carnival 2027?
The confirmed Carnival 2027 dates are:
- Saturday, February 6 — Battle of Flowers
- Sunday, February 7 — Grand Parade of Tradition and Folklore
- Monday, February 8 — Grand Fantasy Parade
- Tuesday, February 9 — Burial of Joselito Carnaval (closing)
Beyond these four days, the Pre-Carnival season starts weeks earlier with the Lectura del Bando (official proclamation), the crowning of the monarchs, the Children's Carnival and the Guacherna, the great lantern-lit night parade (estimated for Friday, January 29, 2027).
What is the Battle of Flowers?
The Battle of Flowers is the opening event of Carnival and the most attended. It is a parade along Vía 40 where decorated floats, folk dances, comparsas (dance groups) and the Carnival Queen travel the main corridor before hundreds of thousands of spectators. It's called the "Battle of Flowers" because it was born in 1903 as a parade of carriages playfully "battling" with flowers to celebrate the end of the Thousand Days' War. Today it combines live music, spectacular costumes and the energy of the Colombian Caribbean.
Who are the Carnival's iconic characters?
The festival's most beloved protagonists — each with its full story in our Carnival characters guide:
- Marimonda: the most popular character and the only one born in Barranquilla — long trunk-like nose, huge ears and irreverent humor.
- Garabato: the dance staging the struggle between life and death, with red capes and a wooden staff.
- Congo: Carnival's oldest dance, African heritage with flower-decorated headdresses and wooden machetes.
- Monocuco: the masked reveler who parties in full anonymity, in a colorful tunic and hood.
- Negrita Puloy: red polka-dot dress, from advertising image to comparsa icon.
- Joselito Carnaval: the festival's spirit, who "dies" on Tuesday and closes Carnival until next year.
Where to watch the parades: palcos and alternatives
The traditional corridor is Vía 40, parallel to the Magdalena River (for 2027 the city is studying a possible move to the Gran Malecón riverfront; a decision is expected in August 2026). Your options:
- Official palcos: grandstands with seats and shade, the best view. As a 2026 reference: from ~99,000 COP (mini-palcos) to ~595,000 COP (VIP) for multi-day packages. Full details in our tickets & palcos guide.
- Chairs and popular stands: cheaper options on specific stretches.
- From the street: free open stretches exist; arrive early to secure a view.
Night events like the Guacherna and the Orchestra Festival sell separate tickets — and much of the season can be enjoyed for free.
How to get there and where to stay
Carnival draws over a million attendees, so logistics come first:
- Book accommodation before October: hotels sell out and prices double or triple. The best areas are El Prado, Alto Prado and Riomar — the full breakdown is in our where-to-stay guide.
- Fly into Ernesto Cortissoz airport (BAQ), or via Cartagena/Santa Marta (≈2 hours by road). More routes in how to get to Atlántico.
- Ride-hailing apps work citywide, with longer waits at parade peak hours.
Practical tips for enjoying Carnival
- Light, colorful clothes you don't mind getting messy: cornstarch and foam are part of the street fun. Ideas in our what-to-wear guide.
- Closed, comfortable shoes for long parade days.
- Small bills: many street vendors don't take cards.
- The February sun is intense: sunscreen, a hat and constant hydration.
- The Children's Carnival (the weekend before) is ideal for families, and neighborhood verbenas complete the experience — check the Atlántico events calendar.
- First time? Our first-timer's guide covers budget, safety and rookie mistakes.
