Will Medellín’s Christmas Lights Shine in 2026?

COLOMBIA · CHRISTMAS TRAVEL

Medellín’s Christmas lights draw crowds to the Medellín River every December, and the 2026 edition has no opening date yet. The mayor says the show goes ahead only if Colombia’s power supply is safe.

Medellín’s Christmas lights, known as the Alumbrados EPM, are a December draw for thousands of visitors, the mayor says. As of Saturday, 24 October 2026, no opening date for this year’s show has been announced.

The question is power, not preparation, because El Niño has left Colombia’s reservoirs low and the grid under strain. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez says the city will not switch the lights on if that puts the energy supply at risk.

What the Medellín Christmas Lights Are

The Alumbrados EPM are a city-wide Christmas display built each year by EPM, Medellín’s city-owned utility. The 2025 show was the 58th edition and carried the theme “En Navidad, Medellín te quiere,” marking the city’s 350th anniversary.

EPM’s own page lists 8 million bulbs, 25,000 figures from 1 to 25 metres tall, and 600 kilometres of luminous hose. The display covered 61 places, including the city centre, 16 comunas and five rural districts.

The centrepiece is a walking route of about 1.5 kilometres in Parques del Río, between the Guayaquil bridge and the park. The city’s press office describes four sections built around the seven hills that frame Medellín.

Highlights last season included a 25-metre tree decorated with orchids and a giant carriel, the traditional shoulder bag of the Paisa region. A 360-degree dome ran 15-minute shows every hour, El Colombiano says, for up to 500 people.

Downtown, the lights run along Avenida La Playa and around Parque de Bolívar, the old civic square. EPM also lists Plaza Botero, Parque Lleras and Carrera 70 among the lit areas.

Why the 2026 Show Is in Question

El Niño is a Pacific climate pattern that brings drought to Colombia, which relies heavily on hydropower. Minuto60 says river flows into reservoirs have run at 76 percent to 80 percent of normal since May.

On 28 and 29 September, supply fell short of demand, Minuto60 says, and grid operator XM found extra generation in time. XM warns that the system will be under pressure from December 2026 to April 2027.

On Sunday, 18 October, Senator Juan Espinal asked mayors and utilities to study whether to install Christmas lights at all. His request is not an order, and no rule bans the lights, so each mayor and company decides.

A Cartagena lawyer has also filed a petition to ban public Christmas lighting, Minuto60 says. The government launched its Plan Energía YA on 6 September, with COP 1.9 trillion (about US$598 million) allocated, Minuto60 says.

Conversions use the open.er-api.com rate of 24 October 2026, when US$1 bought COP 3,180. No other peso amounts appear in this guide.

Minuto30 and Telemedellín quote the mayor on 19 and 20 October saying the city would “never be irresponsible” about lighting up. He would not light them if that risked Colombia’s energy supply, and has asked EPM’s manager to analyse the situation.

On 8 October, MiOriente reported that EPM ruled out cancelling the lights it manages, including Medellín’s, and Minuto60 repeated it. The two positions are not identical, and no final decision had been published by Saturday, 24 October 2026.

What Is Known About the 2026 Dates

EPM announced on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, that 14 Antioquia towns won its “Encendamos la alegría” contest. They will join Medellín’s lights this year, and the list includes El Retiro, Jericó, San Roque and Frontino.

Minuto60 and MiOriente say lighting is planned between Monday, 23 November, and Sunday, 6 December 2026. Neither names a Medellín date, and EPM had not published a calendar in the sources checked.

Last year gives a guide, because the 2025 town lights came on between 24 November and 6 December, Blu Radio says. Medellín itself lit up at Parques del Río on 28 November 2025, EPM says, and stayed on for 46 days.

If 2026 follows that pattern, the main switch-on would fall in the last week of November. That is an inference from last year, not an announcement, so treat any date as provisional until EPM confirms it.

How to Plan a Visit to the Lights

Last season the lights ran daily from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, with special hours on 24 and 31 December. Hours for 2026 have not been published.

EPM’s page presents the lights as a gift to the city and does not list an entry fee for the river route. The city’s citizen line, listed on its press office page, is +57 604 44 44 144.

The densest crowds gather at Parques del Río in the evening, so arrive near 6:00 p.m. and expect slow walking. Keep phones and bags close, because the State Department warns that thieves snatch phones, bags and jewellery.

The department advises against hailing taxis in the street and says to use a dispatch service or a ride app. Plan the ride back before you go, because the display ends at midnight.

A Christmas trip can combine the lights with the city’s other attractions. The Medellín city guide and What to Do in Medellín in October 2026 cover neighbourhoods and events.

Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors

US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, the State Department says. Passports must be valid for the whole stay with at least one blank page, and a return ticket may be required.

Travellers must complete Colombia’s free Check-Mig online form before flying. The department gives slightly different timing in two places, so use the official form for the current deadline.

The State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in an advisory issued on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. It cites crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and natural disasters.

The advisory has no Medellín-specific warning, and nationwide guidance applies. Its do-not-travel list names Arauca, Norte de Santander, Cauca and most of Valle del Cauca, and does not name Antioquia, Medellín’s department.

Armed robbery is common, and the advisory says not to resist if targeted. It also warns about drink spiking by criminals who pose as dates on apps, and about card skimming at street ATMs.

Demonstrations are frequent and can block roads without notice. The emergency number is 123, and the department urges travellers to enrol in STEP alerts and carry evacuation insurance.

Entry and exit above US$10,000 in cash must be declared. The department also advises bottled water and prescriptions kept in original packaging.

What It Means for You

Do not pay for non-refundable flights or rooms tied to the lights until EPM or the mayor confirms a date. Refundable fares cost more, but they protect a trip that depends on a decision still pending.

Even if the show is trimmed, the downtown streets, Parques del Río and neighbourhood parks will carry seasonal decorations. Check EPM’s channels again in the last week of November, when switch-on is most likely.

No power cuts have been announced, but the grid operator expects pressure from December to April. The report on the Colombia energy deficit explains the numbers.

What Is Not Known

EPM has not published the 2026 switch-on date, the closing date or the nightly hours for Medellín. It has also not said how many places will be lit or whether the dome shows return.

No decision has been published on reduced hours, dimming or fewer figures. It is also unclear whether other cities will light up, because each mayor and utility decides on its own.

The 23 November to 6 December window comes from news outlets and is not an EPM calendar. The government has not issued a rule on public Christmas lighting.

What Comes Next

EPM and the Medellín mayor’s office have not said when they will announce the decision and the switch-on date. Last year the switch-on fell on Friday, 28 November 2025, so an announcement could come in November.

The lights, if they go ahead, would run into January, and the 2025 season ended on Monday, 12 January 2026. Prices, hours and dates can change, so check EPM before you travel.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times Medellín city guide and the Colombia hub cover the host city and country. For the holiday calendar, read Colombia Christmas Holidays Run 8 December to 11 January.

Other Colombian events are covered in Cali Salsa Fair Runs 25 to 30 December 2026 and Barranquilla Carnival 2027 dates and parades. For football, see Colombia vs Chile in Cali on Friday 13 November.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Medellín Christmas lights start in 2026?

No date has been announced as of Saturday, 24 October 2026. Local news outlets point to a lighting window from 23 November to 6 December, and the 2025 switch-on was on 28 November.

Will El Niño cancel the Medellín Christmas lights?

Not yet decided. MiOriente reports EPM ruled out cancelling, but the mayor says Medellín will not proceed if supply is at risk.

Do US citizens need a visa to see the lights?

No, US citizens need no visa for stays of 90 days or less, the State Department says. Complete the Check-Mig form, carry a valid passport and check the Level 3 advisory.

Sources: EPM, Alumbrados EPM 2025 lighting; EPM, 14 municipalities with Alumbrados EPM 2026 (15 July 2026); Alcaldía de Medellín, lighting of the 2025 lights; Telemedellín (20 October 2026); Minuto30 (19 October 2026); Minuto60 (19 October 2026); El País Cali (19 October 2026); MiOriente via Prensa Mercosur (8 October 2026); El Colombiano, 2025 lighting; Blu Radio, 2025 town lights; US State Department, Colombia travel advisory; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 24 October 2026).