Pasto Carnival in Colombia Runs 2 to 7 January 2027

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COLOMBIA · CARNIVAL

The Pasto Carnival, officially the Carnival of Blacks and Whites, runs from 2 to 7 January 2027 in southern Colombia. Its main parade, the Desfile Magno, falls on Wednesday 6 January.

For a US reader, it is a UNESCO-listed street festival on fixed dates in a southern Colombian city. The organisers have not yet published the 2027 programme, so our Pasto Carnival guide separates what is fixed from what is not.

What the Pasto Carnival Is

Pasto is a city in Nariño, a department in the far south-west of Colombia near the border with Ecuador. The Pasto Carnival is officially called the Carnival of Blacks and Whites, or Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in Spanish.

The organisers say it dates from the colonial period. It blends Indigenous rituals, Hispanic Christian traditions and the memory of enslaved African nations.

The organisers and Colombia’s official travel site say UNESCO, the United Nations culture agency, listed it as intangible heritage of humanity in 2009. The travel site calls the Desfile Magno on 6 January the highlight.

It describes large floats, some up to 26 feet (8 metres) long. Most are designed by local artists.

The Dates and Days to Plan Around

The organisers say the Pasto Carnival runs from 2 to 7 January. In 2027 that means Saturday 2 January to Thursday 7 January.

The organiser’s programme page still shows the 2026 edition. It lists Carnavalito, the children’s day, on 2 January and a parade of dance groups honouring Mother Earth on 3 January.

The Castañeda Family parade follows on 4 January, with scenes of regional memory. On 5 January comes the Juego de Identidad, the identity game built around painting faces.

The Desfile Magno on 6 January is the main parade of the Pasto Carnival, and the organisers call it the high point. If the 2027 programme keeps those dates, 4 January is a Monday, 5 January a Tuesday and 6 January a Wednesday.

Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/colombia-christmas-new-year-holiday-dates-2026/”>holiday guide</a> lists New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January 2027 and Epiphany on Monday 11 January. The carnival opens on Saturday 2 January, the day after New Year’s Day, so book rooms early.

Where the Parades Run

The organisers describe the Senda del Carnaval, the official route, with a gathering point, a start and an end for each day. Their route map cannot be read as text, so we cannot give 2027 street names.

In the 2026 programme the Desfile Magno began at 8:00, with a gathering at a municipal school called INEM. It ended at Avenida Alfonso Zambrano and the Libertad departmental stadium.

The same programme lists an offering to the Virgin of Mercy at 7:00 on the morning of 6 January. A street party called Rumba Carnavalera followed at 4:00 in the afternoon in Plaza de Nariño and Plaza del Carnaval.

Colombia’s official travel site names Plaza de Nariño, Plaza del Carnaval and Pasto Cathedral among the city’s main sights. Treat the 2026 times as a guide, because the 2027 programme may change them.

Other Events Around the Carnival

The 2026 run-up began on 28 December with an orchestra festival and a salsa concert in Plaza del Carnaval. The programme also listed a Carnival race with 15K, 10K and 5K distances, starting at 6:00 in the morning.

It named a trout festival in El Encano and a guinea pig and rural culture festival in four country districts. The city’s agriculture office runs both, and we found no 2027 dates for them.

Colombia’s official travel site lists cuy (roast guinea pig), fried trout and quimbolitos, a steamed sweet cake, among Pasto’s local dishes. It also points visitors to the Galeras volcano sanctuary, Las Lajas Sanctuary and the La Cocha lagoon.

Getting to Pasto and What to Pack

Colombia’s official travel site says Antonio Nariño airport is about 17 miles (27 km) from the city and has national flight connections. It lists no international flights, so a US visitor should expect to connect through another Colombian city.

We found no airline schedule and no hotel rates for early January 2027. Book early, because the Pasto Carnival and the New Year weekend overlap.

The travel site calls Pasto’s climate mild and sometimes cool and suggests a jacket. Because 5 January is a face-painting game, wear clothes you do not mind marking.

Colombia keeps one time all year, UTC-5, which matches New York time in January. A parade that starts at 8:00 in the morning in Pasto starts at 8:00 in New York.

Safety and Entry Rules for US Visitors

US citizens need no visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, says the US State Department. The passport must be valid at entry and for the whole stay.

The State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and marks some regions Level 4, Do Not Travel. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/colombia-security-crime-explained-2026/”>security guide</a> names them, including Arauca, Norte de Santander and Cauca outside Popayán.

Nariño does not appear among those Level 4 areas in the advisory text we read, but its neighbour Cauca does. Check the department list yourself before you plan any overland route.

The State Department says US government employees may not use street taxis or any public transport that is not prearranged. Private visitors can follow the same caution and arrange rides through their hotel.

Dial 123 for emergencies in Colombia. The US Embassy is in Bogotá, not Pasto, and answers at +57 601 275-2000; after hours, press 0.

Check the advisory again before you fly, because it can change. In 2026 a street party began at 4:00 pm on 6 January, so plan your way back to the hotel before it starts.

How to Fit It Into a Wider Colombia Trip

The <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/cartagena-music-festival-2027-tickets-2026/”>Cartagena Music Festival</a> runs from 9 to 17 January 2027, a few days after the Pasto Carnival ends. Flying north from Pasto in time for it needs early booking.

Barranquilla’s carnival starts on Saturday 6 February, and our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/barranquilla-carnival-2027-dates-parades-2026/”>Barranquilla Carnival guide</a> covers its parades. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/colombian-traditions-holidays-family-celebrations/”>Colombian traditions guide</a> explains the customs behind the national holidays.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

We found no 2027 programme for the Pasto Carnival, because the organiser’s pages still show the 2026 edition. Times, routes and the order of the days may therefore change.

Corpocarnaval, the organising company named on the carnival site, lists no 2027 dates and no ticket sales. We did not confirm whether paid grandstands or reserved viewing places exist, and no official seller is named.

We also found no 2027 theme, no hotel rates and no airline schedule. The Pasto Carnival site points visitors to its official WhatsApp contacts for updates.

More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Pasto Carnival in 2027?

The organisers say it runs from 2 to 7 January, with the Desfile Magno on 6 January. The 2027 programme is not published yet, so times may change.

Is the Pasto Carnival safe for American visitors?

The State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider Travel. Stay in the city, book rides through your hotel and check the advisory again before you fly.

Do I need a ticket or a visa for the Pasto Carnival?

US citizens need no visa for stays of 90 days or less. We found no ticket sale for the parades, but paid seating is not confirmed either way.

Sources: Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, official site (dates 2 to 7 January, daily programme, route description), accessed 31 October 2026; Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, what to do (programme page, still showing the 2026 edition), accessed 31 October 2026; Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, history of the carnival and UNESCO listing, accessed 31 October 2026; Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, official programme document 2026 (PDF), accessed 31 October 2026; Corpocarnaval, organising company (no 2027 dates or ticket sales listed), accessed 31 October 2026; Colombia official travel site, Pasto (carnival dates, airport, climate, sights), accessed 31 October 2026; US State Department, Colombia Travel Advisory (Level 3, Reconsider Travel), accessed 31 October 2026; US State Department, Colombia country information (entry, passport validity, embassy, emergency number), accessed 31 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief