CALI · Culture
Sucursal Fest fills the streets until 17 October, Kraken and Ryan Castro play on Saturday 17 October, and the World Salsa Festival opens on Friday 23 October. Bunbury closes the month on Saturday 31 October.
CALI — This guide is for people who live in Cali or are staying for weeks. It lists things to do in Cali in October 2026 day by day, with venues, prices where the seller publishes them, and the points we could not confirm. It was checked on Monday 5 October 2026, and events before that date are left out.
The big shift this month is the World Salsa Festival. The city has moved its 21st edition from September to three phases between 23 October and 15 November, and dropped the dance competition. Monday 12 October is a public holiday, so the weekend of 10 to 12 October is a long one, and Sucursal Fest uses it for its main days.
Prices below are in Colombian pesos (COP), with US$ values at about 3,203 COP per US$ on 5 October 2026 (RT market rate). Ticket sellers add service fees, so the final price at checkout can differ.
6 to 17 October: Sucursal Fest
Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 October
Sucursal Fest opens: Icesi, Yawa and Curador Club Social
Universidad Icesi, Yawa and Curador Club Social · Entry reported free
The festival runs from 6 to 17 October with more than 400 artists, according to the Alcaldía de Cali. Tuesday 6 October is an academic day at Universidad Icesi from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The official launch is Wednesday 7 October from 7:00 p.m. at Yawa, with an audiovisual show. Friday 9 October moves to Curador Club Social for funk, disco and electronic cumbia.
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October
Sucursal Fest main weekend
Parque La Retreta · Entry reported free
The central dates bring local and national acts in rock, pop, hip hop and Pacific sounds to Parque La Retreta. A separate stage is reserved for electronic music. Saturday 10 October also has a freestyle day with qualifiers and battles. Agenda Viva lists entry as free, but check the festival channels for any limits.
Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 October
Sucursal Fest closing days
Universidad Antonio José Camacho, Loma de la Cruz and Bulevar del Oriente · Entry reported free
Wednesday 14 October is a film forum on diversity and identity. Friday 16 October brings live arts, micro-theatre, circus and dance to Loma de la Cruz. The festival closes on Saturday 17 October at Bulevar del Oriente with dance, urban culture and music.
17 to 25 October: big concerts, puppets and film
Saturday 17 October, 7:00 p.m. (doors 6:30 p.m.)
Kraken Sinfónico
Teatro Jorge Isaacs, centro · From COP 126,100 (about US$39), service included
The Colombian rock band Kraken performs with symphonic arrangements, promoted by FILMO and sold through Tuboleta. Tuboleta lists Paraíso at COP 126,100 (about US$39), Platea at COP 239,800 (about US$75) and Platea Preferencial at COP 290,400 (about US$91). The show is billed as the only one in Cali, and the minimum age is 3.
Saturday 17 October, 8:00 p.m. per Tuboleta
Ryan Castro, Sendé The Last Dance
Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, San Fernando · Price on Tuboleta
The reggaeton star was due to play on 22 August, but postponed out of solidarity with families hit by the earthquake. The new date is 17 October, and tickets already bought remain valid. Most sections are for ages 18 and over. The stadium show falls on the same night as Kraken, so expect heavy traffic and book your ride home early.
Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 October
International Puppet Fair
Casa de los Títeres and the Teatrino of the Teatro Municipal · Tickets at casadelostiteres.com
Companies from Argentina, Mexico, Cuba and several Colombian regions take part. The Teatrino hosts puppet marathons on Sunday 18 October (3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.) and Sunday 25 October (3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.). Each marathon ticket covers two works.
Friday 16 to Sunday 25 October
FICCALI, the Cali International Film Festival
Various venues, including the Teatrino of the Teatro Municipal · Teatrino screenings free until capacity
FICCALI launched on Saturday 3 October with a free screening of the Pablo Milanés documentary at the Museo La Tertulia. The festival itself runs from 16 to 25 October, and the Premios Macondo are held in Cali that day. At the Teatrino, Libertad doble by Lisandro Alonso screens on Wednesday 21 October at 6:00 p.m., followed by local shorts at 8:00 p.m. Thursday 22 October adds the Runa Simi screening at 6:00 p.m. Afro and Indigenous avant-garde programmes run on Friday 23 October, and the WE CAM FEST and ANIMÁ VÉ shorts on Saturday 24 October.
23 October to 15 November: salsa and books
Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October
World Salsa Festival, first phase
Teatro al Aire Libre Los Cristales · Ticket details not yet published
The Alcaldía de Cali announced the 21st edition in three phases: 23 to 25 October at Los Cristales, Saturday 7 November in the Obrero neighbourhood, and Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November at Bulevar del Oriente. There is no dance competition this year. The city says more details on artists and venues will follow, and older listings that show late September are out of date.
From Friday 23 October
Feria Internacional del Libro de Cali (FIL Cali)
Bulevar del Río, centro
The Colombian Book Chamber lists the fair from 23 October to 2 November, while some outlets give 3 November, so confirm the closing date at filcali.com. El Nuevo Siglo reports the Dominican Republic as guest of honour. The programme was not yet public when we checked.
28 to 31 October: jazz, accountability and Bunbury
Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October
Festival Ajazzgo 2026, phase 2
Teatrino of the Teatro Municipal Enrique Buenaventura · Time and price not published
The Teatro Municipal lists two dates for the second phase of the festival. We could not confirm the programme, times or ticket price.
Thursday 29 October, 10:00 a.m.
Second public accountability session of the Secretaría de Cultura
Carpa #28 at FIL Cali · Free
The city culture secretariat and its units, including the Teatro Municipal, present results for 2026. The Alcaldía lists the session in its October calendar.
Friday 30 October
Candlelight: Boleros Inolvidables and Tribute to The Beatles
Museo La Tertulia · From COP 90,000 (about US$28)
Fever sells both candlelit concerts, each about 60 minutes. Boleros Inolvidables starts at 6:00 p.m., and the Beatles tribute time is not shown. Doors open 30 minutes before, late entry is not allowed, and the minimum age is 8. Fever uses dynamic pricing, so the price can rise.
Saturday 31 October, 9:00 p.m. (doors 7:00 p.m.)
Bunbury, Nuevas Mutaciones Tour
Arena Cañaveralejo, Cañaveralejo · COP 181,000 to 346,000 (about US$57 to US$108)
The Spanish rock singer returns to Cali after 14 years, with only two Colombian dates on this tour (Bogotá on 29 October). Ticketmaster lists Gradería Lateral at COP 181,000 (about US$57), Gradería Central at COP 230,000 (about US$72) and Platino at COP 346,000 (about US$108), fees included. Our Bunbury concert guide has the venue details.
Running all month
Until Monday 19 October
Bienal Internacional de Artes Gráficas de Cali
Venues across the city · Free
The biennial opened on 29 September and brings urban graphics, media arts and design from more than 25 countries. No full venue list had been published in mid-September, so check cali.gov.co and Agenda Viva. Our biennial guide explains the format.
Planning your Cali in October
Monday 12 October 2026 is a Colombian public holiday, officially the Día de la Diversidad Étnica y Cultural de la Nación Colombiana, formerly Día de la Raza. Banks, schools and government offices close. Because it falls on a Monday, the date is not moved, and the weekend runs from Saturday 10 to Monday 12 October.
Tickets are split across platforms. Tuboleta sells Kraken and Ryan Castro, Ticketmaster sells Bunbury, Fever sells the Candlelight concerts, and the puppet fair sells through casadelostiteres.com. Most Teatrino film screenings are free until the room is full, so arrive early. Rain showers are common in October, so carry a light waterproof for outdoor festival days.
Saturday 17 October is the busiest night: Kraken in the centre and Ryan Castro at Pascual Guerrero share the evening, and Sucursal Fest closes at Bulevar del Oriente. Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps, and agree on a pick-up point before the shows end. For the city’s wider calendar, see the Colombia hub and our earlier salsa festival guide, which still shows the superseded September dates.
What this means for you
For a US reader in Cali, the cheapest evenings are the free Teatrino screenings and the Sucursal Fest weekend. Paid concerts are modest by US standards: Kraken starts near US$39 and Bunbury near US$57, including fees. The Candlelight shows start near US$28.
Plan around Saturday 17 October and the long weekend of 10 to 12 October, when transport and restaurants are busiest. Buy Bunbury and Kraken tickets early, since both are popular.
What we do not know: the full Sucursal Fest line-up by artist, ticket prices for the World Salsa Festival, the FIL Cali programme and closing date, and the Ajazzgo programme. We will update the guide as the organisers publish them.
Background: Brazil Election Results 2026: Live Updates, Vote Count and Runoff Scenarios.
Background: 11 BRICS Members in 2026 and 10 Partner Countries.
Background: Brazil Economy 2026: Growth, Selic, Inflation and Election.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events in Cali in October 2026?
Sucursal Fest runs from 6 to 17 October, Kraken Sinfónico and Ryan Castro play on Saturday 17 October, the World Salsa Festival starts on Friday 23 October, and Bunbury plays on Saturday 31 October.
When is the World Salsa Festival 2026 in Cali?
The 21st edition runs in three phases: 23 to 25 October at Teatro al Aire Libre Los Cristales, 7 November in the Obrero neighbourhood, and 14 and 15 November at Bulevar del Oriente. There is no competition this year.
Is there a public holiday in Cali in October 2026?
Yes. Monday 12 October 2026 is a Colombian public holiday, the Día de la Diversidad Étnica y Cultural de la Nación Colombiana, formerly Día de la Raza.
Are there free events in Cali this month?
Sucursal Fest is reported as free, and the Teatrino film screenings, such as Libertad doble on Wednesday 21 October at 6:00 p.m., are free until capacity. The culture secretariat session on 29 October is also free.
How much do Cali concert tickets cost?
Kraken Sinfónico starts at COP 126,100 (about US$39), Bunbury at COP 181,000 (about US$57) and Candlelight at COP 90,000 (about US$28), at about 3,203 COP per US$ on 5 October 2026. Prices include fees where the seller shows them.
Sources: Alcaldía de Cali, Sucursal Fest, Occidente, World Salsa Festival, El Valluno, El País Cali, Teatrino, FICCALI, Tuboleta, Kraken, Ticketmaster, Bunbury, Fever, Museo La Tertulia, Cámara Colombiana del Libro, Casa de los Títeres, Alcaldía de Cali, accountability calendar. Retrieved 5 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