What to Do in Cartagena in October 2026: Guitar Masters, Independence Preludes and Caribbean Art
CARTAGENA · Culture
The XIII International Guitar Festival runs 8 to 11 October, the Independence preludes fill the Fridays with vallenato and salsa, and a long Columbus Day weekend falls on 10 to 12 October. The month, day by day.
CARTAGENA — October is the warm-up month for the city’s November Independence festivities. For visitors from the United States, the key dates are the guitar festival from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October and the public holiday on Monday 12 October, which makes a three-day weekend.
Everything below was checked against organisers, the city or the local press on 5 October 2026. Events that have already happened are left out. Where an organiser has not published a time or price, the card says so rather than guessing.
8 to 12 October: guitars and a long weekend
Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October
XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cartagena
Teatro Adolfo Mejía, Palacio de la Proclamación, Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, Casa Bolívar and Ruedo de La Serrezuela · Tickets through Passline, prices not confirmed
The city’s main guitar festival brings players from Spain, the United States, Cuba, Chile and Ecuador, plus Colombian acts such as Trío Capital and the Orquesta de Guitarras Adolfo Mejía. The Teatro Adolfo Mejía hosts three concerts, including a Parranda Vallenata session on the Friday. Daily times were not yet published at the time of writing, so check the festival channels before you book a seat.
Friday 9 October, time not published
Preludio Localidad 2, Fiestas de Independencia
El Pozón, Localidad 2 · Price not published
The second Independence prelude features Soneros de Gámero, Nelson Velásquez, Farid Ortiz and Criss y Ronny. It is a neighbourhood party rather than a tourist show. Go with someone who knows the area and plan your ride home in advance.
Monday 12 October (national holiday)
Día de la Diversidad Étnica y Cultural
Nationwide · Banks and public offices closed
Colombia observes the holiday on Monday 12 October 2026, so the long weekend runs from Saturday 10 to Monday 12 October. Expect full hotels, busy beaches and heavy traffic on the roads out of the city. Book restaurants and boat trips early.
15 to 22 October: art, a student prelude and a port summit
Thursday 15 to Friday 16 October
XVIII Congreso Internacional de Arte en el Caribe: Arte & Video
Organised by Unibac, Cartagena · Programme and registration not yet confirmed
The congress treats video as an expanded language that includes performance, archive, installation, experimental film and digital art. It brings together artists, researchers and educators. It suits readers who follow contemporary Caribbean art; check the Unibac website for the day-by-day programme.
Thursday 15 October, time not published
Preludio Universitario, Fiestas de Independencia
Venue not stated · Price not published
The official September programme places the student prelude on 15 October. Confirm the date with the Alcaldía de Cartagena or the Instituto de Patrimonio y Cultura (IPCC) before you go.
Friday 16 October, time not published
Preludio Localidad 3, Fiestas de Independencia
Blas de Lezo, Localidad 3 · Price not published
Son Caribe, GiBlack, Rafa Pérez, Charlie Cardona and Jader Tremendo are billed. Like the other preludes, it is open-air and strongly local. Taxis can be scarce after the show.
Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 October
TOC Americas 2026
Hotel Las Américas Convention Center · Conference registration through the organiser
The container-terminal and supply-chain conference expects more than 1,800 professionals from over 60 countries, with Grupo Puerto de Cartagena as host port. The theme is conflict, trade and connectivity. A port technology exhibition runs alongside. The host port is Colombia’s Caribbean container gateway, so the event matters to anyone tracking US-Colombia trade.
23 to 30 October: drums, tradition and the start of the Fiestas
Friday 23 October, time not published
Noche de Candela y Jolgorio de Tambores
Plaza de los Coches, Centro Histórico · Public event, price not published
A night of drums, candles and folklore in the old city’s main colonial square, with the Independence queen candidates present. The 2026 format has not been confirmed.
Friday 30 October, time not published
Noche de Tradición Festiva y Traje Artesanal
Cartagena · Public event, price not published
This evening of festive tradition and handmade costume is listed in the official agenda. The venue and artists had not been confirmed by the sources we could reach, so check the IPCC channels first.
Looking ahead: the November Independence Fiestas
The official programme of the Fiestas de Noviembre closes on Monday 16 November. The Gran Desfile de Independencia is set for Thursday 12 November on Avenida Santander. Concerts on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November feature Juan Luis Guerra, Nicky Jam, Ryan Castro, Silvestre Dangond, Grupo Niche and Beéle.
Monday 2 November (All Saints’ Day, moved from Sunday 1 November) and Monday 16 November (Cartagena Independence) are public holidays. If you plan to come for the Fiestas, book flights and hotels early.
What it means for you
A US traveller can build a good week around the guitar festival and the long weekend. Book Passline seats early, because the heritage venues are small. Expect the holiday weekend of 10 to 12 October to be the busiest, so a midweek stay around the festival may be quieter.
Residents and long-stay visitors have more choice. The free preludes show the city’s popular side, while the art congress and the port summit serve professional audiences. The Independence Fiestas build to a peak in mid-November, which is the next big test for hotels and transport.
What is not known
Several organisers have not published times or prices. The Passline ticket prices for the guitar festival are unconfirmed, and the venue for the student prelude is not stated. We left out events we could not confirm with an organiser, the city or the local press, including some listings that appear on aggregator sites. Programmes can change, so check the official channels the same week.
Planning your Cartagena October
October is hot, humid and rainy. Afternoon and evening storms are common. Carry a compact umbrella and keep a covered fallback near any outdoor plan.
Use taxis or ride-hailing apps after dark, especially for events in Localidad 2 and Localidad 3, and agree the fare first. Cards are widely accepted in the historic centre, but keep some cash for street food and neighbourhood concerts.
For weekly listings, use the Alcaldía de Cartagena agenda, the IPCC calendar and El Universal. You can also read our Colombia coverage, our guide to the Cartagena cultural agenda for 2026 and the October guide for Mérida.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events in Cartagena in October 2026?
The XIII International Guitar Festival runs Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October. The Independence preludes fill the Fridays, TOC Americas runs 20 to 22 October, and the Noche de Candela y Jolgorio de Tambores is on Friday 23 October.
Is there a public holiday in Cartagena in October 2026?
Yes. Monday 12 October is a national holiday, which creates a long weekend from Saturday 10 to Monday 12 October. The next holiday is Monday 2 November for All Saints’ Day.
How do I get tickets for the Cartagena guitar festival?
Tickets for the XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra are sold through Passline, according to local press coverage. Prices were not confirmed at the time of writing, so check the festival channels.
Are the Independence prelude concerts free?
The neighbourhood preludes are public open-air concerts and the official listings do not state an entry price. Confirm with the Alcaldía de Cartagena if you need certainty.
When do the November Independence Fiestas start?
The official programme closes on Monday 16 November, with the Gran Desfile on Thursday 12 November.
Sources: El Universal (Fiestas agenda), Primer Tiempo (guitar festival), Unibac, MundoMaritimo (TOC Americas), cartagena.gov.co, El Colombiano (holidays). 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