Curaçao Carnival 2027: dates, parades and tips

Language & culture · 3 min read · Checked November 8, 2026

Short answer

Carnival is the biggest celebration of the year on Curaçao. It starts in the first week of January and ends on the night before Ash Wednesday. In 2027 Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February, so the Gran Marcha, the big daytime parade, is expected on Sunday 7 February 2027 and the farewell parade on Tuesday 9 February. The organiser has not published the official 2027 programme yet.

Expected dates for 2027

Beehives, which organises Carnival 2026 and 2027, has started preparing and will present the programme at a press conference. Until then, the dates below follow the fixed pattern: the main parades fall in the last days before Ash Wednesday.

First week of January: opening of the Carnival season.
January: Tumba Festival, the song contest. Date not announced yet.
17 January 2027: elections of the Carnival Queen, Prince and Pancho, confirmed by the organisers.
Sunday 7 February 2027: Gran Marcha, the grand parade (expected).
Tuesday 9 February 2027: Marcha di Despedida, the farewell parade at night (expected).

In 2026 the Gran Marcha ran from 11:00 to 19:00 and the farewell parade from 18:00 to 1:00. We will update this page when the official 2027 programme is out.

What happens during Carnival

Tumba Festival: a four-day song contest with more than 50 singers. The winning song becomes the road march of the season, played at every parade and party.
Elections: adults, teens and children choose their Carnival Queen, Prince and Pancho, who lead the parades.
Jump-ins: big themed parties in front of stages, such as the Hak’e Jump-in.
Parades: seven in total, with nearly 10,000 people taking part: the horse parade, the youth and teen parades, the Bandabou parade in the west of the island, the Gran Marcha and the farewell parades at night.
King Momo: after the farewell parade a straw figure, King Momo, is burned. He stands for bad luck and sins, and his burning closes the season.

Watching a parade

Stay in Otrobanda or Punda and you can walk to the parade.
Parking is limited. Share a car or take a taxi. If you rent a car, book early for the parade weekend.
Watching from the street is free. Bring a chair, an umbrella, food and drinks, because a parade lasts all day.
Paid stands along the route usually include food, drinks and toilets.
Wear sunscreen and a hat and drink plenty of water.
Parades often start later than planned. Take it easy, the locals call it poko poko.

Before Carnival: December

The year ends with pagaras and fireworks. Read about Curaçao in December.

Sources: Curaçao Tourist Board, Curaçao Chronicle, 5 February 2026, Curaçao Chronicle, 30 September 2026 and Curaçao Chronicle, 2 October 2026.

Photo: the Carnival horse parade in Otrobanda, 2020, by Kattiel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

When is Curaçao Carnival 2027?

The season starts in the first week of January and ends on the night of Tuesday 9 February 2027, before Ash Wednesday. The Gran Marcha is expected on Sunday 7 February. The organiser has not published the official programme yet.

What is the Gran Marcha?

The grand parade, the main daytime parade of Carnival, on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Thousands of dancers, bands and costumed groups move through the streets.

What is the Tumba Festival?

A song contest in January where more than 50 singers compete. The winning tumba becomes the road march of the season.

Is it free to watch the Carnival parades?

Yes. You can watch for free from the street. Paid stands with food, drinks and toilets are also available.

What is the burning of King Momo?

King Momo is a straw figure that stands for bad luck and sins. He is burned after the farewell parade, the night before Ash Wednesday, to close the Carnival season.