This is the complete guide to the Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026 — mark the dates and experience the best celebrations! Discover Cusco’s main festivities: the glorious Inti Raymi, the spiritual Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the traditional Holy Week, and many more that await you throughout the year. Enjoy an authentic cultural experience with this guide and immerse yourself in the magic of Cusco all year long.
Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026 – 2027: Month by Month
January: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
January 01 – New Year’s Day
In Cusco, the New Year is welcomed with massive celebrations in the Plaza de Armas. There are free concerts, singing, and fireworks, combined with ancestral rituals such as offerings to Pachamama, offering locals and visitors an exciting and unique celebration.
January 06 – Descent of the Kings and Child of San Cristóbal
The Cusco Christmas season concludes with the Descent of the Kings. Families from traditional neighborhoods such as Ollantaytambo dismantle their nativity scenes and make offerings of images of the Child Jesus, marking the end of the Christmas festivities. On the same day, in the San Cristóbal neighborhood of the city, the faithful take part in the procession of the Child of San Cristóbal following a special Mass; the church is adorned with flowers and lights, and gratitude is expressed while asking for protection for the coming year.
January 17 – Saint Anthony the Abbot
In Cusco, especially in the San Cristóbal neighborhood, Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of animals, is celebrated. Devotees bring their pets to be blessed, and folkloric parades are held. It is a day of religious rituals and cultural expressions that reflect the community’s deep connection with nature and faith.
January 20 – Saint Sebastian
One of the most important festivals in Cusco. It includes solemn processions with the image of Saint Sebastian walking through the streets, accompanied by faithful devotees dressed in traditional attire and musicians performing folkloric melodies. At the same time, popular fairs take place featuring typical dishes such as chicharrón, and at night there are dance performances and fireworks.
January 25 – February 8 – Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria
Although the main celebration takes place in Puno, Cusco recognizes this festival during this period. It is a Catholic commemoration with deep Andean roots, in which novenas, Masses, and processions are organized. Crowds of folkloric dancers perform colorful parades in honor of the Virgin, combining Christian devotion with ancestral rituals.
February: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
February 05 – Compadres Thursday
This day is dedicated to the compadres, men who share bonds of godparenthood, friendship, and camaraderie. In different neighborhoods, games, pranks, and festive activities are held, marking the beginning of the carnival celebrations.
February 12 – Comadres Thursday
The day is dedicated to the comadres, women united by bonds of godmotherhood, friendship, and complicity. The festivity is experienced with music, streamers, foam, and an atmosphere full of joy. As part of the tradition, cloth dolls are made and placed on balconies, markets, squares, and poles. These figures represent well-known female characters and serve as a playful form of social criticism, Cusco-style.
February 15 – Carnival Sunday
It is one of the liveliest days on the festive calendar. The city turns into a great stage of color and fun, with parades, contests, comparsas, street performances, traditional dances, live music, and games with water, foam, and paint.
The Plaza de Armas and the streets of the Historic Center are filled with celebrations and collective participation.
February 16 – Carnival Monday
This is the most important day of the celebrations. The traditional yunza stands out, a festivity in which a tree decorated with gifts is set up. To the rhythm of the music, participants dance around it and, taking turns, cut it down.
When the tree falls, the person who delivered the final cut assumes the commitment of organizing the yunza the following year, strengthening the spirit of community.
Timpu or Puchero
During Carnival, this traditional dish holds a special place. It is prepared with beef, potatoes, sweet potato, rice, chickpeas, corn, and other vegetables, and is shared at family gatherings or among friends.
Octava of Carnivals – Kacharpari
One week after Carnival Sunday, the Kacharpari takes place, the ceremony that marks the closing of the festivities. In Cusco and its provinces, dances, music, and samples of local gastronomy are presented, officially bidding farewell to Carnival.
March/April: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
March 29 – April 5 – Holy Week
Holy Week is one of the most important moments on Cusco’s religious calendar. During these days, the city experiences an atmosphere of faith, reflection, and tradition, where churches and streets are filled with ceremonies that unite Christian spirituality with ancestral customs.
Everything begins with Palm Sunday, when the faithful bring palm crosses to be blessed and place them in their homes as a symbol of protection. Holy Monday stands out for the Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes, the most venerated image of the city. On Holy Thursday, the Last Supper is commemorated with the tradition of the twelve dishes, while Good Friday is devoted to recollection and the Way of the Cross. The week concludes with Easter Sunday, celebrating life and hope. This festivity represents one of the deepest spiritual expressions of the people of Cusco.
April: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
April 13 – Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes
On Holy Monday, the image of the Lord of the Earthquakes travels through the streets of the historic center in a solemn procession. Thousands of people accompany the route amid prayers, chants, and offerings of ñucchu, a red flower that symbolizes devotion and faith.
At nightfall, the Plaza de Armas fills with devotees awaiting the final blessing, creating one of the most emotional moments of the year.
The ñucchu is an Andean flower of intense red color that represents sacrifice, devotion, and spiritual memory. Its presence in this procession reflects the union between ancient Andean beliefs and Christian tradition.
May: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
May 1 – Labor Day
National holiday dedicated to workers. In Cusco, as throughout the country, civic parades and public events are held to recognize the work of the labor sector. It is a day of rest and the vindication of labor rights, marked by union meetings and peaceful marches.
Second Sunday of May – Mother’s Day
A family-oriented day in honor of mothers. On this date, Cusco families gather to honor their mothers with gifts, flowers, serenades, and special meals. It is a deeply meaningful celebration in Peru, where homes are filled with expressions of love and gratitude toward mothers.
May 18 – International Museum Day
Every May 18, state-run museums open their doors free of charge. In Cusco, municipal and archaeological museums offer free admission, guided tours, and special activities, promoting cultural heritage.
June: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
May 30 – June 04 – Lord of Qoyllurit’i Pilgrimage
Festivity with deep Andean-mestizo roots in Cusco’s South Valley. Thousands of pilgrims walk to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllurit’i, at the foot of the Ausangate snow-capped mountain, more than 4,700 meters above sea level. The faithful travel in nations of dancers wearing colorful traditional costumes, combining chants and Catholic rituals with offerings to the sacred mountains.
June 03 – Descent of the Saints and Virgins – Corpus Christi in Cusco 2026
Corpus Christi in Cusco begins with the traditional entrance of the images of saints and virgins coming from different parishes and districts of Cusco toward the city’s Cathedral. This celebration, considered one of the most important religious festivities in Peru, combines Catholic traditions with elements of the Andean worldview. The images are accompanied by bands, traditional dances, and thousands of faithful devotees.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Entrance and gathering of the 15 religious images at the Cusco Cathedral, accompanied by processions, music, and traditional dance groups.
June 04 – Main Day of Corpus Christi 2026
The main day brings together thousands of Cusco residents and visitors in the Plaza de Armas to pay homage to the Blessed Sacrament. The images of saints and virgins remain around the plaza while a solemn mass and religious processions are held. During the festivity, the cultural, gastronomic, and musical expressions typical of Corpus Christi also stand out.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Main mass, procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and display of the religious images around the Plaza de Armas.
June 05 – Technological University of the Andes (UTEA) Parade
The Technological University of the Andes participates in Cusco’s jubilee celebrations with an institutional parade full of cultural identity and academic spirit. Students and professors march through the city’s main streets with artistic performances, dances, and messages of Cusco pride.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: University institutional parade with student delegations, bands, and artistic performances starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 07 – Flag Day
The Peruvian flag is commemorated. In Cusco, patriotic ceremonies are held in plazas and schools, with solemn flag-raising ceremonies, school parades, and official speeches honoring the national emblem and the heroes of Peru.
June 08 – Preschool Dance Performances
Preschool children take center stage in a day full of color and tenderness with performances of traditional dances from Peru and Cusco. This activity seeks to strengthen cultural identity from an early age and promote Andean traditions.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Presentation of children’s folkloric dances and school parade starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 09 – Andean University of Cusco (UAC) Parade
The Andean University of Cusco joins the June festivities with an institutional parade that highlights university talent, regional culture, and commitment to higher education.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: University parade with folkloric dances, marching bands, and cultural expressions starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 10 – Continental University Parade
Continental University participates in Cusco’s festive calendar with an academic parade and folkloric dances that brings together students and authorities in tribute to the imperial city of Cusco.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Institutional procession with cultural performances and university parade starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 11 – Return of the Saints to Their Parishes – Corpus Christi in Cusco 2026
After remaining for several days at the Cusco Cathedral, the images of saints and virgins return in procession to their respective churches and districts of origin. This day symbolizes the closing of the festivity and is accompanied by faithful devotees, musicians, and traditional dancers.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Farewell procession and return of the religious images to their original parishes and temples.
June 13 – Parade “Peru Salutes Cusco”
Special event that brings together cultural delegations from different regions of the country to pay tribute to Cusco during its jubilee month. The parade showcases Peru’s cultural diversity through music, dances, and traditional costumes.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Grand multicultural parade and folkloric performances starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 14 – Flag Raising and Special Parades
Civic and cultural day that brings together various institutions and social organizations in commemorative activities. Highlights include the GERCETUR parade, the participation of the EsSalud Senior Citizen Center and the “Chakichakunawan” Animal Rights Parade.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Official flag raising, institutional parades, and thematic street parades starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 15 – Parade of Higher Education Institutes and CETPROS
Higher education institutes and technical-vocational education centers participate with student delegations that showcase creativity, professional training, and commitment to regional development.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Academic parade of institutes and CETPROS with bands, folkloric dances, and cultural representations starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 16 – National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco (UNSAAC) Parade
Cusco’s most emblematic university, one of the best universities in Peru, celebrates the jubilee festivities with a parade full of tradition, folkloric dances and university pride. Its faculties and cultural groups participate with colorful performances.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: University parade with student delegations, bands, and artistic expressions starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 17 – Primary School Dances
Primary school students from Cusco present traditional dances and artistic expressions that reflect the customs and traditions of the different regions of Peru.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: School dance festival and children’s parade starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 18 – Secondary School Dances
Secondary school students participate in a competition and parade of folkloric dances, highlighting the cultural richness of Cusco and Peru through choreographies and traditional clothing.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Presentations of traditional dances and student parade starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 20 – Allegorical Parade and Anniversary of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega School
The National University of Arts “Diego Quispe Tito” organizes a parade of artistic allegories, accompanied by the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega School, one of the most representative educational institutions in Cusco.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Parade of allegories, dance groups, and institutional celebrations starting at 8:00 a.m.
Third Sunday of June – Father’s Day
Day dedicated to honoring fathers. Cusco families celebrate them with gifts, family gatherings, and special outings as a sign of recognition and gratitude.
June 21 – First Corporate Parade “Salute to Cusco”
Companies and private institutions participate in a large festive parade with floats, music, and dance groups, promoting integration and the festive spirit during the jubilee month.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Corporate parade with floats and artistic performances starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 21 – Andean New Year (Willka Kuti)
The winter solstice is celebrated, marking the beginning of the agricultural cycle. In Cusco and other Andean towns, ceremonies are held in sacred places. At dawn, people receive the first rays of the sun with prayers and offerings to Pachamama, asking for health and prosperity.
June 23 – Institutional Civic Parade
Public and private institutions participate in a civic parade in tribute to Cusco, reaffirming regional pride and civic commitment.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Institutional civic parade with authorities, students, and organizations starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 24 – Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)
The largest Inca festivity in Cusco. The ancient solstice ceremony is reenacted with a grand representation at Qoricancha, the Plaza de Armas, and the ruins of Sacsayhuamán. The city fills with traditional costumes and dances in honor of the Sun god, asking for abundance for the land.
June 25 – Parade of Dance Groups and Allegories of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega School
As part of its institutional celebrations, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega School organizes a festive procession with dance groups, dances, and allegories that fill Cusco’s historic center with music and color.
Activity at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Student dance group parade and allegory exhibition starting at 8:00 a.m.
June 29 – Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Christian celebration of the apostles. Processions are held through the historic center with the images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul decorated with flowers. Saint Peter is especially venerated by fishing communities, who pray for strength and blessings in their work.
July: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
July 28 – 29 – Independence Day Celebrations
Days of Peruvian independence. In Cusco they are celebrated with civic and military parades, including marching bands and school presentations, the raising of the flag, and patriotic concerts in the Plaza de Armas. These are days of national pride, remembering the liberating heroes and highlighting Peruvian traditions through popular activities.
August: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
August 01 – Pachamama Day
Traditional Andean festivity. Pachamama, Mother Earth, is honored because this marks the most critical month for crops. In Cusco, communities carry out community offerings or payments to the earth with coca leaves, lime, chicha, and Andean foods, accompanied by music and folkloric dances. The goal is to give thanks for the blessings of the land and to ask for abundance in the sowing season.
August 09 – International Day of Indigenous Peoples
A day dedicated to valuing native peoples. In Cusco, people recognize Andean culture through educational events, exhibitions, and ceremonies in Quechua. It is a day of reflection on ancestral heritage and the importance of protecting the rights of Indigenous communities.
September: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
September 14 – Lord of Huanca
A very popular religious festivity in the southern area of Cusco. Thousands of faithful from the district of Huanca make a pilgrimage to the sanctuary, where they venerate the Lord of Huanca, considered a miraculous Christ. People hold processions, traditional dances, and cultural activities. Belief holds that this image has the power to heal illnesses and grant protection, which is why devotees bring offerings and participate with great devotion.
October: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
October 18 – Lord of Miracles
Central day of devotion to the Purple Christ. Throughout October, Cusco residents take part in the so-called purple month, with special Masses. The image of the Lord of Miracles goes out in procession through the streets, followed by thousands of faithful, in a manifestation of faith inherited from viceregal traditions.
October 31 – Day of Criolla Song and Halloween
On this date, two celebrations coexist. On one hand, the Day of Criolla Song is commemorated, dedicated to traditional Peruvian music such as the waltz, marinera, and festejo, with peñas, contests, and concerts. At the same time, many young people celebrate Halloween with costumes and nighttime parties, as a custom of foreign influence.
November: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
November 01 – All Saints’ Day
A religious festivity honoring all saints. In Cusco, families take the opportunity to remember their deceased loved ones. They visit the cemetery, cleaning and decorating graves with flowers and candles. Offerings of traditional foods are also brought, such as tanta wawa (a sweet bread shaped like a child), as a gesture of respect toward departed relatives.
November 02 – Day of the Dead
Continuation of the previous celebration. Cusco residents continue visiting the cemetery to light candles and pray for the deceased. Families gather near the graves and pay tribute to loved ones who are no longer present, closing the cycle of remembrance begun the day before.
November 04 – Tribute to Túpac Amaru II
Civic commemoration of the independence movement initiated by Túpac Amaru II in 1780. In Cusco’s Plaza de Armas and in the Túpac Amaru square in Wanchaq, formal ceremonies and theatrical reenactments are held. People deliver patriotic speeches recalling his struggle against colonial oppression and his legacy as a symbol of identity and freedom.
December: Calendar of Festivities in Cusco 2026
December 24 – Christmas Eve and Santurantikuy Fair
On Christmas Eve, the traditional Santurantikuy fair takes place in the Plaza de Armas. Cusco artisans spread blankets displaying figures of the Child Manuelito, Christmas decorations, and religious handicrafts. This fair, of colonial origin (its name means “sale of saints” in Quechua), fills the city with the Cusco Christmas spirit.
December 25 – Christmas
A festive day of family gathering. After Christmas Eve, Cusco families attend Midnight Mass and then have breakfast together with panettone, hot chocolate, cheese, and humitas. It is a day of peace and domestic joy, without special public celebrations beyond the midnight Masses and gatherings at home.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Local people celebrate the last night of the year in Cusco’s plazas and streets with music, dancing, and fireworks. At midnight, people toast to say farewell to the old year, celebrating with family and friends. It is a contemporary celebration that combines modern rhythms with popular joy to welcome the New Year.
Each date reflects the rich diversity of Cusco’s religious and cultural traditions. Both Christian festivities and Andean ceremonies converge in an annual calendar that exalts Cusco identity, allowing tourists and locals alike to immerse themselves in parades, processions, and fairs full of color, faith, and tradition. Book your experience now with Peru Jungle Trips and live the best adventure in Cusco.