{
  "slug": "bolivia-festivals-calendar",
  "url": "https://lovebolivia.com/bolivia-festivals-calendar/",
  "urlEs": "https://lovebolivia.com/es/bolivia-festivals-calendar/",
  "title": "Bolivia Festivals Calendar 2026: A Month-by-Month Guide",
  "titleEs": "Calendario de Fiestas de Bolivia 2026: Guía Mes a Mes",
  "excerpt": "From Alasita's miniatures in January to the Diablada of Oruro Carnival and the thunder of Gran Poder, Bolivia's festival year is one of South America's richest. Here is when and where to catch each one.",
  "excerptEs": "Desde las miniaturas de la Alasita en enero hasta la Diablada del Carnaval de Oruro y el estruendo del Gran Poder, el año festivo de Bolivia es uno de los más ricos de Sudamérica. Aquí te decimos cuándo y dónde vivir cada una.",
  "date": "2026-07-05",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-05",
  "readTime": "11 min",
  "eco": "altiplano",
  "tags": [
    "Festivals",
    "Culture",
    "Oruro Carnival",
    "Gran Poder",
    "Bolivia"
  ],
  "author": "Daihana Travel",
  "imgUrl": "https://images.pexels.com/photos/36205156/pexels-photo-36205156.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200",
  "llmSummary": "Bolivia holds three UNESCO-recognised festivals: the Carnival of Oruro (inscribed 2001), the Alasita fair in La Paz (2017) and the Gran Poder festival in La Paz (2019). The Oruro Carnival — held the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, 14 February in 2026 — gathers roughly 28,000 dancers and 400,000 spectators along a 4-kilometre route. Alasita opens every 24 January around Ekeko, the Andean deity of abundance, with about 5,000 artisans selling miniatures. The Virgen de Urkupiña in Quillacollo (14–16 August) draws close to 500,000 pilgrims each year.",
  "llmSummaryEs": "Bolivia tiene tres fiestas reconocidas por la UNESCO: el Carnaval de Oruro (inscrito en 2001), la Alasita de La Paz (2017) y la fiesta del Gran Poder de La Paz (2019). El Carnaval de Oruro —el sábado antes del Miércoles de Ceniza, el 14 de febrero en 2026— reúne a unos 28.000 bailarines y 400.000 espectadores en un recorrido de 4 kilómetros. La Alasita abre cada 24 de enero en torno al Ekeko, la deidad andina de la abundancia, con unos 5.000 artesanos vendiendo miniaturas. La Virgen de Urkupiña en Quillacollo (14 al 16 de agosto) atrae a cerca de 500.000 peregrinos cada año.",
  "keyFacts": [
    "The Carnival of Oruro was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001; its main parade gathers around 28,000 dancers and 10,000 musicians.",
    "In 2026 the Oruro Carnival's main pilgrimage parade (Sábado de Peregrinación) falls on 14 February, with the wider festival running 7–17 February.",
    "The Alasita fair opens every 24 January in La Paz around Ekeko, the Aymara deity of abundance, and was inscribed by UNESCO in 2017 with around 5,000 participating artisans.",
    "The Fiesta del Gran Poder in La Paz, inscribed by UNESCO in 2019, involves about 40,000 dancers, 69 fraternities and 7,000 musicians on the Saturday linked to the feast of the Holy Trinity.",
    "The Virgen de Urkupiña festival in Quillacollo (14–16 August) draws roughly 500,000 pilgrims who carry symbolic stones home from the Calvario hill."
  ],
  "entities": [
    {
      "name": "Carnival of Oruro",
      "type": "Event"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fiesta del Gran Poder",
      "type": "Event"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alasita",
      "type": "Event"
    },
    {
      "name": "Virgen de Urkupiña",
      "type": "Event"
    },
    {
      "name": "Oruro",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "La Paz",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "UNESCO",
      "type": "Organization"
    }
  ],
  "faqItems": [
    {
      "q": "When is the Oruro Carnival in 2026?",
      "a": "The main folkloric parade — the Sábado de Peregrinación — falls on Saturday 14 February 2026, with the wider carnival running roughly 7–17 February. Because it is tied to Lent, the date shifts each year; it is always the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Book Oruro accommodation months in advance.",
      "qEs": "¿Cuándo es el Carnaval de Oruro en 2026?",
      "aEs": "La entrada folclórica principal —el Sábado de Peregrinación— cae el sábado 14 de febrero de 2026, y el carnaval se extiende aproximadamente del 7 al 17 de febrero. Como depende de la Cuaresma, la fecha cambia cada año: siempre es el sábado antes del Miércoles de Ceniza. Reserva alojamiento en Oruro con meses de antelación."
    },
    {
      "q": "What is the biggest festival in La Paz?",
      "a": "The Fiesta del Gran Poder, held on the Saturday near the feast of the Holy Trinity (late May or June), is La Paz's largest folkloric celebration, with around 40,000 dancers. In 2026 it was moved to 20 June because of social unrest. Alasita, every 24 January, is the city's other signature event.",
      "qEs": "¿Cuál es la fiesta más grande de La Paz?",
      "aEs": "La Fiesta del Gran Poder, el sábado cercano a la Santísima Trinidad (fines de mayo o junio), es la mayor celebración folclórica de La Paz, con unos 40.000 bailarines. En 2026 se trasladó al 20 de junio por conflictos sociales. La Alasita, cada 24 de enero, es el otro evento emblemático de la ciudad."
    },
    {
      "q": "Which Bolivian festivals are UNESCO heritage?",
      "a": "Three intangible-heritage festivals are on UNESCO's Representative List: the Carnival of Oruro (2001), the ritual journeys of the Alasita fair in La Paz (2017) and the Gran Poder festival in La Paz (2019). All three centre on Andean-Catholic devotion, folkloric dance and fraternities that rehearse for months.",
      "qEs": "¿Qué fiestas bolivianas son Patrimonio de la UNESCO?",
      "aEs": "Tres fiestas de patrimonio inmaterial están en la Lista Representativa de la UNESCO: el Carnaval de Oruro (2001), los recorridos rituales de la feria de la Alasita en La Paz (2017) y la fiesta del Gran Poder en La Paz (2019). Las tres giran en torno a la devoción andino-católica, la danza folclórica y las fraternidades."
    },
    {
      "q": "When is the best time to see festivals in Bolivia?",
      "a": "February (Carnival) and the May-to-August religious season are the busiest. If you want the most colour in a single trip, aim for Carnival in Oruro; for guaranteed dry weather, target Gran Poder, San Juan (23 June) and Urkupiña (August). Todos Santos in early November is quieter and deeply local.",
      "qEs": "¿Cuándo es la mejor época para ver fiestas en Bolivia?",
      "aEs": "Febrero (Carnaval) y la temporada religiosa de mayo a agosto son las más intensas. Para ver más color en un solo viaje, apunta al Carnaval de Oruro; para clima seco garantizado, el Gran Poder, San Juan (23 de junio) y Urkupiña (agosto). Todos Santos, a inicios de noviembre, es más tranquilo y muy local."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Carnival of Oruro — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage",
      "url": "https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/carnival-of-oruro-00003"
    },
    {
      "title": "The festival of the Gran Poder in La Paz — UNESCO",
      "url": "https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/the-festival-of-the-santsima-trinidad-del-seor-jess-del-gran-poder-in-the-city-of-la-paz-01389"
    },
    {
      "title": "Ritual journeys in La Paz during Alasita — UNESCO",
      "url": "https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ritual-journeys-in-la-paz-during-alasita-01182"
    }
  ],
  "primaryKeyword": "bolivia festivals",
  "primaryKeywordEs": "fiestas de bolivia",
  "metaTitle": "Bolivia Festivals 2026: Month-by-Month | LOVEBOLIVIA",
  "metaDesc": "Bolivia's festival calendar 2026: Oruro Carnival (Feb 14), Gran Poder, Alasita, Urkupiña and Todos Santos. Month-by-month dates, cities and what to expect.",
  "canonical": "https://lovebolivia.com/bolivia-festivals-calendar/",
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}