Best festivals in South America
Best festivals in South America
Lively seasonal street carnivals and traditional folk pageants in South America
South America's festival calendar is dominated by Carnival, with traditions running far deeper across the continent than any single parade. Different countries celebrate entirely distinct traditions within the same broad festival season, from colonial-era celebration to indigenous and Inca-rooted ceremony.
The festivals on this list range from massive citywide celebrations with months of preparation to smaller indigenous and religious festivals tied to specific historical or agricultural cycles. Some draw international crowds, while others remain largely local despite their scale.
Booking accommodation months ahead of the busiest celebrations is essential, as prices and demand climb dramatically as the date approaches each year. Local cultural associations often welcome visitors to rehearsals in the lead-up to the main event. Joining a local cultural association's open rehearsal sessions in the months beforehand can add real insight into how the celebration comes together.
Lists by region
City in Brazil
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
The Pride parade has been held on Avenida Paulista since June 1997, when police counted about 2,000 participants. It takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi. Guinness World Records listed it as the world's largest Pride parade. Organisers reported 4 million attendees in 2009. Crowd counts are disputed because police stopped publishing estimates.
City in Argentina
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
Tango BA Festival y Mundial runs from late August into early September. Admission is free for most events. Some milongas require a reservation up to 72 hours ahead. The World Tango Championship has two categories, Tango de Pista and Tango Escenario. Over 20,000 people watched the 2022 finals outdoors at the Obelisco.
City in Chile
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
This theatre festival began in 1994 as a two month event with three companies. It is now held each January. The 2014 edition ran from 3 to 19 January and listed 67 stage shows. About half a million spectators attended in 2013. It is Chile's largest arts festival and includes theatre, dance and music.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Carnival runs five days and starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. The Sambadrome has seating for 72,500 spectators. It has hosted the parades since 1984. Over 200 samba schools compete in five leagues. About two million people fill the streets each day for the blocos. Rio held its first Carnival in 1723.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Inti Raymi fills the city every 24 June. Inca Emperor Pachacuti is said to have created the festival in 1412. Spanish colonists and priests banned it after 1535. It was revived in 1944 and has been staged at Sacsayhuamán every year since. The procession begins at Qorikancha and moves on to the Plaza de Armas.
Country
Bolivia
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
Legend says a mural of the Virgin Mary appeared in a silver mine shaft in 1756. The Oruro Carnival honours her at the Santuario del Socavón. Over 28,000 dancers and about 10,000 musicians take part. UNESCO proclaimed it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 18 May 2001.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
The Feria de las Flores runs from late July to early August. The Desfile de Silleteros has been part of it since 1957. Growers carry flower arrangements called silletas on their backs. In December thousands of fairy lights cover the city. National Geographic ranked the Alumbrados Navideños among the world's ten most beautiful.
City in Uruguay
Montevideo
Chill vibes on the Río de la Plata
Carnival lasts more than 40 days and generally runs from late January to mid-March. Drummers play candombe rhythms in the Desfile de Llamadas, which draws on Bantu and Angolan Benguela traditions. Murgas perform an opera-style show on temporary stages called tablados. The songs cover social and political issues.
City in Peru
Iquitos
Amazon’s gateway to jungle adventures
Carnival is held each February and is shaped by Amazonian myths. Participants soak each other with water balloons called cabaciñas. The Fiesta de San Juan on 24 June honours John the Baptist, patron saint of the Peruvian Amazon. Its signature foods and dances include the juane dish and the shunto jump.
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