San Pedro, Ambergris Caye · February 7 to 9, 2027
Carnaval de San Pedro
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Carnaval de San Pedro
When is Carnaval de San Pedro 2027?
Carnaval de San Pedro 2027 is expected to run February 7 to 9, 2027. The dates follow the usual pattern and are not announced yet.
2027February 7 to 9, 2027Expected
How the dates are set: Three days ending the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (Sunday to Tuesday).
Carnaval de San Pedro schedule
- Sunday, February 15, 2026: A family-friendly powder paint party ran from 2 PM to 6 PM at Central Park.
- Tuesday, February 17, 2026: The main event ran from 5 PM to midnight with the Bussa B Band and Evolution Sound, and crowds spilled into the streets.
- The three days: The first day uses white powder (normally for children only), the second red and blue, and the third black. It ends with the burning of Juan Carnaval.
Sources: sanpedrosun.com, en.wikipedia.org
Tickets and cost
It costs nothing to watch from the street.
Source: takeyourbackpack.com
History of Carnaval de San Pedro
The festival is about 150 years old and comes from Mestizo culture. It grew out of village house-to-house dances where groups collected donations for people in need. It is held to begin Lent, and a stuffed Juan Carnaval is burned each year.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Carnaval de San Pedro: questions people ask
When is Carnaval de San Pedro 2027?
The 2027 dates are best estimated as the Sunday to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, with 2026 held February 15 to 17.
Where is Carnaval held in San Pedro, Belize?
The main events are at Central Park, with comparsa groups parading through downtown streets.
What is a comparsa?
A comparsa is a street dance group. Groups parade in costume and raise money for community members who need medical help.
Is San Pedro Carnaval free?
Yes, watching from the street costs nothing.
Sources: sanpedrosun.com, takeyourbackpack.com
About Carnaval de San Pedro
Three days of powder paint, comparsa dancers and live music in San Pedro, Belize, before Lent.
El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro is a roughly 150-year-old tradition of Belize's Mestizo culture. For three days before Ash Wednesday, people throw paint and powder at Central Park, comparsa dance groups parade through downtown, and the last night ends with the burning of the character Juan Carnaval. In 2026 the events were at Central Park from February 15 to 17. Wear clothes you don't mind ruining.
Know before you go
- Wear clothes you can throw away.
- Painters may not paint people who aren't taking part, or use rotten eggs, spray paint or oil paints.
- Fly into Belize City (BZE), then take a short flight to San Pedro airport (SPR) or a water taxi to the island.
Planning the trip
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