Cali in Celebration: Annual Calendar of Festivals and Fairs You Can't Miss

Cali: The City That Never Stops Dancing

Cali is not just a city, it's a state of mind. A place where salsa music beats on every corner, where the Cauca River seems to carry the rhythm of life, and where cultural events are not simple activities on a calendar, but living expressions of an identity that refuses to stay still. Here, each month brings a new reason to celebrate, to gather, to feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself.

This guide is not just a list of dates. It's an invitation to immerse yourself in Cali's festive heart, to plan your trip around those moments when the city transforms, dresses in colors, and opens its arms to the world. Whether you're a traveler seeking authentic experiences or a resident wanting to rediscover your city, here you'll find the map to navigate the Caleño festive year.

Monthly Calendar: Cali's Rhythm Month by Month

January: The Year Begins with Flavor

Manizales Fair (Caleño extension)
Dates: First week of January 2026
Although its heart is in Manizales, Cali catches the bullfighting and festive spirit. Bars and restaurants organize themed events, and the resident Paisa community celebrates with traditional music and food. It's the first festive breath of the year, a bridge between Christmas and the approaching carnival.

February: Carnival and Pageants

National Beauty Pageant (preliminaries)
Dates: Second week of February 2026
The candidates for the national contest make their stop in Cali, with social and cultural events open to the public. An opportunity to see up close the elegance and protocol that characterize these events.

March: Culture and Preparations

March in Cali is a transition month, where the city prepares for the big events of the year. In 2026, Arteca will return, an exhibition featuring exponents of painting and sculpture recognized at the national and international level, according to El País. Additionally, it's a good time to enjoy the local cultural scene, such as public rehearsals and workshops that often precede festivals like Petronio Álvarez in August.

April: Holy Week with Caleño Flavor

Holy Week Processions in San Antonio
Dates: April 2-5, 2026
The San Antonio neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and colonial houses, transforms into a living stage of Christ's passion. They're not the monumental processions of Popayán, but they have an intimacy that moves. Neighbors bring chairs to the street, offer panela water to spectators, and create an ephemeral community around faith.

May: Outdoor Festivals

Kite Festival at Cerro de las Tres Cruces
Dates: May 1, 2026
A family event that fills the sky with colors. Early in the morning, families climb the hill with their handmade kites. There's no formal competition, just the pleasure of watching dreams of fabric and paper fly. At sunset, as you descend the hill, Cali appears bathed in golden light, and for a moment everything seems possible.

June: San Juan and San Pedro

San Pedro Festivities in the Aguablanca District
Dates: June 28-30, 2026
The Afro-descendant community celebrates the saint with music, dance, and traditional food. It's perhaps the most authentic celebration of June in Cali, away from commercial noise. Here, chicken sancocho is shared among neighbors, and drums sound until dawn.

July: Caleño Summer

July in Cali is perfect for enjoying the weather and outdoor life. There is no confirmed winter Cali Fair for 2026; the main fair is held in December. Instead, you can explore parks, try local gastronomy, or attend minor cultural events that are often organized during this time.

August: Petronio, Heart of the Pacific

Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival
Dates: August 10-17, 2026
The most important cultural event in southwestern Colombia. For a week, Cali becomes the capital of Pacific music. The "Playa de Oro" at the Pascual Guerrero stadium fills with food stands (encocados, cazuelas, borojó juices) and on stage, groups of currulao, chirimía, and marimba follow one another.

The most special part is not the final concert, but the "public rehearsals" in neighborhoods like Aguablanca, where days before, musicians practice openly and neighbors dance in the streets. Petronio is not watched, it's lived.

September: Independence and Cinema

Cali Film Festival
Dates to be confirmed for 2026 (traditionally in September-October)
Independent Colombian and Latin American cinema in alternative venues like Teatro La Máscara and Museo La Tertulia. Outdoor screenings in the Granada neighborhood, where people bring their own chairs and share popcorn. An event for those who believe cinema can change realities.

Oiga Mire Lea Festival
Dates: September 2026 (to be confirmed, traditionally this month)
A literary festival that in 2026 will extend its duration to ten days, providing more opportunities for emerging authors and with a weekend dedicated to Oiga Mire Lea Junior, according to El País. A celebration of reading and written culture in Cali.

October: Jazz Under the Moon

Cali Jazz Festival
Dates to be confirmed for 2026
The Jorge Isaacs Theater and Cali Cultural Center host national and international musicians. But the soul of the festival is in the free "jam sessions" in bars of the San Antonio neighborhood, where local musicians improvise until dawn. Jazz, in Cali, is enjoyed without pretensions.

November: Art and Memory

Regional Artists Salon
Dates to be confirmed for 2026
Exhibitions in galleries and public spaces by artists from Valle del Cauca. Performances in Cayzedo Square, installations in the Cali River, interventions on MIO buses. Art that questions, that disturbs, that celebrates.

December: The Great Party

Cali Fair
Dates: December 25-30, 2026 (expected dates, to be officially confirmed)
The mother of all parties. Salsódromo along Guadalupe Avenue with over 5,000 dancers, free concerts at Parque del Amor (artists to be confirmed for 2026), bullfights at Plaza de Cañaveralejo (controversial but traditional), and the "Superconcierto" at the stadium. Additionally, in 2026, the World Salsa Summit is expected, bringing together delegations from 20 American cities to promote salsa as a World Heritage, according to El País.

But the real fair happens in the streets: at the "culebreras" in the Obrero neighborhood where people dance hard salsa until dawn, at the gastronomic fondas in the south offering Tolimense lechona, at families who bring their speakers to the doorstep and turn the block into a dance floor.

Tips for Experiencing Events Like a Caleño

Transportation During Major Events

During the Cali Fair (December) and Petronio (August), MIO implements special routes and extended hours. Buy the TuLlave card in advance. For events in the south (Aguablanca), feeder buses are the best option. Avoid private cars: roads near events usually close.

Strategic Accommodation

For the December Fair: book 6 months in advance. Hotels in Granada and San Fernando sell out quickly. Alternatives: Airbnb in residential neighborhoods like Ciudad Jardín or Versalles, connected by safe bike paths.

For Petronio: consider accommodation near the Pascual Guerrero stadium or in the south, to live the full experience. Hostels like La Sucursal del Cielo organize groups to go together.

Safety and Enjoyment

At massive events: carry only the necessary, use cash moderately, keep documents at the hotel. At free concerts: arrive early for a good spot, but avoid the front row if you don't want pushing.

Try street food: arepas de choclo con queso, cholados, natural juices. Stalls around events are usually safe and authentic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals in Cali

What's the Best Time to Visit Cali?

If you seek the maximum festive experience, December (Cali Fair) and August (Petronio Álvarez) are ideal. For a calmer atmosphere but with cultural events, March, April, and October offer specialized festivals.

Are Events Free?

Many events have free activities: concerts in parks, parades, gastronomic samples. Events in theaters or stadiums usually have a cost, but there are affordable options and discounts for residents.

Is It Safe to Attend Massive Events?

Yes, with basic precautions. Main events have organized security. We recommend: don't carry valuables, use official transportation, and follow authorities' instructions.

Where to Get Updated Information?

• Cali Culture Secretariat: @CulturaCali or website (updates monthly calendar)
• Official Cali Fair: @FeriadeCali or feriadecali.com.co (confirmed programming months prior)
• Petronio Álvarez: information on official media
• Valle del Cauca Tourism: @ValledelCauca (event packages)

What to Bring to Festivals?

• Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
• Sunscreen and hat/glasses
• Water to stay hydrated
• Cash for food and souvenirs
• Camera to capture special moments

Upcoming Events

Information for events in 2027 is not yet available. It is recommended to consult the official sources mentioned above for updates throughout the year.

Cali awaits you with open arms and feet ready to dance. No matter when you come, there will always be something celebrating. Because here, as the old Caleño motto says: "Life is a party, and the party is life."