Quindío festivals 2026

Quindío festivals 2026: a month-by-month guide to choosing your next getaway

Quindío isn't just visited: it's lived. And one of the best ways to feel it is to follow the calendar of its celebrations. Every town has a festival that tells part of its story: coffee heritage, the muleteer tradition, Willys and Yipao parades, popular music, costumed street troupes, theatre, sport, crafts and that food that always tastes like home.

This guide brings together some of the department's most sought-after festivals for 2026, in chronological order. It includes confirmed dates where official or institutional sources are already available, and marks as “to be confirmed” those celebrations whose 2026 municipal programme has not yet been published in full.

Updated: June 2026.

January: Salento – Fiestas Conmemorativas al Paso del Libertador

Salento opens the year with a celebration that blends history, culture and tradition along its colourful streets. The Fiestas Conmemorativas al Paso del Libertador recall Bolívar's passage along the Camino Nacional and turn the town into a living stage for cultural, sporting and family activities.

2026 dates

5 to 12 January 2026.

Highlights

• Official ceremonies in the main square.
• Historical talks about Bolívar and the Camino del Quindío.
• Running race and sporting activities.
• Cultural days, music showcases and stage performances.
• Balcony and façade contest.
• Traditional coroteo (a parade of household goods) and the Familia Castañeda characters.
• Willys jeep display through the streets of the town.

Approximate costs

• Public events in the square and streets: usually free.
• Traditional food, specialty coffee and drinks: COP 15,000–45,000 per person.
• Transport and extras: varies with your plans.

May: Pijao – Fiestas Aniversarias

Pijao celebrates its anniversary with the quiet charm of a mountain town. It is an ideal festival for anyone who wants to enjoy without rushing: walking around the square, tasting something local, listening to music and experiencing a closer, more community-minded celebration.

2026 dates

The 2026 programme began on 14 May with the traditional Serenata de Amor. The full schedule should be checked on the town's official channels, as it may run over several days in May.

What you can usually expect

• Serenade to the town.
• Cultural events in the main square.
• Live music.
• Sporting and family activities.
• Community gatherings tied to rural and coffee-growing identity.

Approximate costs

• Public events: usually free.
• Food, coffee and a day out: COP 20,000–60,000 per person.

June: Calarcá – Fiesta Nacional del Café

If Quindío had a flagship festival, Calarcá would be at the centre of the conversation. The Fiesta Nacional del Café (National Coffee Festival) brings together coffee culture, tradition, pageants, parades, music, a craft fair and activities designed to experience the Coffee Cultural Landscape from the inside.

2026 dates

19 to 29 June 2026, according to Colombia Travel's national tourism listing.

Some local cultural activities may be announced around those dates, so it is worth checking the official programme of the Calarcá town council before you travel.

Important for 2026

The traditional horse parade will not be held this year. The decision was announced by the local administration and relates to public order, logistics and animal welfare.

Highlights

• The Yipao parade.
• Cultural and coffee-related activities.
• The pageant and events linked to coffee tradition.
• Craft and food fairs.
• Concerts and main-stage activities, according to the official programme.

Approximate costs

• Parades and public events: free in most cases.
• Special events or premium areas, where offered: COP 10,000–40,000.
• Food fair and refreshments: COP 18,000–50,000 per person.

August: La Tebaida – Fiestas del Retorno

La Tebaida celebrates its anniversary with a programme that usually mixes culture, sport, carnival, music and community gatherings. Its name, “Fiestas del Retorno” (Festival of the Return), carries a special meaning: inviting those who were born or grew up in the town to come back, meet again and celebrate their identity.

2026 dates

To be officially confirmed. For reference, in 2025 the celebration ran from 7 to 18 August.

What you can usually expect

• Carnival parade.
• Youth and senior pageants.
• Yipao contest.
• Live music.
• Cultural, sporting and family activities.

Approximate costs

• Public programme: usually free.
• Food, drinks and treats: COP 18,000–55,000 per person.

August: Circasia – Fiestas de la Libertad

Circasia celebrates its history with a festival that draws strong local participation. The Fiestas de la Libertad bring together music, sport, culture, tradition and community activities that match the character of the town.

2026 dates

To be officially confirmed. The Circasia town council describes the festival as lasting around 11 days. Historically it takes place in August.

What you can usually expect

• Carnaval de la Libertad.
• Cultural and musical events.
• Sporting activities.
• Classic and vintage bicycle gatherings.
• Stage performances.
• Family and community programme.

Approximate costs

• Public events: usually free.
• Day out, food and transport: COP 20,000–60,000 per person.

August: Filandia – Fiestas Aniversarias y del Canasto

Filandia is one of those towns that seem made for walking slowly, looking up at balconies and noticing details. During its Fiestas Aniversarias y del Canasto (anniversary and basket festival), the craft tradition takes centre stage and the town celebrates its identity with culture, music, local showcases and plenty of small-town atmosphere.

2026 dates

To be officially confirmed. For reference, in 2025 the festival ran from 15 to 20 August.

Highlights

• Activities around basketry and the craft tradition.
• Cultural and artistic showcases.
• Walks through the historic centre.
• Cafés, viewpoints and street photography.
• Music and evening programme, according to the official schedule.

Approximate costs

• Public programme: usually free.
• Workshops or specific activities: COP 5,000–25,000.
• Crafts and shopping: budget varies.

October: Armenia – Fiestas Cuyabras

Armenia celebrates its cuyabra identity — the name locals give themselves — with one of the fullest programmes in the department. The Fiestas Cuyabras usually bring together parades, music, cultural events, sport, family activities and spaces that connect the city with its history.

2026 dates

To be officially confirmed. The celebration usually takes place in October, around the anniversary of Armenia's founding on 14 October.

Highlights

• The Yipao parade.
• Cultural and arts programme.
• Sporting events.
• Concerts and public activities.
• Family programme at different points around the city.

Approximate costs

• Much of the public programme: free, depending on the venue and the edition.
• Private events or special areas: COP 30,000–120,000.
• Eating out during the festival: COP 25,000–70,000 per person.

October / November: Montenegro – Fiestas Aniversarias

Montenegro lives its festival with popular energy, music, parades and a strong connection to coffee culture. It is an ideal celebration to attend with a group, enjoy the local programme and combine with other nearby plans.

2026 dates

To be officially confirmed. For reference, in 2025 the programme began on 18 October and ran into early November.

What you can usually expect

• Cultural and music programme.
• Coffee Cultural Landscape parade.
• Yipao parade.
• Departmental Coffee Pageant.
• Costumed street troupes, sporting activities and community events.

Approximate costs

• Public programme: usually free.
• Food, transport and a day out: COP 20,000–65,000 per person.

December: Quimbaya – Festival de Velas y Faroles

Quimbaya turns into an illuminated postcard when December arrives. The Festival de Velas y Faroles (candles and lanterns festival) is one of the most beautiful experiences in Quindío: streets full of light, families walking together, handmade lanterns and an atmosphere that mixes tradition, creativity and Christmas spirit.

2026 dates

7 and 8 December 2026.

Highlights

• Evening walks along the illuminated streets.
• Lanterns made by families and neighbourhoods.
• Family atmosphere.
• Night photography.
• Traditional food, desserts and hot drinks.
• Arriving early to avoid the crowds.

Approximate costs

• The walk and the lights: free.
• Food, drinks and desserts: COP 12,000–45,000 per person.

How to plan without relying on rumours

Detailed programmes with artists, times, venues and road closures are usually published days or weeks before each celebration. Before travelling, it is worth checking each town council's official channels and confirming any last-minute changes.

If your plans include concerts or evening stages, arrive early and get around on foot where possible. For busy dates such as Salento, Calarcá and Quimbaya, booking accommodation in advance can make a real difference in price, location and comfort.

Recommended budget for a full day

Without accommodation: COP 60,000–150,000 per person, depending on transport, meals, shopping and extra activities.

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