Ayacucho Expects Over 40,000 Tourists for the 2026 Ayacucho Carnival

Ayacucho is getting ready for one of its biggest celebrations of the year. From February 14 to 18, the city expects to welcome around 40,000 visitors for the 2026 Ayacucho Carnival. In addition, more than 200 dance troupes will fill the streets with music and color. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that the economic impact will exceed 20 million soles and benefit many local businesses.

However, this year there will be an important change in the organization. The Provincial Municipality of Huamanga announced that the official judging of the dance troupes will no longer take place in the Plaza Mayor. Instead, the evaluation will be moved to Mariscal Cáceres Avenue. This changes the traditional route of the city’s main popular festival.

According to the Deputy Manager of Culture, the decision was made after listening to residents and security authorities. Previously, when everything was concentrated in the Plaza Mayor, it led to disorder and large crowds. In addition, the parades lasted until very late, which caused inconvenience to the population.

For this reason, the Deputy Director of Culture, Gilmer García, explained that stages and platforms will be set up on Mariscal Cáceres Avenue. Sound equipment will also be installed so that the dance troupes can perform their dances in front of the jury. This will make the process more orderly and clear for everyone.

Meanwhile, the Plaza Mayor will only be used for groups to pass through. In other words, long stops or performances will not be allowed at this point. The aim is to avoid chaos and protect public spaces.

The plan also includes penalties for groups that do not follow the rules. For example, if they do not comply with schedules or routes, they may be excluded from the closing ceremony. They may even lose official recognition, even if their show is good.

In addition, the authorities are considering punishing repeat offenders. As a result, they could be excluded from future cultural activities organized by the municipality during the year, which seeks to promote responsibility and respect.

Finally, officials noted that the goal is a safe and orderly carnival. This way, everyone can enjoy the music, dances, and traditions without affecting the city’s coexistence.

However, they also warned of a pending problem. Currently, several sections of the Los Libertadores road are in poor condition. Therefore, they requested preventive maintenance, as this situation limits the growth of tourism during the festival.

Source: andina.pe

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