Lima Announces Official Program of Activities for Holy Week 2026

Holy Week procession walking through Lima’s Historic Center during religious celebrations.
Jesus Calixto

By Jesus Calixto

The Metropolitan Municipality of Lima presented the program of activities for Holy Week 2026 in the Historic Center. With this initiative, the city aims to highlight its status as a key site of Peru’s religious, cultural, and tourist heritage. Additionally, the program invites residents and visitors to rediscover the traditions that have been part of Lima for many years.

A Tradition that Brings the City to Life

During the launch ceremony for the campaign “Holy Week in Lima: Heritage of Faith and Tradition,” the calendar of activities to be held from March 18 to April 5 was announced. First, it was explained that there will be cultural, religious, and artistic events. Then, the public was invited to participate in each activity.

In addition, the program includes the traditional processions that will wind through the historic streets of downtown Lima. These celebrations keep alive the faith that has accompanied the city for centuries. There will also be exhibitions of sacred art. Religious music concerts will be held inside churches. Later, there will be theatrical performances and themed fairs. Contests and musical performances will also be organized. Finally, visitors will be able to enjoy sweet bread fairs and other activities designed to share the capital’s traditions.

The Plan to Welcome Thousands of Visitors

During the program’s presentation at the Santo Domingo Convent, Carlos Vega, PROLIMA’s director, explained the importance of these activities. He noted that these celebrations will help enhance the value of the Historic District and attract more visitors during this time of year. In addition, approximately 100,000 people are expected to participate in the scheduled activities.

Likewise, the PROLIMA representative highlighted the installation of a new monumental lighting system. Thanks to this improvement, historic buildings will shine more brightly at night, and the city’s heritage will be more clearly visible. In this way, the Historic Center’s nighttime landscape will be more attractive to residents and tourists alike. “From the Municipality of Lima, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside religious institutions to promote this important expression of our cultural heritage,” he stated.

For his part, the representative of the Culture Department, Miguel Molinari, noted that Holy Week in the Historic Center is one of the city’s most important celebrations. In fact, this tradition was recognized as National Cultural Heritage due to its great historical, spiritual, and cultural value.

He also explained that Lima’s Historic Center is undergoing a period of revitalization. Many buildings and churches have been restored. As a result, the area now looks more beautiful and safer. New businesses and restaurants have also opened. Shows and concerts are held there frequently. Thanks to these changes, tourism has grown rapidly, and many travel agencies consider Lima a must-see destination for visitors.

Safety and Faith for a Peaceful Celebration

Meanwhile, César Calderón, deputy director of Civil Defense, Prevention, Mitigation, and Reconstruction, explained that the municipality is implementing preventive measures. The goal is to ensure that all religious and cultural activities take place safely.

To this end, inspections are conducted at every church and along the procession routes. Additionally, technical teams provide recommendations to ensure compliance with safety standards. This is intended to prevent any incidents during the celebrations. “We are working to ensure that all safety conditions are met along the church routes. In this way, we want to ensure a peaceful Holy Week for the faithful and visitors,” he explained.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was Gustavo Ballón, a council member of the Municipality of Lima. Father Fidel Zavaleta, territorial vicar of Vicariate II of the Archdiocese of Lima, was also present. Also in attendance were Ricardo Cajo, executive secretary, and Augusto Barreto, general coordinator of the Commission on Brotherhoods and Confraternities of the Archdiocese of Lima.

Finally, the Municipality of Lima noted that it promotes this celebration in accordance with Municipal Ordinance No. 2703-2025 and its amendment, Ordinance No. 2710-2025. These regulations govern the planning and promotion of Holy Week in the Historic Center. Additionally, they establish joint efforts between the municipality, the Archdiocese of Lima, and the city’s brotherhoods to keep this tradition alive.