Festivals in Cusco

New Year in Cusco (January 1)

Cusco welcomes the New Year with colorful celebrations, live music, and Andean rituals to attract good energy. Locals and visitors gather in the Plaza de Armas to dance, exchange wishes, and experience the city’s vibrant spirit at midnight.

Bajada de Reyes (January 6)

This traditional celebration marks the end of the Christmas season. Families take down their nativity scenes while local communities organize processions and small festivities honoring the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Festival of San Sebastián (January 20)

The district of San Sebastián honors its patron saint with vibrant processions, folk dances, and delicious food. It’s one of Cusco’s most lively celebrations in January, blending devotion with joyful community spirit.

Carnivals in Cusco (February)

February in Cusco bursts with color, dance, and community joy. The month begins with the Compadres and Comadres celebrations, when men and women exchange playful gifts and mock each other with humor and friendship. During the main Carnival days, families gather to enjoy puchero, a traditional stew made with beef, vegetables, and chickpeas, while the streets fill with music, water games, and parades of colorful costumes.

Holy Week in Cusco (March–April)

During Holy Week, Cusco blends Catholic devotion with centuries-old Andean traditions. Streets fill with solemn processions, traditional dishes, and moments of reflection. It’s a time when religion and culture meet in a deeply moving experience for locals and visitors alike.

Lord of the Earthquakes – Lunes Santo (March–April)

On Holy Monday, the faithful honor the Señor de los Temblores, Cusco’s patron protector. His darkened image is carried through the main streets as thousands of people accompany the procession, offering red ñucchu flowers symbolizing devotion and gratitude.

Cruz Velacuy (Early May)

This traditional festival celebrates the holy crosses placed on hills and in local neighborhoods. Families decorate the crosses with flowers and hold night-long vigils filled with music, candles, and prayers, blending Catholic faith with ancient Andean customs.

Lord of Torrechayoc – Urubamba (May)

In the Sacred Valley town of Urubamba, the Señor de Torrechayoc festival brings together faith and festivity. Colorful dances, processions, and live music fill the streets as people honor the image that symbolizes protection and unity for the valley’s communities.

Corpus Christi – Cusco and San Cristóbal (June)

One of Cusco’s most magnificent religious celebrations, Corpus Christi gathers 16 saints and virgins from different parishes in a grand procession to the city’s Cathedral. Streets fill with music, incense, and devotion, especially during the Corpus of San Cristóbal, where faith and festivity merge beautifully.

Qoyllur Rit’i (Before Inti Raymi)

This ancient pilgrimage to the Sinakara glacier attracts thousands of devotees and dancers each year. It’s a powerful fusion of Catholic and Andean spirituality, where participants honor both Christ and the sacred mountains under the stars and snow

Inti Raymi – Festival of the Sun (June 24)

The most famous festival in Cusco, Inti Raymi reenacts the ancient Inca ceremony dedicated to the Sun God. Held at the Sacsayhuamán fortress, it combines Inca pageantry, vibrant costumes, and traditional music — a true tribute to the city’s living history.

Peru’s Independence Day – Fiestas Patrias (July 28)

Cusco joins the entire nation in celebrating Peru’s Independence Day with parades, traditional music, and food fairs. The city’s streets come alive with red and white flags, while locals take part in cultural events honoring Peru’s heritage and unity.

Virgin of Carmen – Paucartambo (Mid-July)

One of Cusco’s most colorful festivals, the Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo features spectacular dances, masks, and costumes that mix devotion and humor. Declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it reflects the joyful spirit and deep faith of the Andean people.

Pachamama Day – August 1

On this sacred day, locals honor Pachamama, or Mother Earth, with rituals of gratitude and offerings known as pagos. Families and communities gather to thank the earth for its blessings, celebrating the harmony between humans and nature that defines Andean culture.

Patron Saint of San Jerónimo (September)

The district of San Jerónimo celebrates its patron saint with grand processions, vibrant dances, and traditional music. It’s one of the most colorful festivities around Cusco, where devotion mixes beautifully with local culture and joy.

Lord of Miracles – Señor de los Milagros (October)

Throughout October, purple processions fill Cusco’s streets in honor of the Señor de los Milagros, one of Peru’s most revered religious images. Devotees dress in purple, sing hymns, and join in prayer, creating a moving display of faith and community.

All Saints’ Day and Day of the Dead (November 1–2)

Cusco honors life and remembrance with family gatherings, visits to cemeteries, and traditional foods. Locals share t’antawawas (bread in the shape of dolls) and wawa pan, celebrating the bond between the living and their ancestors in a spirit of love and gratitude.

Santuranticuy Fair (December 24)

On Christmas Eve, the Santuranticuy fills Cusco’s main square with hundreds of artisans selling handmade nativity figures, gifts, and local crafts. The fair, whose name means “sale of saints,” blends faith and creativity, marking the festive end of the year in the heart of the Andes.