Carnival in Holbox

This extraordinary carnival parade lasts five days and usually takes place in February or early March. The exact date is set shortly before the event and varies from year to year. The carnival has become a popular attraction, drawing tourists and visitors from surrounding villages and towns.

The Isla Holbox Carnival 2026 will take place from February 13 to 17. This date has already been confirmed by the mayor’s office. The program changes each year and tends to be quite spontaneous. We are very excited to see what attractions the “Carnaval de Holbox 2026” will offer and are really looking forward to the event.

Read our detailed article “At the Extraordinary Carnival of Holbox” to find out how the spectacle will unfold.

There are many other carnival parades in Yucatán worth checking out during this time. These include the much larger, 12-day Carnival of Mérida and the smaller, 4-day Carnival of Cozumel, which is equally colorful.

Preparation and Schedule of the Event

The parade is prepared and organized by the locals on Holbox themselves. Women of all ages dress up for it in groups in colorful costumes in the style of salsa dancers, Mayans, Aztecs or other motives. The new costumes created for each carnival are sewn throughout the year and must be paid for by the women themselves, which is a very large amount of money for the Mexican women living here.

The music mainly comes from small bands of men who accompany dance groups as they make their way through the town’s sandy streets, either on foot or in colorfully decorated vehicles. The route is not exactly fixed. Each group tries to avoid the others while positioning themselves as centrally as possible near the main square for their performance.

Between the shows, the protagonists can take a little breather, because the numerous performances are extremely exhausting for them. The hotels and restaurants located here then provide the participants with plenty of food and drink during their tour. They also take care of any blisters on their feet and minor repairs to their costumes.

Performances take place from the afternoon until late at night at various locations in Holbox. Each group wears an outfit that matches the current carnival theme. After several months of rehearsing, the groups now perform ten- to twenty-minute shows with full commitment and enthusiasm.

The Grand Finale of the Holbox Carnival

It’s a loud, colorful celebration of joy, and the good mood quickly spreads to the onlookers. In the end, all the dance groups gather for the grand finale in the main square. There, they perform one last time, bringing the show to a climactic close. Then, the party continues until dawn.

If you spend your vacation on Holbox Island at carnival time, you should not miss the spectacle. The locals look forward to this special event all year round and proudly present their costumes and choreographies with the highest commitment and corresponding exuberance until the early morning hours.

Tip: For travelers seeking peace and quiet, these nights can be exhausting, especially near the city center. In this case, it is advisable to book accommodation a little outside the downtown area.

More about events and festivities in Holbox and what to expect there:

• The Best Events, Festivals and Celebrations of Isla Holbox
• At the Extraordinary Carnival of Holbox
• Easter in Holbox: Semana Santa and Pascua
• Unique Festivals on Isla Holbox: Fiesta San Telmo
• Día de los Muertos: Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead

FAQ

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about Carnival in Mexico.