La Paz carnival 2027: what's confirmed, the likely dates and how to get there from Cabo

The 2027 La Paz carnival has a theme, "La Fiesta del Futuro" (the party of the future), and an open call for carnival queen candidates, but no dates yet. If it follows the 2026 pattern, it would run Thursday, February 4 to Tuesday, February 9, 2027, because Ash Wednesday falls on February 10; that's our projection, not an announcement. It takes over the La Paz waterfront, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Cabo San Lucas, and last year entry was free.

La Paz carnival 2027 at a glance

When is the La Paz carnival in 2027?

As of October 8, 2026, the city of La Paz hasn't published dates. What we have is last year's pattern.

In 2026 the carnival ran Thursday, February 12 to Tuesday, February 17, and Ash Wednesday was February 18. In other words, it ended on Carnival Tuesday, the day Mardi Gras is celebrated elsewhere. Ash Wednesday 2027 is February 10, so if La Paz repeats the formula, the carnival would run Thursday, February 4 to Tuesday, February 9.

Treat that as a likely window to pencil in, not as a reason to buy nonrefundable flights. Check the Ayuntamiento de La Paz's official channels before you book.

"La Fiesta del Futuro" and the carnival queen

The city announced the 2027 theme together with the call for the Carnaval La Paz 2027 queen contest. Applications close October 30, 2026, according to BCS Noticias and Diario El Independiente.

Everything else, from the schedule to the stages and the concert lineup, gets announced later.

What last year's carnival was like

The 2026 edition gives you a good idea of what to expect: - It ran February 12 to 17 on the waterfront, along Paseo Álvaro Obregón. - It opened on Thursday the 12th with the Quema del Mal Humor, the "burning of bad mood". - Activities started in the afternoon, with a concert every night. - The main stage was at the Kiosco del Malecón, with a second youth stage on Melchor Ocampo street. - Entry was free. The Zona Fan, a limited-capacity area, needed a ticket bought in advance. - The children's Carnavalito was held the following Sunday.

Zeta Tijuana reported that the 2026 carnival would cost the city close to 30 million pesos.

Last year's lineup

Each night brought a different headliner to the waterfront: Mike Salazar, Natalia Jiménez, Mon Laferte (Saturday the 14th), Banda Machos with Paty Cantú, Los Capibaras with Mario Bautista, and Lalo Mora with Edén Muñoz.

That's for reference only. The 2027 lineup hasn't been announced, and it changes every year.

A simple carnival weekend from Cabo

Last year the opening Thursday had the Quema del Mal Humor and every night had a concert, so two nights in La Paz is plenty. Here's a plan that keeps the driving in daylight:

The official program hasn't come out yet, so keep checking the city's channels before you commit. Once the dates are published, book the La Paz hotel first and the Cabo side second.

It also works the other way around. Some visitors base the whole trip in La Paz and come down to Cabo for a day on the water. Either way, give the highway a day of its own and don't stack a long drive, a late concert and an early boat on the same 24 hours.

How much does it cost?

If the format holds, walking the malecón and watching the concerts is free. What you pay for is everything around it: - The Zona Fan, if you want to be close to the stage. 2027 prices aren't out yet. - Gas or bus fare from Los Cabos. - A hotel in La Paz, which is worth booking early for carnival week.

How to get to La Paz from Cabo

La Paz is about 100 miles (160 km) from Cabo San Lucas. Highway 19 takes 2 to 2.5 hours each way without stops, through Todos Santos, and it's a free federal highway with no tolls. From San José del Cabo the drive is longer.

The concerts are at night, and the highway has almost no lighting, with cattle and horses wandering onto it after dark. That's why we wouldn't do carnival as a same-day round trip. Stay the night in La Paz and drive back in daylight.

Tips for the malecón

In 2026, the advice was to park well away from the waterfront and walk the last stretch, because traffic backs up badly. Public transit ran special schedules before and after the concerts. Leave glass and sharp objects at the hotel.

Security included permanent patrols, panic buttons along the malecón, medical staff and the Ángela protocol for women's safety.

What else to do in La Paz that weekend

Since you'll be staying over, use the daytime. The malecón is about 3 miles (5 km) long and easy to walk end to end. Balandra beach and Espíritu Santo island, with its sea lion colony, are the La Paz classics. Whale shark swims have an official season from October 1 to April 30, but outings only run when enough sharks are counted in the bay.

Our La Paz day trip guide has the timing and rules for all of that. To compare it with other outings, see day trips from Cabo.

If you dance, La Pazion Fest 2027 runs February 5 to 7 at One La Paz, with salsa, bachata and casino. If the carnival lands on our projected dates, the two overlap.

Is there a carnival in Cabo?

No. Los Cabos has no carnival or Mardi Gras. San José del Cabo's big town festival, the Fiestas Tradicionales, is in March, around the 19th. Everything else happening that month is in our February events calendar.

Back in Cabo: a day on the water

February is peak humpback whale season. The official 2026 to 2027 season hasn't been published in Mexico's federal register yet; last season ran December 15, 2025 to April 30, 2026.

When you're back from La Paz and want something quieter, a sunset trip leaves Marina Cabo San Lucas, passes the Arch and returns as the town lights come on. Mid-February sunset is at 6:16 PM. For two, the Bayliner 30 is USD 549 / MXN 10,499 for 2 hours; for a group of up to 12, the Sea Ray 40 is USD 879 / MXN 16,799. Prices are per boat, tax included, tip not included. No alcohol is sold on board; guests 18 and over can bring their own.

Plan the boat for the day after you drive back, not the same day. When your dates are set, open the planner. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

Yachts in this guide

Bayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 h

Questions people ask

When is the La Paz carnival in 2027?

The dates haven't been published. If it follows the 2026 pattern, Thursday through Carnival Tuesday, it would run February 4 to 9, 2027, since Ash Wednesday is February 10. That's a projection, so confirm with the Ayuntamiento de La Paz.

What is the theme of the 2027 La Paz carnival?

"La Fiesta del Futuro", the party of the future. The call for carnival queen candidates is also out and closes October 30, 2026.

Is the La Paz carnival free?

In 2026, entry to the waterfront and the nightly concerts was free. Only the Zona Fan, a limited-capacity area near the stage, required a paid ticket. 2027 prices haven't been published.

How far is La Paz from Cabo San Lucas?

About 100 miles (160 km) on Highway 19 through Todos Santos, which takes 2 to 2.5 hours each way with no tolls. Intercity buses take 2.5 to 3 hours.

Is there a carnival in Cabo San Lucas?

No. Los Cabos has no carnival or Mardi Gras; the region's carnival is in La Paz. San José del Cabo's big town festival is in March, around the 19th.

Plan your day on the water

Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

Check availabilitySee the fleet