Culture and history
Cusco festivals: a month-by-month calendar
Calendar of the main festivals in and around Cusco: Carnival, Holy Week, Qoyllur Rit'i, Corpus Christi, Inti Raymi, Virgen del Carmen, Pachamama, Santurantikuy and more.
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Festivals & events
13 guides
Cusco has something to celebrate almost every month, and some festivals transform the city: bigger crowds, closed streets and hotels that fill up early. We sorted the guides by month so you can see what overlaps with your trip. Some dates move each year: confirm them with official sources.
All year
January – February (movable dates)
Culture and history
Cusco Carnival: compadres, comadres, water fights and t'impu
How Cusco celebrates Carnival: compadres and comadres Thursdays, a Sunday of water and confetti, kacharpari on the Plaza de Armas, t'impu stew, 2027 dates and tips.
Read guide →March – April (movable dates)
Culture and history
Holy Week in Cusco: Lord of the Earthquakes, procession route and 12 dishes
Holy Week in Cusco: Holy Monday and the Lord of the Earthquakes procession, the 2026 route, 2027 dates, the 12 Good Friday dishes and tips for watching it.
Read guide →May – June (movable dates)
Culture and history
Qoyllur Rit'i: the Andean pilgrimage below Ausangate (dates and how to attend)
Qoyllur Rit'i guide: what the pilgrimage is, when it takes place, getting to the Sinakara sanctuary, extreme conditions, what to bring and how to attend respectfully.
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Culture and history
Corpus Christi in Cusco: dates, the saints' procession, chiriuchu and tips
Corpus Christi in Cusco guide: when it is, the saints arriving at the Cathedral, the procession on the Plaza de Armas, chiriuchu, the octave and tips for enjoying the festival.
Read guide →June
Culture and history
Inti Raymi in Cusco: date, schedule, tickets and how to experience the Festival of the Sun
Everything about Inti Raymi on 24 June: the three scenes (Qorikancha, Plaza de Armas and Sacsayhuamán), paid stands or free viewing, booking ahead and tips.
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Markets
Huancaro Fair: Cusco's big June agricultural fair
Expo Huancaro, the farming and crafts fair of Cusco's June festivities: livestock, native potatoes, cheese, picanterías and crafts. Dates, getting there and tips.
Read guide →July
Culture and history
Paucartambo and Tres Cruces: the Virgen del Carmen festival and sunrise over the Amazon
Guide to Paucartambo and Tres Cruces: the Virgen del Carmen festival in July, its dances, the Tres Cruces sunrise over the jungle, when to go, getting there from Cusco and tips.
Read guide →August
Culture and history
Pachamama in August: offerings to Mother Earth in Cusco
What Pachamama is and why August is her month in Cusco: the despacho or payment to the earth, caña con ruda on 1 August, how to take part respectfully and what to avoid.
Read guide →September
Culture and history
Señor de Huanca: the sanctuary and the 14 September pilgrimage
Guide to the Señor de Huanca sanctuary in San Salvador (Calca): the Christ painted on rock, the night walk from San Jerónimo, the 14 September feast and how to get there.
Read guide →November
Culture and history
All Saints' Day in Cusco: t'anta wawa bread, roast pork and cemeteries
How Cusco celebrates All Saints' Day: t'anta wawa and horse breads, roast pork with tamal, plaza fairs, cemetery visits and the bread baby baptism. Dates and tips.
Read guide →December
Culture and history
New Year's Eve in Cusco: the Plaza de Armas party, traditions and tips
What New Year's Eve in Cusco is like: the Plaza de Armas party, yellow clothes, laps of the square and grapes, rules, rain, safety, where to stay and what to do on 1 January.
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Markets
Santurantikuy: Cusco's Christmas market in the Plaza de Armas
Santurantikuy, Cusco's Christmas crafts fair: usual dates, what to buy (Niño Manuelito, retablos, ceramics), tips and how to avoid the crowds.
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