If you’re reading this on February 14 and wondering why you’re not stuck in traffic near Playa Hermosa with glitter in your hair, you’re not crazy.
Gran Carnaval Ensenada 2026 was originally scheduled for February 12 through 17. Which means, technically, we should be right in the middle of it. Fireworks. Banda music. Questionable diet choices.
Instead, the confetti cannons are on standby.
The city officially moved the celebration to March 12 through March 17, 2026, citing logistics and operational coordination. In plain English: permits, agency timing, and making sure everything runs smoother and safer when 80,000 people a day decide to party in the same place.
Playa Hermosa Goes Full Neon
The new dates come with a glowing twist. This year’s theme is neon, and the main festivities will once again take over Playa Hermosa. Expect illuminated floats, high-energy comparsas, and nighttime parades that look like Baja met a glow stick factory.
Organizers project more than 80,000 visitors daily, which tracks with previous years. In 2025, the city reported around 300,000 total visitors, generating roughly 310 million pesos in economic impact and drawing more than 107,000 spectators to the parades alone.
Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz emphasized that Carnaval is not just a party. It dates back to 1981 and is considered the oldest urban festival in Baja California. It’s even in the process of being recognized as cultural heritage of Ensenada. From a small coastal town to a full-scale neon spectacle. Not bad.
Big Stage Energy, Big Names
The concert lineup alone explains the crowd estimates. The main stage will feature:
- La Parranda Tour 2.0 Recargada – Thursday, March 12
- Alicia Villarreal – Friday, March 13
- Paty Cantú – Saturday, March 14
- Banda MS – Sunday, March 15
- Miguel y Miguel, Lorenzo de Monteclaro, Raúl Hernández – Monday, March 16
- Yuridia – Tuesday, March 17
General access to the concerts remains free. A new VIP preferential zone will be available for those who prefer their dancing with fewer elbows and slightly more personal space.
Crowns, Likes, and Tradition
Carnaval royalty is also getting a 2026 upgrade. In the convocatoria for both children’s and adult kings and queens, social media likes will now count toward scoring. Your scrolling habits may literally help crown someone.
The pre-festival schedule includes the único cómputo on February 28, the Black and White Ball on March 7, the traditional “Quema del Mal Humor,” and the royal coronations before parade weekend.
Parades will take place March 14, 15, and 17, all glowing under the neon theme.
What to Expect
Visitors are expected from across Baja California and from places like Los Angeles, Arizona, Temecula, and San Diego. Parking will test your patience. Traffic will build. Restaurants will be packed. Hotels will smile.
The city has allocated 16 million pesos in public investment for this edition. With daily attendance projected above 80,000, they’re clearly expecting the glow to pay off.
So yes, today could have been Carnaval. Instead, consider this your official heads-up.
March. Neon. Playa Hermosa. We’ll see you under the lights!
