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Checked October 20, 2026 · 45 compared

Events in Curaçao: which festival or party fits you, and when?

The busiest party season is January and February: Carnival 2027 runs from the horse parade on January 24 to the Gran Marcha on February 7 and the final parade on February 9, and watching from the route is free. Then comes Seú on Easter Monday (March 29, 2027), King's Day on April 27 and North Sea Jazz in early September (2026 three-day pass: €370). Every week there is Punda Vibes on Thursday night and beach parties at Mambo Beach, Jan Thiel and Kokomo on weekends.

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Your top 3

1. carnival music contest

Festival di Tumba

no reviews found

carnival music contest · Festival Center, Brievengat · 2026: Jan 26 to 30 · Five nights, final on Friday · Winner becomes the carnival road march

  • You hear the songs that play all carnival season
  • Mix of established artists and new talent
  • The 2026 opening night started late and felt quiet

2. carnival horse parade

Marcha di Kabai (paardenparade)

no reviews found

carnival horse parade · Otrobanda tot Jan Noorduynweg · $0 watching along the route · 2027: Sunday, January 24 · 4 to 9 p.m. · Starts at Pater Euwensweg

  • Calmer than the big parades, good with kids
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

3. children's carnival parade

Kinderparade (Marcha di Hubenil)

no reviews found

children's carnival parade · Palù Blanku tot Brionplein · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Sunday, February 8 · 2027: Sunday, January 31 · 2 to 7 p.m.

  • Kids in their own costumes, cheerful family mood
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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No reviews found yet (45)

Festival di Tumba

carnival music contest · Festival Center, Brievengat · 2026: Jan 26 to 30 · Five nights, final on Friday · Winner becomes the carnival road march
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  • You hear the songs that play all carnival season
  • The 2026 opening night started late and felt quiet
All pros, cons and scores
  • Mix of established artists and new talent

no reviews found

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Marcha di Kabai (paardenparade)

carnival horse parade · Otrobanda tot Jan Noorduynweg · $0 watching along the route · 2027: Sunday, January 24 · 4 to 9 p.m. · Starts at Pater Euwensweg
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  • Calmer than the big parades, good with kids
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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Kinderparade (Marcha di Hubenil)

children's carnival parade · Palù Blanku tot Brionplein · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Sunday, February 8 · 2027: Sunday, January 31 · 2 to 7 p.m.
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  • Kids in their own costumes, cheerful family mood
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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Tienerparade

teen evening parade · Rooseveltweg tot Brionplein · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Friday, February 13 · 2027: Friday, February 5 · 6 to 11 p.m.
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  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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Bandabou-parade

countryside carnival parade · Barber, Bandabou · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Saturday, February 14 · 2027: Saturday, February 6 · Ends at Centro Deportivo Barber
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  • Village feel and pride of the island's west side
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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Gran Marcha (grote carnavalsoptocht)

main carnival parade · Rooseveltweg tot Brionplein, Otrobanda · $850 to join a group, from · 2026: Sunday, February 15 · 2027: Sunday, February 7 · 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. · Watching along the route is free
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  • Biggest day of carnival, music in the streets all day
  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late
All pros, cons and scores
  • You can join a group in costume
  • Find a shaded spot along the route early

no reviews found

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Afscheidsparade jeugd en tieners

Carnival Monday parade · Route van de Gran Marcha · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Monday, February 16 · 2027: Monday, February 8 · Carnival Monday is a public holiday
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  • Start often runs 1 to 2 hours late

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Marcha di Despedida en verbranding Rei Momo

parade of lights, carnival finale · Route van de Gran Marcha, eindigt Brionplein · $0 watching along the route · 2026: Tuesday, February 17 · 2027: Tuesday, February 9 · King Momo burns around midnight
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  • Night parade with lit-up costumes
  • The burning has run very late in past years
All pros, cons and scores
  • Thousands of people along the route
  • In 2026 fireworks and lasers replaced the burning

no reviews found

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Marcha di Seú (oogstfeest)

harvest parade, tradition · Rooseveltweg en route door Willemstad · On Easter Monday · 2026: April 6, 40 groups · 2027: Monday, March 29
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  • Traditional dance and song, more local than carnival
  • Debate that the harvest roots fade behind costumes

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Seú-parade Bandabou

countryside harvest parade · Hofi Abou tot Veld di Barber · 2026: Sunday, April 12 · Starts at 1 p.m. · Music and food afterward
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Curaçao International BlueSeas Festival

blues and roots festival · Kura Hulanda en Pietermaai · 2026: April 2 to 4 · Opening concert at Kura Hulanda Village · Several stages in Pietermaai
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  • Small-scale festival in the streets of Pietermaai

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Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF)

film festival · The Movies, Otrobanda · 2027: April 13 to 18 · Nearly 70 films in 2025 · Caribbean films in competition
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  • Record attendance and sold-out screenings in 2025
  • Popular screenings sell out fast

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Merkado Amor pa Otrobanda

neighborhood market · Otrobanda · Several editions a year · 2025: around Seú and King's Day · Run by the Kaya Kaya team
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Koningsdag Otrobanda

street party, flea market · Brionplein, Breedestraat, Rif Fort · $0 entry, except Kingsfest · Every year on April 27 · 2026: 8 a.m. to midnight · More than 100 stalls · Kids' area on Brionplein
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  • Whole district joins in with DJs, food and market
  • Kingsfest at Matthey Wharf needs a separate ticket

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Fiesta di San Juan

bonfire, tradition · Club Union Boneriano, Suffisant · Evening of June 23 · Bonfire around 11:30 p.m. · People jump over the fire
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  • Old tradition meant to bring rain and luck

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Curaçao Dine Out Week

restaurant week · Restaurants door het hele eiland · 2025: June 25 to July 5 · More than 35 restaurants · Fixed-price lunch and dinner
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Dia di Emancipashon (afschaffing slavernij)

commemoration · Fort Amsterdam, Punda · Every year on July 1 · Ceremony with tumba rhythm
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Dia di Himno i Bandera (vlag- en volksliedjesdag)

national holiday · Hele eiland · Every year on July 2 · Official public holiday · Easy Riders motorcycle ride
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Dia di Lucha pa Libertat (Tula-dag)

1795 slave revolt remembrance · Parke Lucha pa Libertat · Every year on August 17 · 2026: starts at 5 p.m. · Honors Tula and his fighters
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Kaya Kaya (straatfestival Otrobanda)

street art and music festival · Ser'i Otrobanda · Usually in August · Full festival every two years · 2025: street party, 10,000 visitors
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  • Murals stay up all year
  • Visitor numbers are capped, go early
All pros, cons and scores
  • Several stages with soca, reggae, jazz and tumba

no reviews found

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Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival

major music festival · World Trade Center, Piscadera · $195 day ticket (2025) · 2026: September 3 to 5 · Twelfth edition in 2026 · 2026 three-day pass: €370 · Free opening concert downtown
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  • Big names like J Balvin, Toto and The Jacksons in 2026
  • All-inclusive festival packages sell out fast
All pros, cons and scores
  • Most shows are outdoors

no reviews found

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Tri Curaçao jeugd-aquathlons

swim and run for kids · Kokomo Beach · 2026: starts September 19 · Ages 9 to 17 · Series ends with a championship
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Cultuurweek (Siman di Kultura)

culture week · Hele eiland · 2026: Sep 27 to Oct 4 · Theme: from Curaçao to the world
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Curaçao Pride

LGBTQ festival week · Otrobanda, Punda en stranden · Late September, early October · 2025: Sep 30 to Oct 5 · Parade starts at Rif Fort
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  • Parade, beach parties and club nights in one week

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Herdenking van de gedode vrijheidsstrijders

commemoration · Every year on October 3 · Honors Tula and the 1795 heroes
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Dia di Pais Kòrsou (Curaçao-dag, 10/10)

national holiday, street party · Punda, Willemstad · $0 entry · Every year on October 10 · Official public holiday · Punda street party from 10 a.m. · Evening concert with local artists
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  • Food and music from many countries on Hanchi Snoa

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Ka'i Òrgel-week

barrel organ week · 2026: November 15 to 22 · Local cylinder piano tradition
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Kerstboom aansteken in Punda

start of the holiday season · Bij de Koningin Emmabrug, Punda · Late November, on a Thursday · 2025: Nov 27 at 6:45 p.m. · Santa, stalls and live music
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Dia di Autonomia (Da Costa Gomez-dag)

commemoration · Every year on December 15
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Vuurwerkshow Kooyman

big fireworks show · Kooyman, Zeelandia · December 30 at 9 p.m.
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  • Local press calls it a New Year's highlight

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Pagara-straatfeest Pietermaai

New Year's Eve firecracker party · Nieuwestraat, Pietermaai · December 31, pagara at 2 p.m. · Then live music and street food · Also pagaras at Oasis and Mahaai
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  • Long strings of firecrackers in daylight, a unique tradition

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Ban Tende Tiru den Union (Brionplein)

New Year's Eve gathering · Brionplein, Otrobanda · December 31 · Cultural close of the year
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Fuikdag (bootfeest Fuikbaai)

boat party at sea · Fuikbaai, oostkant · $350 spot on a catamaran with open bar · First Sunday of January · 2027: Sunday, January 3 · Only reachable by boat
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  • Hundreds of boats side by side with DJs
  • Strict checks at sea, no water taxis or drink sales

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Velas Curaçao (tall ships)

tall ships in the harbor · Sint Annabaai, Willemstad · 2026: May 2 to 8 · Sailing ships from several countries · One-off edition, no fixed date
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Punda Vibes (donderdagavond)

weekly street party · Punda, Willemstad · Every Thursday from 5 p.m. · Fireworks at 8:15 p.m. · Floating market until 7 p.m.
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  • Live bands and stalls with local snacks
All pros, cons and scores
  • Easy to combine with dinner in Punda

no reviews found

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Salsa-avond Mundo Bizarro

salsa night · Nieuwestraat, Pietermaai · Every Thursday · Cuban-style cafe in Pietermaai
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Sangria & Beats bij Zest

afternoon beach party · Jan Thiel Beach · Every Thursday 3 to 7 p.m. · Friday spritz happy hour 6-7 p.m.
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Woensdag happy hour Cabana Beach

beach bar night · Mambo Beach Boulevard · Every Wednesday · Happy hour 8 to 9 p.m.
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Wet & Wild vrijdagavond

beach club with DJ · Mambo Beach · Every Friday, DJ · Happy hour 8 to 9 p.m. · Then on to Club Live 973
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Rileks Beach Bar (vrijdag live, zaterdag sunset)

beach bar with live music · Mambo Beach · Friday live music · Saturday sunset sessions with DJs · Sunday Vibes on Sundays
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Zanzibar zaterdag

beach bar with DJs · Jan Thiel Beach · Every Saturday · Happy hour and live DJs
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Wet & Wild Sunday

Sunday beach party · Mambo Beach · Every Sunday · Caribbean band 5 to 7 p.m. · Mojito bar and DJ
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Sunday Funday bij Kokomo Beach

Sunday afternoon beach party · Kokomo Beach, Vaersenbaai · $0 beach entry, loungers extra · Every Sunday afternoon · Happy hour 5 to 6 p.m. · DJ and a live act · 15 minutes from Willemstad
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Prices are "from" prices we saw at the source on the stated date; they vary by season.

Booking through a middleman

Curaçao Tourist Board (curacao.com)

Official tourism site with event pages per year; does not sell tickets.

Curaçao Chronicle

English-language news with current dates and schedules for carnival, Seú and festivals.

NaarCuracao.com

Sells Fuik Day boat spots and posts the carnival schedule with routes.

Corendon

Package trips with flight, hotel and a three-day North Sea Jazz pass.

My Curaçao Guide

Overview of nightlife by day of the week and tours to Punda Vibes.

Good to know

  • Carnival parades often start 1 to 2 hours late; bring water and a folding chair and find shade along the route.
  • Carnival Monday (February 8, 2027) and Easter Monday (March 29, 2027) are public holidays; many shops and offices close.
  • You can walk in the Gran Marcha with a carnival group, from about $850 including costume.
  • For Fuik Day you need a spot on a boat; the bay can't be reached by land and drinks aren't sold on the water.
  • Book flights and hotels for North Sea Jazz early; all-inclusive packages at The Rif and Mangrove Beach sold out for 2026.
  • On December 31, long pagara firecracker strings go off by day in Pietermaai (2 p.m.) and at Oasis (3 p.m.); the big Kooyman fireworks show is on December 30.
  • On Thursdays you can pair Punda Vibes from 5 p.m. with salsa at Mundo Bizarro in Pietermaai.

Frequently asked questions

When is Carnival in Curaçao in 2027?

The horse parade is on Sunday, January 24, the children's parade on January 31, the Gran Marcha on Sunday, February 7 and the closing parade with King Momo's farewell on Tuesday, February 9, 2027. The Tumba Festival is in late January.

What is Seú?

Seú is Curaçao's harvest festival with traditional dance, song and costumes. The big Marcha di Seú moves through Willemstad on Easter Monday (40 groups in 2026), and a parade in Bandabou follows about a week later.

When is Curaçao North Sea Jazz?

The 2026 edition ran September 3 to 5 at the World Trade Center in Piscadera. A day ticket cost $195 in 2025 and a three-day pass €370 in 2026. 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.

What are the biggest events by month?

January: Fuik Day and the Tumba Festival. February: Carnival. March/April: Seú, BlueSeas, the film festival and King's Day. May: golf Pro-Am. July: Emancipation Day and Flag Day. August: Tula Day and Kaya Kaya. September: North Sea Jazz. October: Pride and Curaçao Day. November: KLM Marathon. December: pagaras and New Year's Eve.

What's on every week in Curaçao?

Thursday: Punda Vibes from 5 p.m. with fireworks at 8:15 p.m., plus salsa at Mundo Bizarro. Friday and Sunday: Wet & Wild at Mambo Beach. Saturday: Zanzibar at Jan Thiel. Sunday afternoon: Sunday Funday at Kokomo Beach.

What is Fuik Day?

A big boat party in Fuik Bay on the first Sunday of January, January 3 in 2027. You need a spot on a boat; a catamaran spot with an open bar costs around $350.

Is Curaçao Carnival free?

Yes, watching the parades from the route is free. If you want to walk in one, a carnival group charges from about $850 including costume.

Which events are good with kids?

The children's parade and horse parade at carnival, Seú on Easter Monday, King's Day in Otrobanda with a kids' area on Brionplein, the 10/10 party in Punda and Punda Vibes on Thursdays.

How do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Curaçao?

With pagaras: long strings of firecrackers set off by day, including in Pietermaai at 2 p.m. followed by a street party. There is a big fireworks show at Kooyman in Zeelandia on December 30, and Fuik Day follows on January 3, 2027.

How we compare

We looked up every provider in Curaçao on Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, travel forums and the providers’ own sites. For each we show the score and number of reviews per platform and summarize, in our own words, what keeps coming back in reviews. Providers do not pay for a spot.

Sources (41)