Start Planning
Carnival
Ecuador

Carnival 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Ecuador

The 2-day Carnival holiday in Ecuador comes each year in February or March, as in many other significantly Roman Catholic countries. The date varies, but it always immediately precedes Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of a 40-day Lenten fast leading up to Easter.

YearDateDayHoliday
202412 FebMonCarnival
13 FebTueCarnival
20253 MarMonCarnival
4 MarTueCarnival
202616 FebMonCarnival
17 FebTueCarnival
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

There is a combination of small, family celebrations and large big-city parades, and Andean dress and traditions have been incorporated into what was originally just a Catholic holiday from Spain.

The largest and wildest Carnival parties in Ecuador take place in the town of Guaranda, where the potent liquor “Blue Bird” is brewed and drunk in excess. In other towns, local corn spirits called “chicha” are often passed out and consumed by people watching the Carnival parade pass by.

The prankster aspect of Carnival in Ecuador is probably the most unique. People “attack” each other with squirt guns, buckets of water, “party foam”, and dyed flour. Sneak attacks are especially popular, and even strangers just passing by are considered fair targets.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
202320 FebMonCarnival
21 FebTueCarnival
202228 FebMonCarnival
1 MarTueCarnival
202115 FebMonCarnival
16 FebTueCarnival
202024 FebMonCarnival
25 FebTueCarnival
20194 MarMonCarnival
5 MarTueCarnival
201812 FebMonCarnival
13 FebTueCarnival
201727 FebMonCarnival
28 FebTueCarnival