This February is CARNIVAL season in Ponce! Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the oldest carnival in Puerto Rico.
The deepest roots of carnival are found in pagan traditions of ancient Egypt, where a festival was celebrated at the beginning of spring to mark the end of winter.
This tradition reached ancient Greece when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. Likewise, the Romans adopted the Greek festival and called it the Bacchanal in honor of the god of wine, celebrating it with excessive wine, dancing, and music.
Gradually, the tradition continued to spread throughout Europe and later adopted a Christian meaning, becoming known as “carnival,” an expression derived from the Latin phrase "carne vale," or “farewell to the meat”.
Since then, carnival has referred to the week preceding the beginning of the Catholic Lent fast and the subsequent abstinence from meat.
The Ponce Carnival was originally a copy of the carnival celebrated in European countries. It became part of the local culture with the Spanish colonization. In that Iberian country, carnival celebrations were especially important in cities such as Valencia, Seville, Barcelona, and Madrid.
Returning to our region, what eventually became the Ponce Carnival initially consisted of lavish masquerade balls, and it is believed that this tradition took root in Ponce through Catalan immigrants and European immigrants from other regions who arrived at the Port of Ponce.
Historians generally agree that in February 1858, the first masquerade ball was held at the cockfighting arena located on the corner of what are now Villa and Concordia Streets in Ponce. On the property of Benito La Guardia, the masquerade ball was celebrated during the pre-Lent period, forever establishing the carnival celebration just before the beginning of Lent. For this reason, this year in Ponce we celebrate the 168th edition of the Ponce Carnival.
In its beginnings, carnival highlighted everything grotesque and ordinary about everyday life. It began with the arrival of King Momo, represented by a local resident, and as a form of mockery, the townspeople would unleash their hostility against him, throwing rotten eggs, flour, spoiled fruit, and anything that could demean the king’s appearance. All of this took place in the form of acomparsa (a festive troupe), to the sound of traditional music, with participants parading mostly masked or wearing exaggerated makeup. It was also common for men to dress as women and vice versa.
King Momo is a typical carnival character who alludes to Momus, a deity from Greek mythology who was the god of mockery, sarcasm, and folly. In the Ponce Carnival, he is a well-known local figure who wears a giant papier-mâché mask and remains masked, without revealing his identity, until the end of the festivities, just before Ash Wednesday.
In Ponce, during that final night of the Carnival, the “Burial of the Sardine” is also celebrated: a ritual during which a mock funeral is held, with queens and groups of people weeping together over the death of the sardine.
In the local tradition, one version holds that the sardine symbolically saves King Momo, who, in the old Spanish tradition, is condemned to death at the closing of Carnival. Other versions suggest that the burial of the sardine marks the end of the festivities and is considered the final prank of thevejigantes, who hide the fish to tempt the devout into breaking the fast during the upcoming Lent season.
As is customary, the final activity of Carnival, closing the celebration on Tuesday, is the burning of the “Jua.” The Jua is a rag doll burned to drive away accumulated evil. The burning of the “Jua,” or Judas, carries strong religious symbolism, as it represents a rejection of the betrayal and corruption embodied by Judas Iscariot—the apostle who, according to the New Testament, handed Jesus of Nazareth over in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. Represented by a rag doll burned on the main stage at the conclusion of the litanies, this act also symbolizes the purification of our souls in preparation for the forty-day journey that culminates on Easter Sunday.
These demonic-looking figures who roam the streets of Ponce, either alone or in groups (comparsas), wear handcrafted masks and costumes. They often carry inflated cow bladders in their hands, which they use to playfully tease and swat at passersby.
It is said that their birthplace is the Playa neighborhood of Ponce, where the cattle slaughterhouse once stood. From there came the cow horns used to create the vejigante masks and the cow bladders that were inflated and painted in bright colors, then used to playfully hit people. This is where the name “vejigante” comes from. There are several theories about the origin of the modern Ponce vejigante mask, with many pointing to the Dominican Republic, home of theDiablo Cojuelo.
The Ponce vejigante mask is made of papier-mâché, an important distinction from the Loíza mask, which is made from coconut husk, and the Hatillo mask, which is made from wire mesh. It is also important to clarify that the celebrations in Loíza and Hatillo where these masks are used, are not carnivals, but different traditional festivals. In Loíza, they are part of the Fiestas de Santiago Apóstolduring the week of July 25; in Hatillo, they are part of the Fiestas de los Santos Inocentesduring the week of December 28.
These masks are so important and striking worldwide that examples of them are displayed in various museums and private collections.
With so much history and tradition, Ponce celebrates two carnivals. Here are the details:
Held in the Playa neighborhood of Ponce, the birthplace of the vejigante. This year marks its 35th edition. The event includes parades, coronations, and the traditional Burial of the Sardine. This year, the event took place from February 6–8, 2026, at Lucy Grillasca Park, with the following schedule:
The Carnaval Ponceño celebrates its 168th edition, solidifying its place as the oldest festival in Puerto Rico. It takes place in the historic downtown area around Plaza Las Delicias, where this tradition began in 1858. The event includes parades, comparsas, live music, masks, coronations, the traditional Burial of the Sardine, the Unveiling of King Momo, and the Burning of the Jua.
Below, we share the official schedule of activities:
Carnaval Ponceño 2026: Official Schedule
Dates: February 12–17, 2026
Location: The main area is Plaza Las Delicias, with entrances along Isabel Street leading to the main stage in front of Ponce City Hall.
Schedule: (More details this Tuesday, February 10, 2026)
The Ponce Carnival is tradition, history, and cultural pride. A celebration that blends music, craftsmanship, gastronomy, and the unmistakable spirit of Ponce.
The term “Grand Marshal” refers to the person who leads theCarnival festivities. It is usually a recognition given to someone for their work and dedication to the theme or celebration of Carnival. The Grand Marshal of the Carnival is Ángel “Papote” Alvarado, from Grupo Esencia.
In addition to his significant contributions to his community of La Cuarta, to Afro-Caribbean music, and to the Afro-Caribbean Festival, Papote was the last person to pay tribute to Don Tite Curet Alonso during his lifetime. This year’s Carnival is dedicated to Don Tite Curet Alonso in honor of his centennial.
In recognition of the dedication of the Carnival to Don Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso, whose 100th anniversary is commemorated on February 12, the Carnival Presidents are Hilda Curet, daughter of “Tite” Curet, and his granddaughter, Astrid Rosero Curet.
👟 Recommended clothing and footwear: COMFORT ABOVE ALL! Wear sneakers and comfortable clothing suitable for standing and walking.
☀️ Weather in February: Tropical but mild—bring an umbrella in case it rains.
👨👩👧 Is it kid-friendly? Yes! The Ponce Carnival is very family-oriented.
📸 Best time for photos: For both events, Sunday is the best day for photos. Both carnivals usually begin their grand parade around 2:00 PM or later.
🎟️ Do I need tickets? No. Carnival is a completely free event open to the general public.
👹 Warnings: Watch out for the vejigantes—they might swat you with their inflated bladders! It’s part of the tradition… I don’t know what else to tell you except be ready. It’s unusual, but it can happen.
There are several options. In addition to looking for street parking in the historic downtown area, here is a parking guide for Ponce, along with this map:
Among the municipal parking lots — they’re free! — you’ll find:
In addition, during Carnival, you can use Sitras, Ponce’s public transportation system, which offers shuttle service from the Estacionamiento Gubernamental to the Ponce Carnival.
Special service hours during Carnival for these four municipal parking lots:
We invite you to save these dates and experience up close one of the most important cultural celebrations in Puerto Rico.
Ponce is Carnival!
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