Montevideo Carnival
Montevideo Carnival: dates, neighborhoods and where to stay
Montevideo Carnival does not happen in one venue. It combines an opening parade, Llamadas along Isla de Flores, the official competition at Teatro de Verano and neighborhood stages spread across the city. Accommodation should therefore be chosen around nighttime transport and the events travelers most want to see, rather than only around the geographic center.
Parades, Llamadas and Teatro de Verano
The official 2026–2027 calendar sets the opening parade for January 21, 2027, the official competition from January 25 and the Llamadas parade for February 5 and 6 along Isla de Flores. These dates concentrate demand and require different logistics: street parades affect specific corridors, while the competition takes place at Teatro de Verano.
Neighborhood stages and a citywide celebration
Popular stages bring murga, parody groups, humor and other Carnival categories to different neighborhoods during January, February and part of March. This makes Carnival much broader than the headline events, but it also means there is no single perfect place to stay. Reviewing the annual program helps match accommodation and transport to actual plans.
Where to stay during Carnival
Centro, Cordón and Barrio Sur are practical for parts of the parade calendar and offer transport, food and urban activity, while Pocitos and Punta Carretas provide a more residential coastal base. Travelers focused on Teatro de Verano may value access toward Parque Rodó. On major event nights, easy public or hired transport can matter more than a slightly shorter daytime distance.