Long weekend in Cartagena, October 10-12: dates and preludes
Monday, October 12 is a public holiday in Colombia, so the long weekend runs Saturday 10 to Monday 12. Here are the Independence Festivities preludes that come before and after it.
Monday, October 12 is a public holiday in Colombia (Diversidad Étnica y Cultural), so the long weekend in Cartagena runs from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12, according to the 2026 holiday calendar published by El Universal. It lands in the middle of the city's Independence Festivities (Fiestas de Independencia), which culminate in November.
Before the weekend
In the weeks leading up, each locality, or administrative district, of Cartagena gets its own cultural prelude. Canapote had the first one on October 2. The Localidad 2 prelude, in the El Pozón neighborhood, is on Friday, October 9, the day before the weekend starts, with Nelson Velásquez, Farid Ortiz, Criss y Ronny and Soneros de Gámero, per the program published by the city government (Alcaldía) and the IPCC.
No prelude is listed for the weekend itself. The official festivities agenda lists no prelude between Saturday, October 10 and Monday, October 12. Announced artists can change, so confirm details through the official channels of the Alcaldía and the IPCC before heading to any event.
After the weekend
Two dates follow back to back. The University Prelude (Preludio Universitario) is on Thursday, October 15, and the agenda gives no venue. The next day, Friday, October 16, is the Localidad 3 prelude, the one for Blas de Lezo.
Frequently asked questions
When is the October 2026 long weekend in Colombia?
It runs from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12. Monday is the Diversidad Étnica y Cultural holiday, per El Universal.
Are there Independence Festivities preludes during the long weekend?
None are listed in the official agenda. The El Pozón prelude (Localidad 2) is on Friday, October 9, before the weekend, and the Localidad 3 (Blas de Lezo) one is on Friday, October 16, after it.
What is on Thursday, October 15?
The University Prelude, according to the IPCC agenda. The agenda does not give a venue.
Sources
Published on October 7, 2026