Encarnación Carnival

The Encarnación Carnival is Paraguay's most important cultural and tourist event and one of the most popular carnivals in the Southern Cone. Celebrated in January and February at the Sambódromo (Municipal Civic Center 'Betty y Mario Pérez'), capacity 12,000 per night, the event features local comparsas parading in spectacular costumes with live music, choreography and floats. In 2026 the scheduled dates were January 17, 24 and 31, and February 7 and 14. Located on the Encarnación waterfront, facing the Paraná River next to Playa San José beach, the Sambódromo is walkable from downtown. The carnival season coincides with Encarnación's beach season, making January-February the city's peak tourist period.