Carnaval 2027 – Thursday February 4 – Tuesday February 9

For those of you who plan ahead, below are the important dates.

Thursday February 4: Coronación Rey de la Alegria/King of Happiness, @ Estadio Teodoro Mariscal/Baseball Stadium, 7:30 pm.

 

Friday February 5: Coronación Reina de los Juegos Florales, Coronation of runner-up, Queen of the Floral Games @ Estadio Teodoro Mariscal/Baseball Stadium, 8:30 pm.

 

Saturday February 6: Coronación Reina del Carnaval, The Queen of Carnaval wears the crown @ Estadio Teodoro Mariscal/Baseball Stadium, 6:30 pm.

 

Saturday February 6; Quema del Mal Humor/People vote for who should be burned in effigy @ Olas Altas, 9 pm. Always a surprise, as Mazatlecos love to vote for “their person” to go up in smoke. In 2026, voters voted for Nawat Itsaragrisil, the co-ordiantor in Thailand of the Miss Universe pageant – he publicly humiliated Mexico’s representative, Fatima Bosh who would go on to win Miss Universe. In 2025, it was Rodolfo “El Fofo” Marquez – violence against women who was sentenced to17 years in prison.

Saturday February 6: Combate Naval, the famous fantastic fireworks that reenact the battle over water @ Olas Altas. It commemorates a real historical event from March 1864, during the French Intervention in Mexico, when a French warship—La Cordelière—attempted to attack and seize the port of Mazatlán. Local Mexican forces, defending from the shoreline, successfully repelled the attack and protected the city. Today, that battle is symbolically recreated with a choreographed “exchange” of fireworks between barges in the bay [representing the French ships] and the shore [representing Mazatlán’s defenders], turning a historic victory into one of Carnaval’s most iconic and emotional events. Be sure to secure a reservation with a view. 11 pm.

 

Sunday February 7: Primer Desfile de Carnaval, the first large parade, 5:30 pm. Av. del Mar, north to Valentino’s. The promotional floats start at 4;30 pm. and the “royalty” floats at 5:30 pm.

Monday February 8: Coronación Infantil/Child Queen @ The Angela Peralta Theater, 10 am. and @ Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, 6:30

 

Tuesday February 9: Segundo Desfile de Carnaval, The second slightly smaller parade, 4:30 pm. The promotional floats at 3 pm. and the “royalty” floats around 4 pm. Ave. del Mar, south to Olas Altas.