The Largest Latin American Festival in the Pacific Northwest

Walk through the gates of Carnaval del Sol and something shifts immediately. The music is louder, the food smells different and the crowd moves uniquely. If you have spent time in Latin America, that feeling will be familiar. This is not a festival that approximates Latin culture for a Vancouver audience. It is built by the community that lives the culture, and that distinction comes through in everything from the performers on stage to the arepas at the food stand.

Now in its 18th year and the largest Latin American festival in the Pacific Northwest, Carnaval del Sol runs July 10th to 12th at Jonathan Rogers Park with three international headliners and over 60 performers spanning salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, mariachi, banda, folklore and more. There are a dozen themed plazas to explore in the park as well as a Latino Parade making its way through the streets on Sunday. The 2026 edition also carries extra energy with FIFA World Cup matches in Vancouver this summer, giving the city’s Latin American community one more reason to celebrate.

The Headliners

The 2026 edition of Carnaval del Sol features three nights celebrating three countries with three distinct sounds.

FRIDAY, JULY 10 — EL GRAN SILENCIO (MEXICO)
The Monterrey group fuses norteño, reggae, cumbia and hip-hop into something entirely their own. El Gran Silencio have been at the vanguard of Mexican alternative music for over two decades. A live set from them is a demonstration of how many genres can share a stage without any of them losing their identity.

SATURDAY, JULY 11 — VILLA CARIÑO (CHILE)
A performance showcasing Chilean romantic pop at its most polished level. Villa Cariño brings the energy that fills a park and keeps it moving with warm and melodic sounds built for a summer night with thousands of people singing along.

SUNDAY, JULY 12 — FULANITO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
Founding acts of merengue urbano, Fulanito have been filling dance floors since the late 1990s. Their Sunday closing set is a fitting end to three days — a deep catalogue, a crowd that knows every word, and high energy from start to finish.

To purchase your tickets visit the official Carnaval del Sol website.

Full 2026 Lineup

Beyond the headliners, the roster covers the full breadth of Latin American music, Peruvian folk, Colombian salsa, Brazilian axé, Mexican banda, Venezuelan pop and more. The range is what makes this festival stand apart from any single-genre event in the region.

PLAZA DEL SOL — MAIN STAGE
Fito Blanko · Lussilia · MNGWA · DJ Kemo · Rumba 7 · Tren al Sur · DJ Tony Escobar · Samba Fusion · Frankie Hidalgo · Tee DJ · DJ Two Monkey · DJ Jay Ville · Meni Axe Band

FDU VANCOUVER FAMILY PLAZA
Salseo · Los Grandes · La Klave Kids · Mariachi Tabasko · Nahualli Folklore · Roots Peruvian · Mariachi Los Dorados · Orkesta Tabasko · Grupo RM · Cumbale · Alma Raiz · Ruta Norte · Fabricio Zuniga · The Jaivas · Bolivian Roots · Pasion Venezuela · Larimar

SUPPORTING ACTS ACROSS ALL STAGES
Club del Despecho · Vibraz YVR · DJ Gera · La Cuadra · DJ Luiz Campos · Casa Meshiko · Cueca Brava · Baila con Abi · Calpulli Cemanahuac · Colectivo Yollotl · Paola Noriega · DJ Mint · DJ Alex Rico · DJ Lu · Ritmo y Sabor

The Plazas – How the Festival is Organized

Carnaval del Sol runs across a series of themed plazas rather than a single stage. Each has its own programming, atmosphere and purpose. You can spend a full day here and cover different ground on each pass through. Brief descriptions of all plazas are below.

Plaza del Sol: Headliners and top-billed acts perform here on the Main Stage each evening, with the crowd building from afternoon into the night.
Family Plaza: Full daytime family programming with folklore performances, mariachi bands, kids’ groups and cultural dance acts from across Latin America.
Chiquitzin Kids Plaza: Dedicated zone for younger children with activities, performances and entertainment built around their age group.
Native Plaza Indigenous: Cultural programming including a Cacao Ceremony, Juego de Pelota, Mayan Codex presentation and visual art. This is one of the most distinctive corners of the whole festival.
She Latina Plaza: A space centred on Latina voices, stories and artistic expression across music, performance and visual art.
Youth Plaza: Programming aimed at younger festivalgoers and emerging talent from the Latin American community.
Beer Plaza (19+): Club del Despecho headlines Saturday night with rancheras, heartbreak classics and Latin pop singalongs in a beer garden setting. This is one of the most spirited spots of the weekend.
VIP Plaza (19+): Elevated viewing, dedicated bars and separate entry for VIP ticket holders.
Sports Plaza: Soccer activities, community tournaments and, for 2026, screenings of landmark World Cup matches. Bring your national shirt!
Seniors Plaza: Programming and seating for older festivalgoers, with cultural performances and a quieter atmosphere.
Food Plaza: Latin American food vendors from across the continent — more detail further below.
Amazonia Plaza: Environmental and ecological programming celebrating the natural heritage of Latin America.

The Food

The Food Plaza earns its own section. Vendors represent the full breadth of Latin American cuisine across multiple countries. There are Colombian empanadas, Mexican street foods, Peruvian ceviche, Brazilian churrasco, Venezuelan arepas, Dominican classics and more, all in one space.

For anyone who has eaten their way through Latin America, the smells alone will be enough. For anyone who has not, it is a practical and affordable way to move through an entire continent’s worth of food in a single afternoon.

Food is purchased separately from your festival ticket. Most vendors accept both cash and card.

For more details about the festival, see Carnaval del Sol‘s official website.

The Latino Parade

Sunday, July 12th opens with the Latino Parade departing at 12:00 pm and making its way to Jonathan Rogers Park.

Dance groups, cultural organizations, musicians and community performers of all kinds take part, and spectators line the route as the procession arrives. The parade is free to watch and open to everyone. It sets the tone for the closing day better than any stage announcement could.

Beyond the Festival — Summer of Latin Culture

Carnaval del Sol anchors a broader season of Latin American programming across the Lower Mainland. Tribuna Latina runs from June 8th with World Cup watch events for the Latin community. Carnavalito on the Road brings a preview of the festival to Surrey’s Bear Creek Park on June 27th. The United Americas Soccer Tournament kicks off on Canada Day at China Creek Park. The main festival is the centrepiece, but the full experience starts well before July 10th.

Chiquitin Kids Fiesta in Richmond

After the main festival, the kids’ programming continues at Thompson Community Centre in Richmond on July 25th, running from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. It’s a fun follow-up to the festival if you are bringing children who want more.

2026 Tickets

Early bird single-day tickets start at $12 during the first release, rising to $22 at the door. Weekend general admission passes cost $49.99 plus taxes and fees. Group deals for four or more bring the per-person price down to around $34.99. VIP tickets are available separately and include access to the VIP Plaza, priority entry and dedicated bar service.

TIP: Early bird tickets sell out quickly. Buying in the first release window saves a meaningful amount, particularly for groups. Check carnavaldelsol.ca as soon as tickets go live.

Good to Know

Getting there: Jonathan Rogers Park is accessible by transit. The 3 Fraser and 8 Fraser bus routes both stop nearby. Parking in the surrounding area is limited on festival days, so transit is the better option across all three days.

What to wear: Comfortable shoes for a full day on your feet. Many people come in the colours of their country’s football kit, especially with the World Cup happening in Vancouver this summer. It fits the atmosphere.

All ages: Carnaval del Sol is an all-ages festival. The Beer Plaza and VIP Plaza are 19+ only. All stages, plazas, food vendors and the parade are open to everyone.

Official website: carnavaldelsol.ca
Tickets: carnavaldelsol.ca/tickets
Full program: carnavaldelsol.ca/program
Other articles that might be of interest: Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival