The World's Longest Carnival

40 days of Carnaval in Uruguay

While the first few weeks of January are typically a holiday for many Uruguayans, with the streets of Montevideo eerily empty during the day, by the time Carnival begins with Desfile Inaugural de Carnaval on January 23, 2025, the city is noticeably more alive. For months prior it is common to hear candombes echoing through the barrios, along with encounters of local dance groups practicing on side streets.

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Desfile de Escuelas de Samba 2025

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Carnival is a long celebration, considered to be the longest in the world at 40 days, and it starts well-before and ends long after the official events have concluded. As the event is community-based, with handmade costumes and floats, along with acted theatre and ensemble singing groups (known as murgas), everything is made for the current year. All the music and lyrics are new, as well as the comedic scripts, often to do with current politics and regional issues. Both a competition, as well as a public spectacle, Carnival is a unique experience in Uruguay. Fun, lively, colorful, and immensely local, it is a time of year to enjoy the long warm summer nights listening to music and socializing with people from across the country.

The Parades

While Carnival is an event celebrated across Uruguay, in towns both large and small, the largest celebrations are held in Montevideo. Typically the celebrations begin in late January and can continue until early March. The inaugural parade starts in the heart of Montevideo on the street 18 de Julio. The first evening, Desfile Inaugural de Carnaval, the parade starts just before sunset and lasts well into the night. With floats, dancing, singing, drums, and a festive atmosphere for blocks around the city center, it is a delightful beginning to the season.

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Desfile de Inaugural de Carnaval 2025

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On the second evening, Desfile de Escuelas de Samba, is a showcase of schools from across the country, each featuring a vibrant and unique theme, choreographed musical numbers, dancing ensembles, and elaborate floats with costumed dancers (all the floats are hand-pushed!). Again, as with many of the Carnival celebrations, it lasts until well past midnight. Now Carnival has begun!

Lively Evenings

Across the city, from Teatro Verano to the Velodromo, there are nightly performances of various acting and singing groups from around the country. You can also see performances in smaller indoor theatres, of which Montevideo has many. Here, in a comfortable seat and air conditioning, it is possible to watch and enjoy the same lively spectacle as in the outdoor venues.

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The parade starts around sunset

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Carnival in Uruguay is for everyone. Come as you are and all ages are welcome. In the Velodromo, you can enjoy food vendors, along with plenty of open space where Uruguayans share mate and relax while watching a murga performance. As the evenings are warm this time of year, late nights are common and the days long and sleepy. One highlight not to miss is, of course, Llamadas.

The Calls

Taking place on Isla de Flores street, this two-day event takes place in the middle of Carnival, so usually the second week of February. This event is unique to Uruguay and a must-see. As the street is narrow and largely residential, the large amount of people make this event feel more lively and festive than any other Carnival event. Defile de Lllamadas as the parade is known, has deep historical roots in Uruguay that are important to understanding the context of the country, along with its colonial past and legacy.

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Defile de Llamadas 2024

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The parade is also a competition among various groups who must abide by strict rules governing the composition, performers, and specific components that must be included in each performance. Each group is unique and they require large numbers of individuals in a dozen different roles to complete the troupe, from flag bearers and drummers to actors and dancers. If you can't secure a seat, be sure to arrive early and find a good spot, otherwise you'll be packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the sidewalk.

Carnival has plenty to entertain and its importance in Uruguay is woven into the fabric of the culture. The warm summer days are some of the most exciting of the year, so people flock to the streets at sunset to enjoy music, dancing, and socializing. It is a time for celebration at the peak of summer. If you're looking for a unique and local experience, 40 days of Carnival are not to be missed.