About Carnaval de Negros y Blancos
The Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (Blacks and Whites' Carnival) is the largest festival in southern Colombia, centred on the city of San Juan de Pasto in the Andean department of Nariño. Held in the first days of January, it celebrates equality and cultural integration, drawing together Indigenous, African and Spanish heritage. UNESCO inscribed it on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
The carnival's two signature days give it its name. On January 5, the Día de Negros, revellers smear one another with black cosmetic cream; on January 6, the Día de Blancos, the crowds dust each other with white talc and foam — a playful ritual symbolising that, for these days, everyone is equal regardless of colour. The Whites' Day climaxes with the Desfile Magno, a grand parade of enormous, intricately crafted floats, comparsas and musicians through Pasto's streets.
Negros y Blancos runs on fixed dates each year, with the two main days on January 5 and 6 and the wider festivities spanning the first week of January. The countdown above tracks the days until the next carnival — add it to your own page to follow the build-up to Pasto's black-and-white celebration.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Wednesday, January 6, 2027next |
| 2028 | Thursday, January 6, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, January 6, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, January 6, 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday, January 6, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos?
It takes place in early January every year, with the two main days fixed on January 5 (Blacks' Day) and January 6 (Whites' Day), which features the grand Desfile Magno parade.
Why is the carnival celebrated?
It celebrates equality and the blending of Colombia's Indigenous, African and European cultures. Painting one another black and then white is a symbolic ritual that, for the festival, makes everyone equal.
How is the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos celebrated?
With street play in which people smear black cream on January 5 and white talc and foam on January 6, alongside music, dance troupes and the Desfile Magno parade of giant handcrafted floats.
Where does the carnival take place?
In San Juan de Pasto, the capital of Colombia's Nariño department in the Andes near the Ecuadorian border, with related celebrations across other Nariño towns.