About Virgen de la Candelaria (Puno)
The Festividad de la Virgen de la Candelaria is the largest religious and cultural festival in Peru, and one of the biggest in South America. It is held in the highland city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca at around 3,800 metres, in honour of the city's patron, the Virgin of Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles). Blending Catholic devotion with Quechua and Aymara symbolism, it was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
The festival's core feast day is February 2, Candlemas, marked by a dawn Mass and a solemn procession of the Virgin's image through Puno. Around it, the city erupts into days of folkloric dance: tens of thousands of dancers and musicians from hundreds of troupes compete in their dazzling costumes, with the dramatic, masked Diablada Puneña among the most celebrated performances. The streets fill with brass bands, fireworks and pilgrims for roughly two weeks.
The religious heart of the festival is fixed on February 2, while the great folkloric parades and competitions cluster on the nearest weekends. The countdown above tracks the days until the next Candelaria — add it to your own page to follow the build-up to Puno's devotion and dance on Lake Titicaca.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Tuesday, February 2, 2027next |
| 2028 | Wednesday, February 2, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, February 2, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, February 2, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, February 2, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the Virgen de la Candelaria festival?
Its core feast day is February 2 (Candlemas) each year, with the largest folkloric parades and dance competitions held on the surrounding days and weekends in early February.
Why is the Virgen de la Candelaria celebrated?
It honours the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of Puno, fusing Catholic devotion with Andean Quechua and Aymara traditions. UNESCO recognised it as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
How is the festival celebrated?
With a dawn Mass and procession of the Virgin on February 2, followed by huge folkloric dance parades — including the famous Diablada Puneña — featuring tens of thousands of costumed dancers and musicians.
Where does it take place?
In Puno, a city on the shores of Lake Titicaca in southern Peru, often called the country's folkloric capital.