Montevideo Carnival 2025 in Uruguay

Uruguay’s Carnival, often compared to Rio’s renowned festival, stands out with unique advantages. Spanning about 40 days, it runs far longer, allowing visitors more flexibility. Preparation begins in November, with stages, decorations, and costumes readying Montevideo’s streets for the grand festivities that kick off in late January. The parades shows, and performances continue well into March, so visitors arriving any time from the third week of January to early March will catch the vibrant celebrations.

Schedule of Events

The Inaugural Parade (January 23, 2025)

Uruguay's Carnival has three main events: it begins with the Inaugural Parade along Avenida 18 de Julio, running from Plaza Independencia to Plaza Cagancha. The following day, the Samba Schools Parade takes place on the same street. For 2025, this parade is set for January 24, along Avenida 18 de Julio from Andes to Paraguay, featuring dazzling costumes and energetic samba performances that showcase Montevideo’s vibrant Carnival spirit.

Desfile de Llamadas (February 7–8, 2025)

The Desfile de Llamadas, or Parade of the Calls, is a major highlight of Uruguay's Carnival, celebrated over two nights on the second Thursday and Friday of February. Held on Carlos Gardel and Isla de Flores streets in Montevideo, this vibrant event showcases Afro-Uruguayan Candombe music and dance, drawing large crowds for one of Carnival’s most anticipated spectacles.

Tablados

Uruguayan Carnival wraps up with tablados—nightly performances held on temporary stages across Montevideo, featuring four to seven carnival groups each night. These lively shows offer a mix of entertainment, including comedies, pantomimes, comparsas, live music, parodies, and nonstop dancing. Tablados run until early March. Some of the most popular tablados include El Velódromo, known for its fantastic nightly line-ups, and Museo del Carnaval in the Old City, which is the only venue with cover in case of rain, open on Fridays and Saturdays only.

Tickets

The Uruguayan Carnival is celebrated for being both affordable and family-friendly, with tickets priced around $10. Tickets for major events, including the Carnival Parade and Las Llamadas, typically go on sale by mid-December. These tickets can be purchased at Abitab stores across Uruguay, usually up until 5 pm the day before each event.

History of Uruguayan Carnival

Uruguayan Carnival dates back to colonial Montevideo, where residents celebrated holidays like Carnival with song and dance outside the city walls. European traditions later influenced these festivities, adding playful customs like throwing flour and water. The Afro-Uruguayan community, especially through the rhythm of Candombe, enriched Carnival’s identity. "Las Llamadas" (The Calls), now a central parade, originated as a gathering of enslaved Africans who played drums to connect and celebrate their heritage.