Carnaval de Las Tablas

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Carnival & ParadeLas Tablas

DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking

Duration4 daysListed event span

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forMasks, paradesLas Tablas is widely regarded as the best

Language["es"]Currency: PAB

CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type

The story

Carnaval de Las Tablas in Las Tablas

Las Tablas turns into Panama's carnival capital for the four days before Ash Wednesday, when the rival neighborhoods of Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo each crown a queen and compete with parade floats, live tunas, fireworks and daytime water-truck soakings called culecos, closing with a dawn fireworks duel and a mock funeral for the sardine on Ash Wednesday morning.

Panama's carnival calendar has one fixed point and one moving one: it always runs Friday through Tuesday, and it always lands on the four days before Ash Wednesday, so the dates shift with the church calendar every year.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

Las Tablas is widely regarded as the best carnival in Panama, built entirely around a decades-old street rivalry: Calle Arriba versus Calle Abajo

The mystery stays covered

Each side fields its own queen, princesses, musicians and followers (a tuna), and every night has a set theme, from the incoming queen's coronation on Friday to the lavish costume parade on Monday

The city starts moving

Rather than a single procession, the town runs two competing carnivals in parallel, with residents' loyalty tied to which side of the street they live on

The water draws everyone in

The rivalry culminates at dawn on Ash Wednesday in El Topón, a fireworks duel between the two tunas, followed immediately by the entierro de la sardina, a mock funeral that ritually ends the party and opens Lent

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Calle Arriba/Calle Abajo split is a folk rivalry rooted in neighborhood identity rather than any formal institution

Water and renewal

Living ritual

and it structures the whole event: each street organizes its own queen

The sacred route

Living ritual

coronation and float

The local code

Living ritual

Sunday nights often bring out the pollera

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Panama's national dress

Tradition 6

Living ritual

for cultural presentations

Tradition 7

Living ritual

The four-day arc runs from the Friday coronation through Tuesday's grand costume night to Ash Wednesday's Topón fireworks duel and the entierro de la sardina at dawn

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Las Tablas you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Quick-dry clothes and closed sandals for the daytime culecos, since you will get thoroughly soaked with river water from tanker trucks. Swimwear under light clothing works well. For the...

Safety

For Carnaval de Las Tablas, keep the basics simple: small bag, charged phone, meeting point and respect for crowd controls.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Carnaval de Las Tablas runs late.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

["es"] · PAB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map7.77 N, 80.27 W Open in Google Maps

Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama

Nearest airportCTD — Alonso Valderrama

TransportStay close enough to the part of Las Tablas you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Carnaval de Las Tablas runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Las Tablas via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Las Tablas, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare fares Festival gearQuick-dry clothes and closed sandals for the daytime culecos, since you will get thoroughly soaked with river water from tanker trucks. Swimwear under light clothing works well. For the night parades, dry clothes and comfortable walking shoes are enough; elaborate costumes are for the queens and comparsas, not spectators.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Panama and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Carnaval de Las Tablas?

Carnaval de Las Tablas is listed for Past edition: 14–17 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Carnaval de Las Tablas take place?

The festival is listed in Las Tablas, Panama. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLnewsroompanama.com

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

SourceSource link available

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February

Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

Carnaval de Las Tablas

Carnaval de Las Tablas in Las Tablas

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The water draws everyone in

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Tradition 5

Tradition 6

Tradition 7

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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