Desfile de Llamadas

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Carnival & ParadeMontevideo

DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking

Duration2 daysListed event span

CrowdMediumAbout 400,000 people

Best forMasks, paradesLlamadas is not a costume parade first and a

Language["es"]Currency: UYU

CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type

The story

Desfile de Llamadas in Montevideo

The Desfile de Llamadas is Montevideo's candombe drum parade, held over two February nights along Isla de Flores street in the Barrio Sur and Palermo neighborhoods, the historic heart of the city's Afro-Uruguayan community. Comparsas march behind cuerdas of tambores, the piano, repique and chico drums whose driving rhythm gives the event its name and its reputation as Carnival's most powerful spectacle.

On a narrow street called Isla de Flores, in the Barrio Sur and Palermo neighborhoods of Montevideo, a sound builds every February that has nothing to do with brass bands or amplifiers.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

Llamadas is not a costume parade first and a music parade second, it is the reverse: the drumming is the point, and everything else, the elaborate estandartes, the Mama Vieja and Gramillero character dancers, the vedettes in feathered headdresses, moves around the beat set by cuerdas that can run over a hundred drummers deep

The mystery stays covered

Its origins trace to the 1860s and 1870s comparsas de negros y lubolos that formed in the conventillos, tenement houses like Mediomundo and Ansina, that were later demolished

The city starts moving

the parade keeps that memory alive on the same streets, making it as much a preservation of Afro-Uruguayan heritage as a Carnival event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Descends directly from the comparsas de negros y lubolos that formed in Montevideo's historic Afro-Uruguayan conventillos from the 1860s onward

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the tambor cuerdas

The sacred route

Living ritual

the Mama Vieja

The local code

Living ritual

Gramillero and Escobero figures

Tradition 5

Living ritual

and the candombe rhythm itself are recognized elements of Uruguay's intangible cultural heritage

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Expect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

What to wear

Light, breathable summer clothing suited to February heat and a packed crowd; flat closed shoes for standing on uneven pavement for hours, since the narrow street offers little room to sit.

Safety

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

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Montevideo you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

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

Language/currency

["es"] · UYU

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.90 S, 56.16 W Open in Google Maps

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Nearest airportMVD — Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso

TransportExpect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Montevideo you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

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 Montevideo via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Montevideo, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare fares Festival gearLight, breathable summer clothing suited to February heat and a packed crowd; flat closed shoes for standing on uneven pavement for hours, since the narrow street offers little room to sit.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Uruguay 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 Desfile de Llamadas?

Desfile de Llamadas is listed for Past edition: 6–7 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Desfile de Llamadas take place?

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

How long should I plan for?

2 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?

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

How big is it?

Medium: 400000

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 URLmontevideo.gub.uy

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 →

Desfile de Llamadas

Desfile de Llamadas in Montevideo

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Tradition 5

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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