The Feria Internacional del Sol is Merida's Carnival-season fair, first held in 1969 and now in its sixth decade, combining bullfighting corridas, concerts, cultural exhibitions, cavalcades, float parades and the crowning of a fair queen across the Andean city during Carnival, drawing visitors from across Venezuela and beyond.
Merida had no fair to call its own before 1969.
Known popularly as the Bullfighting Carnival of the Americas, the fair grew from a single ambition, giving Merida a bullring and a bullfighting calendar to match Venezuela's other cattle and tauromachy towns, into one of the most important events on the international bullfighting circuit alongside its cultural and folkloric programming
Its Andean mountain setting, roughly 1,600 metres above sea level, gives the fair a cooler climate and backdrop distinct from Venezuela's lowland carnival and patron-saint festivals
Corridas de toros (bullfighting) as the fair's founding activity
an equestrian cavalcade
and the crowning of a fair queen
combined with broader Carnival-season street festivity typical of Venezuelan Andean cities
Dates TBA · Usually February
Use Merida transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Layered clothing suited to the Andes: warm layers for cool mornings and evenings at altitude, with lighter clothing for midday sun; smart-casual wear is appropriate for evening cultural and...
For Feria Internacional del Sol, keep the basics simple: small bag, charged phone, meeting point and respect for crowd controls.
Stay near workable transport in Merida, especially if the event runs late or streets close.
Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.
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Feria Internacional del Sol is listed for Past edition: 14–17 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Merida, Venezuela. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Merida, Merida, Venezuela
Large: 120000
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.
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