Arequipa's Luces de la Candelaria Parade Scheduled for Aug 7‑8, 2026

The annual "Luces de la Candelaria" parade will take place in Arequipa on Saturday, 8 August 2026, with related festivities beginning on Friday, 7 August. The procession will run along Avenida Independencia, starting at midday and ending near the Víctor Lira sector. Organisers expect between 7,000 and 8,000 dancers from Arequipa, Puno, Cusco and Lima, grouped into 48 ensembles across four blocks.

The event marks the 486th anniversary of Arequipa and is promoted by the regional government and the Federación de Luces de la Candelaria. Security will be provided by the National Police, the Public Ministry, firefighters, the Red Cross, regional health and disaster‑risk agencies. No profit is sought; costs are shared proportionally among the groups, and no seating or stands will be installed along the route. Participants are prohibited from consuming alcohol during the parade.

Key program items include a 12:30 p.m. flag ceremony, a 1 p.m. start of the parade, and a series of religious and cultural activities such as a mass, a procession, and a band retreta. Officials speaking at the event include Raúl Aramayo Valdivia of the organizing commission, Miguel Pazo Prieto, president of the Asociación Provincial Puno, and Colonel José Miguel Briones Silva of the National Police.