Virgen del Valle festivities to be held with sobriety in Margarita

Authorities in Nueva Esparta have announced that the 2026 festivities for the Virgen del Valle, patron saint of the East and the Venezuelan Navy, will be held with a tone of sobriety. The decision follows recent tragedies, including earthquakes in Venezuela that resulted in over 6,200 deaths, and a period of collective mourning in Colombia.

Bishop Fernando Castro Aguayo and Governor Marisel Velásquez met to organize the schedule. The religious program includes the descent of the Virgin on September 1, with the central celebration occurring on September 8 through traditional masses and processions. The festivities aim to reflect the current national mood of mourning.