Carnival in Uruguay

Colonial origins and roots

The festival began during the colonial era, when residents of Montevideo celebrated carnival days, Christmas, and the New Year outside the defensive walls in vivid clothing. Over time, European customs influenced the festivities, introducing playful antics such as tossing flour, bran, eggs, water, and fresh fruit. During the mid-eighteenth century, enslaved Afro-Uruguayans received a single day of rest, which they used to honour their heritage with the rhythms of candombe drums. The traditional parade known as Las Llamadas, or The Calls, arose directly from drum signals used by enslaved people when summoning neighbours into the street to share music and dance.

Parades and candombe drums

A major part of the festivities revolves around large street processions, notably the Desfile Inaugural del Carnaval and the Desfile de Llamadas. During these events, performer groups known as comparsas march down city thoroughfares, beating hand drums and dancing in rhythm. The candombe tradition forms a core element of these parades. In the twentieth century, dancers like Martha Gularte helped reshape the celebration, establishing the role of the female vedette as a lead dancer and choreographer within Afro-Uruguayan cultural life. Today, these drumming parades remain central to the identity of the carnival season.

Murga and musical theatre

Another defining element of the celebration is murga, a musical and theatrical genre. Each murga group consists of a chorus of fourteen to seventeen singers accompanied by specialized percussion. Performers wear vivid, elaborate costumes and paint their faces for each appearance. Their performances use humor and satire to examine current social affairs, politics, and notable events from the preceding year in Uruguay and abroad. These ensembles select a central theme for the season, delivering witty songs and dramatic sketches to crowds across neighbourhood stages and at formal competitions.

Stages and regional styles

Throughout the season, cities erect open-air neighbourhood stages called tablados, where local crowds gather nightly to watch visiting performers. Competitive troupes also present their acts before judges at the Teatro de Verano. While candombe and murga dominate the scene, samba schools also take part, especially in Montevideo and northern regions like Artigas. These samba groups feature percussion sections, chorus singers, and costumed dancers performing the Samba Enredo. Together, these varied musical formats create an extensive calendar of public performances that keeps audiences entertained for weeks.

How Carnival in Uruguay is kept

Celebrations start with an opening parade and continue through the season with multiple dance processions, including the famous Desfile de Llamadas. Street troupes called comparsas walk city routes playing candombe drums. In the evenings, neighbourhood stages known as tablados present theatrical murga choirs who sing satirical commentary in painted faces and colourful dress. Further performances and formal judging take place at the Teatro de Verano, while samba schools perform with percussion sections and dancers.

When and where

The festival takes place every year starting in mid-January and concluding in late February. Celebrations in Montevideo can stretch for as long as forty days, making it the longest recurring carnival in the world.

Celebrations occur throughout Uruguay, with the capital city of Montevideo hosting the largest events, parades, and stage contests. Northern areas such as Artigas also host established traditions, including samba school performances.

What Carnival in Uruguay means

The tradition carries deep civic and historical meaning, blending theatrical performance with Afro-Uruguayan identity. The rhythm of the drums and the Las Llamadas procession preserve the memory of enslaved communities who used drumbeats to gather, celebrate their heritage, and support one another in the streets.

Questions people ask about Carnival in Uruguay

See also

Armenian Genocide Remembrance DayAn annual day of mourning and remembrance for the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageValentine's DayA Christian feast day and cultural celebration of love kept on February 14 in many countries.

Good reading and sources

• Uruguayan Carnival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.