Fiestas de Quito 2026: holiday, dates and agenda
Monday 7 December 2026 is a holiday in Quito for its 492nd anniversary. What already has a date, from the Queen to Quitofest, and what is still missing.
Quito was founded on 6 December 1534, so on Sunday 6 December 2026 it turns 492. Since the date falls on a Sunday, the local holiday moves to Monday 7 December, according to Primicias and Metro Ecuador. The day off is not made up and applies only within the Metropolitan District of Quito; work and school resume on Tuesday the 8th.
The city's agenda, still without dates
When this update was published, the city had not announced its official programme: the pregón and the parades have no date yet. On 27 October, mayor Pabel Muñoz said that "all Fiestas de Quito events are suspended for the time being" because of procurement processes held up at Sercop, the national procurement agency, according to El Comercio. Sercop replied that it has no procurement on record for the festivities, and councillor Joselyn Mayorga, who chairs the Tourism and Festivities Committee, said the city plans to keep the traditional festivals going with its own ensembles and those of Teatro Nacional Sucre, according to Extra.
What already has a date
- Wednesday 25 November: election of the Queen of San Francisco de Quito 2026-2027, at Teatro Bolívar, organized by the Fundación Reina de Quito (Primicias).
- Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December: Quitofest. Quitofest Rock on Friday 4 at 17:00 at the Ágora of the Casa de la Cultura; Música Nacional on Saturday 5 and Alternativo on Sunday 6, at 14:00 at Arena Bicentenario, according to the official agenda. The details are in our Quitofest guide.
- Sunday 6 December: the founding anniversary.
- Monday 7 December: local holiday in Quito.
The traditions
- Chivas: open party buses with a brass band that tour the city at night with people singing and dancing.
- Cuarenta championships, Quito's card game above all others.
- Wooden cart races down the steep streets of some neighbourhoods.
- Concerts with Ecuadorian music, pasillos and current bands.
Putting the plan together
Festival events are published in the weeks before and change often. Check December plans in Quito, things to do today, this weekend or straight to concerts.
Tips
- On a chiva, agree on where you will meet up again before you get on.
- For open-air events, bring a jacket and something for the rain.
- Use public transport or a safe taxi on festival nights.
Organizing something for the festivities? Post it for free and it shows up in the city's agenda.
