August is no ordinary month in Arequipa. From the first days the city starts moving toward a single date, the 15th, when it celebrates its founding. Along the way there is a serenata, a parade that shuts down whole avenues and a dance festival that fills the coliseum. This is the programme, with what is confirmed and what is not.
The month’s programme
Dates taken from the official anniversary programme. If an event has no confirmed date, we say so.
Friday, August 14
Serenata a la ciudad
6:00 p.m. · Av. La Marina
The eve of the anniversary. An open air stage by the river, orchestras until dawn, and the real start of the party.
Saturday, August 15
Arequipa’s 486th anniversary
From the morning · Plaza de Armas y Basílica Catedral
Flag raising, solemn mass in the Cathedral and the official ceremony. The city’s central act.
Saturday, August 15
Corso de la Amistad
From 9:00 a.m. · Óvalo Mariscal Castilla, Av. Independencia, calle Víctor Lira y Av. Dolores
The biggest parade of the year: floats, dance troupes and delegations crossing the city for hours.
Sunday, August 16
Festidanza international folk dance festival
Mass 11:00 a.m., gala performance 6:30 p.m. · Basílica Catedral y Coliseo Arequipa
A mass in the Cathedral, then the evening gala with national and international delegations.
Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 August
Festidanza, school performances
10:00 a.m. · Coliseo Arequipa
Performances aimed at schools, calmer and with more affordable tickets.
No confirmed date
To be confirmedFeria Arequipa, formerly the FIA
Campo ferial Cerro Juli
The Feria Internacional de Arequipa (FIA) stopped running under that name when the fairground concession ended in 2024. Its successor is called Feria Arequipa. As of this guide it has no date in the official anniversary programme, so we would rather publish no date than the wrong one.
Practical tips
Where to watch the corso
The official route runs from Ovalo Mariscal Castilla along Av. Independencia, Victor Lira street and Av. Dolores. It starts from 9:00 a.m., but people claim their spot well before that, so arrive early if you want a front row view. The opening stretch is usually less crowded than the end of the route.
Getting around
During the parade the avenues on the route are closed or congested, so walking through the centre is almost always faster than taking a taxi. If you are coming from another district, allow extra time and get off a few blocks from where you want to stand.
What to book in advance
August is high season in Arequipa and the week of the 15th is the busiest of the year. Accommodation in the historic centre fills up first, so book ahead. For the Festidanza gala at the Coliseo, check ticket sales as soon as they are announced: it has the most limited capacity of the week.
About these dates
The dates in this guide come from the official 486th anniversary programme, verified on 22-07-2026. Events whose dates change every year, such as Feria Arequipa, are only published once officially confirmed. We would rather give you one fact less than one wrong fact. See the official programme.