City authorities have reported the results of the 2025 Barranquilla Carnival, which has hit record numbers. Under the slogan ‘En Barranquilla, Se Baila Así,’ the city hosted pre-carnival and carnival 2025 events from January 18 to March 4, 2025.
Mayor Char highlighted on X: “#Carnaval2025 broke barriers: almost 800,000 tourists from 15 countries enjoyed our celebration. We bid farewell to this Carnival with pride, having shown the world that #EnBarranquillaSeBailaAsí. This was a heartfelt tribute to @Shakira, who returned home to sing and made history by boosting the most visited Carnival ever,” the mayor announced.
He also noted that the 2025 Barranquilla Carnival stood out for its unified and comprehensive agenda, featuring over 360 events, many of them free. The celebration included all organizations, communities, performers, and cultural expressions that define this significant festival.
Visitor Numbers
Nearly 800,000 national and international visitors arrived in Barranquilla for carnival weekend March 1 to 4, 2025, according to city officials. Nearly 6,700,000 visitors attended all pre-carnival and carnival events in total from January 18th to March 4th.
Shakira’s concert and the Guacherna helped make the 2025 Carnival one of the most attended in history. Barranquilla’s airport reported that 22,000 people arrived for Shakira’s performance.
Between February 27 and March 3, 22,422 national and international passengers arrived for Carnival weekend. The Barranquilla Metropolitan Transport Terminal received 136,173 travelers during this period, with 3,380 buses entering the terminal.
Toll stations in Galapa, Juan Mina, Papiros, Puerto Colombia, Marahuaco, Sabanagrande, and Ciénaga recorded over 145,000 vehicles, bringing nearly 580,000 passengers by road.
A Noticeable Economic Boost
The city reported that visitors’ spending significantly boosted key sectors such as hotels, transportation, dining, and local commerce.
On average, national tourists spent approximately $2.4 million COP, while international visitors spent $3.1 million COP. The city’s hotel occupancy reached 100% from Shakira’s concerts (Feb 20 & 21) through the main Carnival events. Officials also noted that 95% of attendees found the event more organized and cleaner. Top attractions included the Gran Malecón, Puerto Mocho Beach, and Ecoparque Ciénaga de Mallorquín.
Barranquilla’s Carnival is more than a celebration; it brings joy and well-being. A survey revealed that 98% of attendees felt happier, and 97% expressed satisfaction with the event.
Profits from Carnaval 2025
Carnaval de Barranquilla S.A.S. reported estimated profits of over $6 billion COP ($1.5 million USD), highlighting the event’s economic success.
Additionally, Barranquilla’s Carnaval received strong support from the business sector, with sponsorships and ticket sales generating nearly $30 billion ($7.3 million USD) in revenue.
