Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has unveiled plans for a new international Carnival festival in the capital. The initiative aims to attract foreign tourists and generate revenue by transforming the city’s traditional celebrations. Mizrachi announced the strategy on Thursday, targeting the upcoming Carnival season in early 2026.
The mayor’s vision involves significantly scaling back the capital’s classic “culecos,” or water-soaking street parties, to make room for a more curated, tourist-focused event. He framed the move as a necessary evolution to compete on a global stage. The traditional celebrations, he argued, will remain vibrant in Panama’s interior provinces.
“We have to open our minds. If you want to enjoy the classic ‘culecos,’ you go to the interior of the country. Here in Panama City, we are going to transform what you expect from the Carnival dates to create a truly new product, without straying from our Panamanian culture. Will there be water festivities? Of course there will,” Mayor Mizrachi said. [Translated from Spanish]
The first edition of the festival will feature a Caribbean musical focus. Organizers plan to avoid classic elements like float parades or queen elections, staples of interior town celebrations. Instead, the event will mirror large-scale international music festivals that draw global audiences.
Shifting the Cultural and Economic Focus
This strategic pivot seeks to diversify Panama’s tourism portfolio. The goal is to offer an urban, sophisticated alternative for visitors and residents who stay in the capital during the holiday. Officials hope to position Panama City alongside destinations like Rio de Janeiro, known for its massive and profitable Carnival celebrations.
Mizrachi’s administration believes the new format can better leverage the summer season. They project it will stimulate the local economy through hotel bookings, restaurant visits, and entertainment spending. The plan directly ties cultural presentation to economic development goals.
Traditional water parties at the Cinta Costera will be minimized, not eliminated. The mayor confirmed that some form of “mojadera” will persist but under a redesigned, more controlled concept. This area has long been the epicenter of the capital’s public Carnival festivities, and its redesign is a key part of the city’s broader Cinta Costera development plans.
Security and logistical management for large crowds remain a priority. The announcement referenced the significant police and security presence required for past events. A refined festival model, the city suggests, could allow for more efficient and safer crowd control.
Reaction from the public is mixed. Some citizens welcome a fresh, internationally-minded event. Others express nostalgia for the unrestrained, community-focused water parties that have defined the capital’s Carnival for decades. The success of the new festival may hinge on balancing innovation with cultural authenticity.
Mayor Mizrachi appears confident in the approach. He positioned the change as progressive and inevitable for a modern, global city. The coming months will involve detailed planning with event producers, tourism boards, and cultural advisors to bring the concept to life.
Panama’s interior towns, known for their elaborate and traditional Carnival celebrations, could see increased domestic tourism as a result. The mayor explicitly encouraged capital residents seeking the classic experience to travel to these regions. This could redistribute economic benefits across the country.
The announcement marks a decisive shift in how Panama City brands itself during its most famous holiday. The municipality is betting on music, international appeal, and curated entertainment over spontaneous, water-soaked revelry. The 2026 festival will be the first test of this ambitious cultural strategy.