Panama City’s municipal government has committed more than $3.8 million to Christmas activities for 2026, combining a newly announced tender for event logistics with an existing lighting contract. The latest public bidding process, published Friday, sets a reference price of $533,000 for the Christmas Budget Panama program covering the tree lighting ceremony and parade operations.
The proposal submission deadline lands on October 26, leaving less than two months before the holiday celebrations begin. This compressed timeline puts pressure on contractors to mobilize quickly for the November 29 tree lighting scheduled at Mirador del Pacífico.
Christmas Budget Panama Contract Breakdown
Mayor Mayer Mizrachi awarded Disaroca Group, S.A. a $3,299,893 contract in July for the 2026 Christmas lighting installation. The same company handled last year’s illumination project under a $2.8 million agreement that covered installation and removal across parks and main avenues throughout the capital district.
The newly published tender adds another layer to the spending. It includes audiovisual production for the tree lighting, 9,000 meal vouchers for security and emergency personnel working the parade, five mobile units for the parade route, staging platforms, 200 portable toilets, and eight-meter LED screens. The contract also covers artist coordination, golf cart rentals for operational staff, and private security services.
Also, the municipality will procure 500 sweaters and 60 jackets for operational, logistical, and support personnel assigned to the Christmas parade.
Previous Christmas Spending Under Scrutiny
The current administration’s approach contrasts sharply with its first year in office. In 2024, Mizrachi abandoned a $1.49 million contract with Consorcio Brillando 2024 that would have covered both lighting and the parade. Instead, he sought private sponsorships to fund the “City of Stars” parade and holiday lighting, a move that drew mixed public reaction over some installed structures.
Last year, the municipality also approved a separate $414,180 payment to Agencia Mango, S.A. for organizing community and recreational activities tied to Christmas 2025. By comparison, the 2023 holiday lighting under former Mayor José Luis Fábrega cost $3.2 million.
Scope of the 2026 Holiday Program
The tender documents describe a project called “Calles que Brillan” (Streets that Shine), which encompasses artistic and cultural activities, recreational events for children and families, and the traditional Three Kings Day celebrations across various neighborhoods and public spaces. Municipal officials justified the procurement by citing the project’s scale and complexity.
“Due to the magnitude, complexity and scope of the project, the contracting of a supplier with technical, operational and logistical capacity is required to supply the goods and services necessary to guarantee the correct planning of the activity” [Translated from Spanish]
The combined contracts signal a return to higher municipal spending on Christmas festivities after the sponsorship-driven approach of 2024. The tender process will determine whether Disaroca Group faces competition for the event logistics portion or if the municipality consolidates holiday services under fewer vendors.