Peru Festivals and Events Calendar for 2015

For all the major happenings in Peru in 2016, see Peru in 2016: A Calendar of Festivals, Concerts and Other Events.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest festivals and events in Peru with our 2015 calendar, including national and regional holidays, music concerts and more.

January	February	March	April	May	June
July	August	September	October	November	December

Quick Tip: If travelling to or from Lima Airport, it is strongly recommended to use the luxury Airport Express Lima bus to get to or from your hotel. Safer and cheaper than a taxi with no baggage limit as well as Free Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard, it is ideal for travellers.

Peru in January

New Year’s Day — Jan 1, National Holiday

Niño Callaocarpino y el Niño Jacobo Illanes — Jan 1 (central day), Huancavelica

Festival de los Negritos — Dec and/or Jan, Huánuco

Adoración de Reyes Magos — Jan 6, nationwide

Foundation of Iquitos — Jan 5

Festival Música Perú — Jan 16, Estadio Nacional: A new music event organized by PromPerú, who describe it as “a mega concert never seen before in our country, which will bring together cumbia, salsa, rock, folk and more bands on a single stage.” Sounds interesting.

Summer of Dub 2015 — Jan 16, Certes Dub (Chorrillos): The Mungo’s Hi Fi sound system returns from Glasgow to headline the Summer of Dub festival, taking place for the third year running.

Foundation of Lima — Jan 18

Chiaraje — Jan 20 (the date could easily change), Canas Province of the Cusco Region

Concurso Nacional de Marinera — Jan 19 to 25, Trujillo

Electro Selvámonos — Jan 24, Punta Rocas (km 46 of the old Panamericana Sur, Lima outskirts)

Marnie — Jan 29, 15.30 Disco (Av. Arequipa 1530, Lince): The Scottish lead vocalist of Ladytron comes to the Peruvian capital.

Electro Selvamonos Festival Peru 2015

Peru in February

Carnival — throughout February

Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria — first half of February, Puno Region

Luchas de Toqto — Feb 2 (may vary), Canas and Chumbivilcas Provinces of Cusco

Pisco Sour Day — Feb 7

Jorge Drexler — Feb 5, Auditorio del Pentagonito: The Uruguayan musician and actor won an Oscar for a song that featured in the movie The Motorcycle Diaries.

V Festival Afrodescendiente — Feb 5, Jazz Zone (Miraflores): Peruvian African roots festival.

Valentine’s Day — Feb 14, Nationwide

Modeselektor — Feb 17, Noise, Barranco: Electronic music from the German duo.

David Bisbal — Feb 19, Explanada del Centro Comercial Plaza Norte: Grammy-winning Spanish pop singer.

Festival del Verano Negro — last week of February, Chincha Province, Ica

Epica — Feb 28, Teatro de la Universidad de Ingeniería: Dutch symphonic metal.

Rio – 30 Años Rock Peruano — Feb 28, Estadio Nacional: 1980s legends Rio alongside 16 other Peruvian rock bands.

Lima Indie Festival — Feb 28, Vichama Rock Bar (Jr. Carabaya 945, Plaza San Martin): A one-day festival featuring 12 indie bands playing rock, punk, post punk and more…

Peru in March

Joss Stone — March 3, Huaca Pucllana: The English soul singer will play at the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site.

Anniversary of the Foundation of Trujillo — March 5

Ica Wine Festival — first two weeks of March (may vary)

Pablo Alborán — March 7, Auditorio del Pentagonito: Spanish musician, singer and songwriter. One for the ladies, methinks.

Slash — March 9, Parque de la Exposición

James Blunt — March 17, Anfiteatro del Parque de la Exposición

The Smashing Pumpkins and Kasabian (?) — March 17, Jockey Club del Perú: Not yet confirmed, but looks likely…

Sonata Arctica — March 18, Discoteca Céntrica (C.C. Real Plaza): Power metal from Finland.

Fiesta de San José — March 18 to 20 (may vary), Las Delicias District of Trujillo

Surco Wine Harvest Festival — exact dates vary, Surco District of Lima

Pablo Milanés — March 21, Gran Teatro Nacional: Cuban singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Peru in April

Semana Santa — (Holy Week) — March 29 to April 4, Nationwide

Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) — April 2, National Holiday

Viernes Santo (Good Friday) — April 3, National Holiday

Día de Pascua (Easter Day) — April 5

El Señor de los Temblores — April 6, Cusco

Anniversary of the District of Amantani — April 9, Amantani District of Puno

Uchpa and La Sarita — April 9, Gran Teatro Nacional: Two Peruvian bands; Quechua-singing punk rock and blues from Uchpa, and Lima punk from La Sarita.

Doom — April 10, El Calabozo (Jr. Chota 1427, Central Lima): Crust punk from Birmingham, England.

Anniversary of Chiclayo — April 18

Ha*Ash — April 18, Anfiteatro del Parque de la Exposición: Mexican-American pop duo sisters from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

National Peruvian Paso Horse Contest — normally mid- to late-April, Mamacona, Lima

Ed Sheeran — April 21, Jockey Club del Perú: Yet another musician from England playing Lima in 2015. This gig was moved from the C.C. María Angola to the larger Jockey Club due to the huge demand for tickets.

Anniversary of the Constitutional Province of Callao — April 22, Callao

!!! — April 23, Embassy (Jr. Carabaya 815, Plaza San Martín): Apparently the name of this Californian dance-punk band is pronounced “Chk Chk Chk”. Fair enough.

Front 242 — April 25, Vocé (Lince): Belgian electronic music.

Anniversary of Ayacucho — April 25

El Señor de la Justicia — April 25, Ferreñafe, Lambayeque Region

Anniversary of Jauja — April 25, Jauja, Junín Region

Steve Aoki — April 29, Explanada del Estadio Monumental: The influential American electro house artist and producer will get feet moving in the capital.

Motorama — April 30, Discoteca Mangos: Russian post-art-rock-music that sounds a bit like Interpol.

Ed Sheeran will play Lima, Peru, in 2015 (photo © Christopher Johnson, Wikimedia Commons)

Peru in May

Virgin de Chapi — May 1, Arequipa

Dia de los Trabajadores (Labor Day) — May 1, National Holiday

Hidrogenesse and Antolin — May 2, venue TBC: Two Spanish pop acts playing together as part of the Lima Popfest tour series. .

Fiesta de las Cruces — May (exact dates may vary), typically in highland regions

Fiesta de Alasitas — May 3, Puno

Señor de Muruhuay — May 3 (may vary), Tarma, Junín Region

Anniversary of Cotahuasi — May 4, Cotahuasi District of La Unión, Arequipa Region

Señor de Torrechayoc — sometime in May, Urubamba, Cusco Region

Homage to the Defenders of Alianza Field — May 26, Tacna

Peru in June

Chachapoyas Tourist Week — early June (dates vary)

Qoyllority — early June (possibly late May), Ocongate District, Cusco

Air Supply — June 2, C.C. Maria Angola (Miraflores): So who likes Australian soft rock from the 1980s? Anyone?

Cavalera Conspiracy — June 2, Discoteca Céntrica (Real Plaza): Heavy metal from Brazil.

Corpus Christi — June 4, Nationwide

Anniversary of Ica — June 17

Sondor Raymi — June 18 and 19, Andahuaylas, Apurímac Region

Festival Folklórico de Raqchi — third Sunday of June, Canchis Province, Cusco Region

Moyobamba Tourist Week — second half of June (may vary), Moyobamba, San Martin Region

Noche de San Juan — June 23 and 24, Calana, Pachi and Pocollay Districts, Tacna

Chaccu de Vicuñas — June 24 (or thereabouts), Pampa Galeras National Reserve, Ayacucho

Inti Raymi — June 24, Cusco

San Juan Festival — June 24, jungle regions of Peru

National Ceviche Day — June 28, Nationwide

Día de San Pedro y San Pablo — June 29, Nationwide

Peru in July

Tarapoto Tourist Week — July 8 to 19 (dates may vary), Tarapoto, San Martín Region

Anniversary of Puerto Maldonado — July 10

Virgen del Carmen Festival — July 15 and 16, various regions

Warbringer — July 16, Mistika, Central Lima: For a healthy dose of American thrash metal.

Ricardo Montaner — July 17, Jockey Club del Perú: Apparently this Latin pop star is something of a legend in is own lifetime. I’ve never heard of him myself.

Rock al Aire — July 18, Plaza de Armas, Barranco: A free rock festival featuring at least 15 Peruvian rock bands.

Lima Indie Fest IV — July 18, Discoteca Embassy, Plaza San Martín: Featuring 13 of Lima’s best indie bands.

Pollo a la Brasa Day — July 19

Suicidal Tendencies — July 22, Discoteca Céntrica (Real Plaza): More thrash metal from the States.

Steven Adler — July 23, Discoteca Vocé (Lince): The former drummer and co-songwriter of Guns N’ Roses goes solo. That kind of sounds like a bad idea.

Anniversary of the Province of Huaraz — July 25

Festival de Apóstol Santiago — July 24 and 25, mainly in the highlands

Acustirock 6 — July 25, Estadio de San Marcos: The popular festival returns.

Pisco Day — July 26

Anniversary of the Arrival of Austro-German Settlers in Oxapampa — July 24 to 31, Oxapampa Province, Pasco Region

Fiestas de Quillabamba — July 25 to 29, La Convención, Cusco Region

Fiesta del Sol — July 27, La Unión, Huánuco Region

Peruvian Independence Day — July 28, National Holiday

Fiesta del Señor de las Ánimas and Yawar Fiesta– July 28 to August 3, Apurimac Region

Statue representing the Yawar Fiesta in Cotabambas (photo © Sankaypillo, Wikimedia Commons)

Peru in August

Día de la Pachamama — August 1, Andean regions

Santísima Cruz de Chalpón — first week of August, Motupe, Lambayeque Region

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves — August 5, central and southern Andes

The Adolescents — August 6, Mistika, Central Lima: Oldschool Californian punk rockers.

Mr. President — August 8, Discoteca Zentro, Central Lima: German Eurodance from the mid-1990s. Yeah, I think I might be washing my hair that night….

Glenn Hughes — August 13, Discoteca Céntrica (Real Plaza): The English rock bassist and vocalist, known for stints with Trapeze, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, comes to Lima.

Anniversary of Arequipa — August 15

Virgen de la Asunción — August 15

Anniversary of Huánuco — August 15

Anniversary of Callao — August 20, Callao, Lima Metropolitan Area

A.N.I.M.A.L. — August 20, Discoteca Céntrica (Real Plaza): Metal from Argentina.

Yaku Raymi — August 20 to 26, Carmen Salcedo District of Andamarca, Ayacucho Region

Tokio Hotel — August 22, Amphitheater of the Parque de la Exposición: German pop-rock.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — August 25, Centro de Convenciones Barranco: Indie rock from the USA.

Andy Bell — August 27, Discoteca Vocé in Lince: One-half of Erasure. Is that better, or worse?

Reincorporation of Tacna into Peru — August 28, Tacna

Oxapampa Tourist Week — August 25 to 31, Oxapampa, Pasco

Pharmakon — Aug 27, Galería 80m2 (Barranco): Solo industrial noise by Margaret Chardiet.

Maria Rita — Aug 27, Gran Teatro Nacional: Brazilian jazz and samba.

Saint Rose of Lima Day — August 30, National Holiday

Peru in September

Festival Reyna del Cañaveral — dates vary, Apurimac

Christina Rosenvinge — Sept 3, Noise (Barranco): Spanish singer and songwriter.

Zion & Lennox — Sept 4, Jockey Club del Perú: A reggaeton duo from Puerto Rico.

Nito Mestre — Sept 4 and 5, L’ Anfiteatro de Antica (Barranco): Folk rock from Argentina.

Lima Core Fest — Sept 6, Wayruro (Av. Arequipa 1505, Lince)

Fiesta Patronal Virgen de la Natividad — Sept 8, San Martín Region

Virgen de Cocharcas — Sept 8, Andahuaylas, Apurímac

Juntos en Concierto 2015: GianMarco, Carlos Vives, Daddy Yankee and Rio Roma — Sept 10, Estadio Nacional: Four giants of Latin music on one stage. Pretty huge, if you like that kind of thing.

Camouflage — Sept 11, Cocos (Av. Arequipa 1530, Lince): German new wave trio.

Festividad del Señor de Locumba — Sept 14, Tacna

Señor Cautivo de Monsefú — Sept 14 (main day), Monsefú, Lambayeque Region

Señor de Huanca — Sept 14, Cusco

Title Fight — Sept 17, Noise (Plaza Butters 291, Barranco): Hardcore punk from Pennsylvania.

Marsheaux — Sept 17, Cocos (Lince): Greek synthpop duo.

Systema Solar — Sept 18, C.C. Barranco: Beat collective from Colombia.

Festival Internacional de la Primavera — end of Sept, Trujillo, La Libertad Region

Luciano — Sept 25, C.C. Embassy (Plaza San Martín): Jamaican roots reggae.

Ana Gabriel — Sept 30, Jockey Club del Perú: Mexican singer and songwriter known for her Latin pop and ranchera styles.

Peru in October

CocoRosie — Oct 2, venue TBA: Two sisters from the USA who dabble in “freak folk.”

Lee “Scratch” Perry and Mad Professor — Oct 3, Certes Club (Chorrillos, Lima): Reggae and dub from two masters of the genre.

Ciudad Rock — Oct 3, Estadio Nacional: One-day festival featuring bands from Spain and South America, including Hombres G, Fito Paez, Cafe Tacvba and Enanitos Verdes.

Promised Land of Pozuzo Festival — Oct 4 to 8 (dates may vary), Pozuzo, Oxapampa Province, Pasco Region

Nightwish — Oct 6, C.C. Maria Angola: Symphonic metal from Finland.

Battle of Angamos — Oct 8, National Holiday

ChameleonsVox — Oct 10, Discoteca Vocé in Lince: Something to do with The Chameleons.

Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca — Oct 13, Ayabaca, Piura Region

Anniversary of Tingo Maria — Oct 15

Traffic Sound — Oct 17, Teatro Peruano Japonés: One of Peru’s most legendary rock bands returns after a lengthy absence.

El Señor de los Milagros — second half of October, Lima

Señor de Luren — third Monday in October, Ica

Fiesta Patronal de Santa Úrsula — Oct 21 to 24 (dates may vary), Viraco, Castilla Province of Arequipa Region

Belle and Sebastian — Oct 24, Amphitheater of the Parque de la Exposición: Whimsical indie pop from Scotland.

Día de la Canción Criolla — Oct 31

Halloween — Oct 31

Damien Rice — Oct 31, Auditorio del Pentagonito: Indie folk from the Irish singer-songwriter.

Peru in November

Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) — Nov 1, National Holiday

Día de los Difuntos (All Souls’ Day/Day of the Dead) — Nov 2, nationwide

Anniversary of Puno — Nov 4

UB40 — Nov 6, Estadio Monumental: Britain’s chart-topping reggae/pop band will draw a big crowd in Peru.

Ica Tourist Week — Nov 12 to 20 (dates may vary)

Empire of the Sun — Nov 17, Anfiteatro del Parque de la Exposición: Electronic music duo from Sydney, Australia.

Mac DeMarco — Nov 18, C.C. Barranco: Indie rock from the Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Moquegua Tourist Week — Nov 20 to 25 (variable).

Joan Manuel Serrat — Nov 21, Gran Teatro Nacional: The poetic singer-songwriter is hugely popular in the Spanish-speaking world.

Pasco Tourist Week — Nov 20 to 29 (variable)

Testament and Cannibal Corpse — Nov 26, C.C. Embarcadero 41 de Barranco: Yet more American thrash metal, this time with two big hitters on one stage. What’s going on?