Playa del Carmen Carnival 2026 Seeks Kings and Queens

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The municipality of Solidaridad is preparing for one of its most emblematic festivities. The Playa del Carmen City Council has officially launched the call for the “Playa del Carmen Carnival 2026 King and Queen Election Contest,” inviting citizens, collectives, and local artists to participate in this celebration that defines the cultural identity of the Riviera Maya.

This year, the 2024-2027 administration seeks to elevate the level of competitiveness and spectacle, offering a historic cash prize pool to incentivize citizen participation and local artistic talent.

Categories, Requirements, and Registration Process

The call stands out for its openness and inclusion, allowing participation from various age ranges and sectors of society. The established categories are as follows:

• Infantil: Directed at girls and boys between 6 and 12 years old.
• Juvenil: For youth aged 13 to 17 years.
• Soberanos: Focused on adults from 18 to 40 years old.
• LGBTTTIQA+: An inclusive category for people aged 18 to 40 years.
• Let’s Playa: Similarly directed at participants aged 18 to 40 years.

Registrations are completely free and the deadline to complete registration is January 28, 2026. Interested parties must go to the offices of the Secretariat of Social Justice and Citizen Participation, located on Av. CTM between avenues 115 and 125 north, from 9:00 to 15:00 hours.

Among the required documentation is the official registration form, birth certificate, proof of address in Playa del Carmen (not older than 3 months), and recent photographs with costumes alluding to the carnival. For minors, it is essential to present an authorization letter signed by parents or legal guardians.

Cash Prizes and Artistic Evaluation Criteria

The Playa del Carmen Carnival 2026 not only seeks to crown the most popular, but to reward excellence on stage. The prizes assigned for first place in each category reflect this commitment:

• Reyes Soberanos: 1st place: $100,000 MXN; 2nd place: $60,000 MXN; 3rd place: $40,000 MXN.
• Juvenil, LGBTTTIQA+, and Let’s Playa categories: The first place will receive $60,000 MXN, with prizes for subsequent positions.
• Infantil category: The small winner will take home $25,000 MXN in cash.

The judging panel will be composed of personalities with recognized cultural and artistic trajectory, who will evaluate parameters such as body rhythm, choreography, stage expression, originality, and costume design. Each candidate must present a show with a duration between 15 and 20 minutes, accompanied by a comparsa with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 40 members.

It is expected that the Playa del Carmen Carnival in its 2026 edition will have a large influx of national and international tourists.

Event Calendar and Key Dates

The grand election of the Carnival Queen and King will take place on February 8, 2026 starting at 18:00 hours at the Amphitheater of Plaza 28 de Julio. This event will mark the official start of the massive celebrations, as the winners will have the responsibility to attend all parades and routes that will take place from February 11 to 17, 2026.

To obtain more details about participation restrictions or technical specifications for music and video for the show, the Organizing Committee makes available the telephone number 984 877 3050, Ext.: 10081.