Quick answer
Cozumel Carnival 2027 falls in February: Carnival weekend is February 6 and 7, Carnival Tuesday is the 9th and Ash Wednesday the 10th, according to the liturgical calendar. The 2027 lineup isn't out yet. In 2026 there were three parades along the malecón at 6 p.m., which you watch on foot, plus tables and bleacher seats on sale for the nights at the Moby Dick events center. You reach the island by ferry from Playa del Carmen. KORU has no vehicles listed in Cozumel.
When is Cozumel Carnival 2027?
The mistake is planning around the 2026 dates: this carnival comes eight days earlier. The 2026 edition ran from February 11 to 18, according to the Quintana Roo state government, because Ash Wednesday fell on the 18th. In 2027 it falls on the 10th, and Easter on March 28, according to the 2027 liturgical calendar of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2026, the last parade was on Tuesday the 17th, the eve of Ash Wednesday, and the burning of Juan Carnaval and the awards closed the party on the night of Wednesday the 18th.
What happens at carnival and where do the parades go?
Six in the evening on Avenida Rafael E. Melgar, the malecón: that's when all three Grand Parades of 2026 set off, according to the lineup published by the Ayuntamiento, Cozumel's city government. Floats, comparsas (dance troupes), the batucada drummers and the kings and queens of every category roll by. The party has real history: the Ayuntamiento dates its first record to 1874, lists the first queen crowned in 1927 and counts among its traditions La Guaranducha, a musical satire, and the Torito Huacax-Ché. Mexico's tourism ministry, Sectur, ranks it among the country's oldest carnivals. Take the 2026 program as a reference, not as a promise for 2027.
How many people come to the island for carnival?
More than 50,000 people at each parade: that's the figure the Quintana Roo government gave for 2025, a carnival that drew over 120,000 attendees, 160,000 cruise passengers and hotel occupancy from above 90 to 100 percent. In 2026, the Ayuntamiento reported hotels and Airbnb at 100 percent on the main days. Our advice: lock in your accommodation as soon as you have dates, without waiting for the lineup, because the calendar already tells you which weekend it is.
Getting around Cozumel during carnival
On parade night, go on foot. The floats fill Avenida Rafael E. Melgar, the island's main artery according to the Ayuntamiento, and driving there at that hour means parking far away and walking anyway. A vehicle is for the next day: according to APIQROO, the state port authority, the island is about 48 km (30 miles) from north to south and almost 15 km from east to west. If you're bringing your own car from the mainland, vehicles cross on the Calica-Cozumel cargo route, not on the passenger ferry.
Heads up
If you're staying in Playa del Carmen, check what time the last ferry back leaves before the parade: the procession starts at 6 p.m., and on the 2026 parade nights the concerts in the parks started between 9 and 10:30.
“In Cozumel, carnival is something you watch from the malecón sidewalk, not from behind the wheel. Get to the parade early, get around the center on foot and save the vehicle for the next day, when it's time to drive around the island.”
— KORU RENT
Vehicle rental in Cozumel
No vehicles are listed on the island today; if a provider joins, they'll show up here.
Cozumel, the reef island
What's on Cozumel and KORU's guides to plan your visit.
The Cozumel island loop by jeep
The coastal route for the day after the parade.
Frequently asked questions
The liturgical calendar puts Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2027: Carnival Tuesday is the 9th and Carnival weekend is the 6th and 7th. The coronation, the parades and the closing night are set by Cozumel's Ayuntamiento in its official lineup.
As of this writing, in October 2026, no. In September the Ayuntamiento opened the call to choose the 2027 kings and queens, with registration until September 30, but it hasn't published the lineup. The 2026 one is still on cozumel.gob.mx, in the carnival section.
Along Avenida Rafael E. Melgar, the malecón, the island's main artery according to the Ayuntamiento. In 2026 there were three parades, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, at 6 p.m., and the first one set off from the Palacio Municipal, the city hall. Get there early to grab a spot on the sidewalk.
Not today. KORU has no vehicles listed in Cozumel, and we won't promise there will be any for carnival. KORU works with verified local providers who list their vehicles; for a heads-up in case any get listed on the island, leave your email on the destinations map at korurent.com.
Not with KORU: rentals are by the day, each day is 24 hours from the pickup time and the minimum is 1 day. On parade night you're better off on foot anyway: the procession takes over the malecón and parking nearby is the hardest part.
You can sign up on the Become a provider page at korurent.com; KORU reviews your vehicle and lets you know when it's listed. The provider lists and delivers their vehicle; KORU collects the payment, generates the contract and provides support. What you earn depends on the vehicle and the dates.
Our rule for carnival: the parade, on foot and early; the island loop, the next day. For a heads-up in case vehicles get listed in Cozumel, leave your email on the destinations map at korurent.com. If you have questions about renting with KORU, message us on WhatsApp.