Five Events in El Salvador to Check Out in 2026

Interested in what’s happening in El Salvador this year? For anyone planning a visit, living in the country, or simply trying to understand what draws crowds at different times of the year, keeping track of major events in El Salvador helps put travel, transport, and daily life into context beyond the day-to-day.

If you’re traveling to El Salvador this year, you might be interested in what’s going on beyond beaches and Bitcoin. The events below highlight five of the most significant events in El Salvador taking place in 2026, followed by a short list of additional happenings worth being aware of.

1. Shakira Concerts (February)

In 2026, El Salvador will host a series of headline concerts by pop superstar Shakira, marking one of the most high-profile entertainment moments the country has seen in years. After initial shows sold out rapidly, additional dates were added, turning the concerts into a major multi-night event.

Held at the Estadio Nacional Jorge “El Mágico” González in San Salvador, the concerts are expected to draw fans from across El Salvador and the wider Central American region. Beyond the performances themselves, the shows highlight the country’s growing capacity to host large-scale international events, with a visible impact on hotels, transport, and nightlife in the capital. Normally in Central America, international acts like Shakira come to Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Panama so it’s quite a coup for El Salvador to host this.

2. Fiestas Agostinas (August)

The Fiestas Agostinas are El Salvador’s largest and most important national celebration, held in San Salvador in honor of the country’s patron saint, Divino Salvador del Mundo. The festivities dominate the capital in early August and combine religious observances with large public events across the city.

Central to the celebration is the Bajada, a symbolic procession representing the Transfiguration of Christ, alongside masses, parades, concerts, amusement rides, food stalls, and fireworks. August 6 is a national holiday, and the scale of the event significantly affects traffic, public services, and daily routines throughout San Salvador.

3. Bolas de Fuego (August)

The Bolas de Fuego festival takes place in the town of Nejapa toward the end of August and is one of El Salvador’s most distinctive and visually striking traditions. Rooted in a local legend connected to volcanic activity, the event centers on participants throwing flaming balls made from gasoline-soaked rags in a symbolic reenactment.

Community activities and food stalls precede the main event, but the fireball exchange itself is the focal point for spectators. While intense by design, the festival is carefully coordinated by the local community and has become one of El Salvador’s most internationally recognized cultural spectacles.

Carnaval de San Miguel (November)

The Carnaval de San Miguel takes place in November and is one of the largest and most energetic carnivals in Central America. Held in the eastern city of San Miguel, the event spans several days and draws massive crowds from across El Salvador and neighboring countries.

Large parades, music performances, floats, fireworks, and street celebrations transform the city, with festivities continuing late into the night. The scale of the carnival has a noticeable impact on accommodation, transport, and daily life in the region, making it one of the most significant public events on the national calendar.

International Surf Events (Throughout the Year)

El Salvador’s Surf City initiative continues to play a central role in the international competitive surfing calendar through its ongoing partnership with the International Surfing Association (ISA), which runs through 2027. As part of this agreement, El Salvador is set to host major ISA world-level events in 2026, reinforcing the country’s position as a key venue for elite competition.

One of the headline events is the WSL Punta Roca Pro, a World Surf League Championship Tour stop scheduled for late May and early June 2026 at Punta Roca. This event brings the world’s top-ranked male and female surfers to El Salvador to compete for Championship Tour points at one of the region’s most demanding right-hand waves.

El Salvador will also host the ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship in April as part of its multi-year partnership with the International Surfing Association. The championship is a key event on the ISA calendar and showcases elite longboard surfers competing in Surf City conditions. The ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is also scheduled for 2026 as part of the ISA’s alternating cycle with the World Surfing Games. While the ISA has not yet officially confirmed the host location or dates, El Salvador is widely expected to be involved under the Surf City partnership, with potential event windows discussed for April or September. Final details will be announced through the ISA’s official channels.

Other Events Worth Knowing About

IRONMAN 70.3 San Salvador (February)

El Salvador hosts its first IRONMAN-branded triathlon, drawing international athletes to a course that includes Lake Ilopango, major highways, and central San Salvador.

Festival de las Flores y Palmas (May)

A long-running, UNESCO-recognized, cultural festival in Panchimalco known for palm-frond decorations, traditional dress, dances, and processions tied to local heritage.

Juayúa Food Festival (Weekends)

A well-known food-focused festival that draws large crowds to Juayúa, with street stalls serving traditional Salvadoran dishes in a lively, festival-style setting.

Wrapping Up

That wraps up our quick guide to some of the major events happening in El Salvador in 2026. There’s clearly more going on across the country than what we’ve highlighted here, but this overview offers a useful snapshot of the large-scale celebrations, cultural traditions, and international events that shape the year. Beyond these headline moments, you’ll also find plenty of smaller local activities taking place throughout El Salvador, adding further depth to the country’s public and cultural life.