Look up the dates of the Huehuetenango feria and you will find different published windows. The historical account, the general description and each edition’s announcement answer slightly different questions.
The stable reference is July 16, the patron’s day honoring the Virgen del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), the city’s patron saint. The Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (Ministry of Culture and Sports) describes it as the central religious and cultural day of the annual celebration (Sicultura).
For a visit centered on the patron’s feast, focus on July 16 and check the edition’s programme before booking.
Quick summary: Huehuetenango’s Fiestas Julias (July festivities), also called Feria Departamental (departmental fair), honor the Virgen del Carmen, with July 16 as the central day. The municipality’s history attributes July 12–18 to the 1934 agreement, and the Ministry describes that as the main window. The Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN) reported July 8–16 in 2023 and July 13–28 in 2024; the municipality announced July 4–19 for the past 2026 edition. Its history also records a December celebration honoring the Virgen de Concepción between the 1892 and 1934 agreements. The historical setting was Los Llanos de Aguilar, zone 8; the 2026 commercial fair programme named CEFECOHUE in zone 4 and included a detailed schedule.
Quick facts
| Patron’s day | July 16 — Virgen del Carmen, the city’s patron saint |
| 2026 window | July 4–19, 2026 — the municipality’s announcement for the past edition |
| Historical agreement window | July 12–18 — the municipality’s account of the August 17, 1934 agreement; also the Ministry’s general description |
| Names | Fiestas Julias, also Feria Departamental |
| Patron saint | Virgen del Carmen |
| Organizers | Municipalidad de Huehuetenango, the local parish and community committees |
| Where | Historical setting: Los Llanos de Aguilar, zone 8; the 2026 programme named CEFECOHUE, Campo de la Feria, zone 4, alongside other city venues |
| Distance from Guatemala City | 261 kilometers, according to AGN’s 2023 account |
| Holiday status | July 16 is not listed among the national dates in Article 127 of the Código de Trabajo (Labor Code). That article includes paid asueto (holiday leave) for private-sector workers on the day of the local festivity; see Guatemala holidays |
| 2026 programme | A municipal brochure listed dates, times, venues, artists and some admission prices |
The different date windows — each with its source
Each entry below identifies a published window and the year or historical context it describes.
| Source | Published window | Applicable year or context | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 17, 1934 agreement, as described in the municipality’s history | July 12–18 | Historical account of the agreement’s annual window | Agreement dated August 17, 1934 |
| Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sicultura | July 12–18, as the main window | General description of the annual celebration | Undated web listing |
| AGN (2023 report) | July 8–16 | 2023 | July 14, 2023 |
| AGN (2024 report) | July 13–28 | 2024 | July 16, 2024 |
| Municipalidad de Huehuetenango (announcement) | July 4–19 | 2026 | Undated municipal web page (2026 edition) |
The historical July 12–18 window and the dates advertised for a particular edition are different kinds of information. Use the edition’s municipal programme to plan individual activities, and July 16 as the reference for the patron’s feast. The municipality presents the older agreements as history; that account alone does not establish their current legal force.
The dates, year by year
| 2026, past edition | |
|---|---|
| Patron’s day — Virgen del Carmen | July 16, 2026, included in the municipal programme |
| Announced window | July 4–19, 2026, according to the municipality |
| Day-by-day programme | Published in the municipal brochure; selected entries appear below |
The 2027 edition was not announced as of 23 October 2026 on the municipal pages checked; the recurring patron’s feast should not be treated as an announcement of that edition’s dates.
Wasn’t it in December? Yes — between the 1892 and 1934 agreements
The December dates belong to a chapter of the feria’s history. The municipality’s own historical account records the sequence (Municipalidad de Huehuetenango):
1878 — the origin. The municipality dates a presidential agreement to October 15, 1878, during Justo Rufino Barrios’s government. Its account associates the Feria del Carmen with July 15 and 16 and Los Llanos de Aguilar.
1892 — the move to December. A government agreement dated September 10, 1892 repealed the earlier arrangement. The municipality says it established annual celebrations honoring the Virgen de Concepción (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) on December 5–8.
1934 — the return to July. The municipality describes another government agreement, dated August 17, 1934, under Jorge Ubico. It repealed the 1892 arrangement and ordered the Feria Departamental de Julio to be celebrated on July 12–18 each year.
For present-day trip planning, the Ministry identifies the city’s patronal celebration with the Virgen del Carmen and July 16. The municipality’s account places the December arrangement in the earlier historical sequence.
Where: from Los Llanos de Aguilar to zone 4
The historical venue and the commercial fairground appear under different names in the accounts.
The municipality associates the earlier Feria del Carmen with Los Llanos de Aguilar. AGN’s 2024 report places the historical celebrations in zone 8 (AGN).
For the past 2026 edition, the municipal brochure identified the commercial fair as CEFECOHUE, Campo de la Feria, zone 4, with July 4–19 as its advertised dates. Other scheduled activities were spread across city venues, including Plaza de Armas, Iglesia Catedral (the cathedral) and Teatro Municipal (the municipal theater) (municipal programme).
What happens at the Fiestas Julias
The religious programme
The Ministry describes the religious elements through Sicultura:
- Solemn Masses honoring the Virgen del Carmen, with the community and local authorities taking part.
- A procession with the image of the Virgen del Carmen through the municipality’s main streets, accompanied by worshippers and cofradías (religious brotherhoods).
- Convites (traditional dance events) and community prayers before and during the festivities.
The same Ministry says the municipality, the local parish and community committees coordinate the celebration.
The civic and cultural programme
The Ministry lists traditional dance and music, including marimba and folk dances; horse parades and floats; a food fair and local-product exhibitions; fairground rides; sports; and popular concerts.
AGN’s account of the 2023 edition gives a more specific activity list (AGN):
- Velada de Juegos Florales (literary awards evening).
- Coronation of the Casa de la Cultura (cultural center) queen.
- Concerts, school parades at all educational levels in both private and public schools, and band competitions.
- Sports championships and a float parade.
- Food and craft festivals.
- History exhibitions and nostalgia evenings.
- A horse parade and the Virgen del Carmen procession.
AGN described 2023 as the 131st edition. It reported a Princesa Chinabjul food festival and the Copa del Carmen (Carmen Cup) in football, basketball, skating, volleyball, swimming, triathlon and chess. These are details of that past edition.
The queens and the awards
The queen-selection system changed over time. AGN’s 2024 account describes a transition from selection by the department’s leading authorities to voting and later to a judging panel. It says the title evolved from Reina de las Fiestas Julias to Reina Departamental de Huehuetenango and Señorita Fiestas Julias (AGN). These are the names of the festival’s representative titles.
AGN’s 2023 account also names Princesa Chinabjul. In the same account it explains that Huehuetenango means city of the old people or city of the trees, and gives the earlier name Xinabajul, a Mam term meaning city among ravines. The 2026 municipal brochure uses Princesa Chnab’jul. The spellings here follow their respective sources.
AGN’s 2024 report also names the Orden 2 Jaguares and Orden del Carmelo, awards presented in connection with the festivities.
The 2026 programme: what was published
The Municipalidad de Huehuetenango announced July 4–19, 2026 on its Fiestas Julias page. Its activities page linked a downloadable brochure with a day-by-day programme, including times, venues, performers and some admission prices.
The 2026 edition is past. The following were scheduled entries, rather than confirmation that every advertised activity took place. The dates and times belong to that edition (official municipal brochure):
| Programme date | Published time | Scheduled activity and venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 4, 2026 | 19:30 hrs. | Presentation of Convite 16 de julio, Colegio De La Salle; admission Q.25 |
| July 9, 2026 | 19:00 hrs. | Velada de los Juegos Florales, Teatro Municipal |
| July 10, 2026 | 20:00 hrs. | Opening concert by Alux Nahual, Plaza de Armas, with Cooperativa Inmaculada Concepción R.L. named in the programme |
| July 11, 2026 | 14:00 hrs. | Fair opening, CEFECOHUE |
| July 11, 2026 | 18:00 hrs. | Selection of Reina Departamental y Señorita Fiestas Julias, Plaza de Armas |
| July 15, 2026 | 19:30 | Processional cortege through the streets of Huehuetenango |
| July 16, 2026 | 10:00 hrs y 18:00 hrs. | Solemne Eucaristía (solemn Eucharist), Iglesia Catedral |
| July 16, 2026 | 19:00 hrs. | Orden del Carmelo, Plaza de Armas |
| July 16, 2026 | 19:30 hrs. | Light show and Quema de Castillo (fireworks display) in front of Iglesia Catedral / INGUAT |
| July 16, 2026 | 20:00 hrs. | Trono de México concert, parking area of estadio Los Cuchumatanes |
| July 18, 2026 | 20:00 hrs. | Concierto GALLO – Viento en Contra, parking area of Estadio Los Cuchumatanes; admission Q25.00 |
The admission amounts apply to their listed events, rather than to the feria as a whole. The procession appeared under July 15 in this programme; the patron’s feast remained July 16.
Getting there
AGN’s 2023 account puts Huehuetenango’s departmental capital 261 kilometers from Guatemala City (AGN).
For journey planning, see Guatemala City to Huehuetenango and Xela to Huehuetenango. Our camionetas (chicken buses) guide explains the transport system between departments.
For city context, see Huehuetenango city, and for the wider area see Huehuetenango department.
Do not confuse it with the Todos Santos horse race
This guide covers the Fiestas Julias in Huehuetenango city. If you are looking for the horse race, use our separate Todos Santos horse race guide and Todos Santos Cuchumatán guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is it? The patron’s day is July 16, honoring the Virgen del Carmen. The municipality’s announced window for the past 2026 edition was July 4–19.
Which date window should I use? The municipality’s history attributes July 12–18 to the 1934 agreement. For activities in a particular edition, use that edition’s programme. July 16 is the central day in the Ministry’s description.
Wasn’t it in December? The municipality’s historical account places the December arrangement between the 1892 and 1934 agreements, honoring the Virgen de Concepción, and says the latter agreement repealed it.
What is it called? Fiestas Julias or Feria Departamental.
Where is it? The historical celebrations were at Los Llanos de Aguilar, zone 8, according to AGN. The 2026 commercial fair was advertised at CEFECOHUE, Campo de la Feria, zone 4, with other activities scheduled across city venues.
Is there a detailed programme? Yes. The municipal activities page linked a 2026 brochure with dates, times, venues, artists and some admission prices. Selected entries from that past edition appear above.
Related
Huehuetenango city — city guide.
Huehuetenango department — the wider department.
Todos Santos horse race — the separate race guide.
Todos Santos Cuchumatán — municipality guide.
Guatemala holidays — national and local holiday information.
Camionetas guide — transport between departments.
Guatemala City to Huehuetenango — route guide.
Xela to Huehuetenango — route guide.
Huehuetenango patronal fairs - the department’s feria calendar
July fairs in Guatemala - patronal celebrations during the month
Guatemala events calendar - events by month
Sources
- Municipalidad de Huehuetenango: Fiestas Julias de Huehuetenango, undated (2026 edition)
- Municipalidad de Huehuetenango: Actividades Fiestas Julias de Huehue, undated (2026 edition)
- Municipalidad de Huehuetenango: Fiestas Julias 2026 programme, undated
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sicultura: Fiesta Patronal de Huehuetenango, Huehuetenango, undated
- Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias: Fiestas julias en Huehuetenango fortalecen la riqueza cultural, July 14, 2023
- Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias: Fiestas julias, un homenaje a la identidad cultural y el espíritu comunitario de Huehuetenango, July 16, 2024
- Organismo Judicial: Código de Trabajo, Article 127, undated
