No. As of 9 November 2026, Guatemala is not under a state of emergency, siege or prevention. The last decree of 2026, Decreto Gubernativo 7-2026, was a 15-day state of prevention in five departments. It ended on 20 May 2026, and neither the Diario de Centro América nor AGN has published a new one since (checked 9 November 2026).

In short:

  • Now: no state of exception in force (Diario de Centro America and AGN, checked 9 November 2026).
  • 2026 so far: one national state of siege (Decreto 1-2026, from 18 January, 30 days) and six states of prevention of 15 days each (Decretos 2-2026 to 7-2026, between 17 February and 20 May, not back to back).
  • No curfew in the January siege: AGN reported that Decreto 1-2026, as ratified, set no curfew and did not restrict tourism.
  • What a state of prevention allowed: limits on outdoor gatherings, dispersal of armed or violent ones, and vehicle restrictions by place, zone and hour, including searches.
  • Watch: on 27 July 2026 the Interior Minister said a new state of prevention could be requested if necessary.

The 2026 decree log

All decrees were published in the Diario de Centro America, the official gazette. Dates are the start dates reported by AGN and DCA.

DecreeLevelAreaIn force fromLength
Decreto Gubernativo 2-2025 (extension)PreventionNahualá and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán (Sololá)Extended 30 Dec 202515 days; AGN reported the end of the Sololá measures on 14 Jan 2026
Decreto Gubernativo 1-2026SiegeWhole country18 Jan 202630 days; ratified by Congress (149 votes)
Decreto Gubernativo 2-2026PreventionWhole country17 Feb 202615 days
Decreto Gubernativo 3-2026PreventionWhole country3-4 Mar 202615 days
Decreto Gubernativo 4-2026PreventionGuatemala, Petén, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango, San Marcos19 Mar 202615 days
Decreto Gubernativo 5-2026PreventionThe six above plus Sacatepéquez6 Apr 2026 (published 7 Apr)15 days
Decreto Gubernativo 6-2026PreventionGuatemala, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango, San Marcos21 Apr 202615 days
Decreto Gubernativo 7-2026PreventionGuatemala, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango, San Marcos6 May 202615 days; ended 20 May 2026

AGN’s report on Decreto 4-2026 explains the choice of departments: those “en los que hay centros de detención o son fronterizos”, that is, with detention centres or on a border. The series began after prison riots and armed attacks by gang members in January. In May the PNC summarised them as armed attacks on PNC officers that left 11 dead. The Sololá decrees of December 2025 had a separate cause: AGN describes them as a response to a security crisis after violent events on 13 December 2025. The government announced on 14 January 2026 that they would not be renewed.

After 20 May 2026

The end date is reported two ways. DCA’s 6 May report on Decreto 7-2026 said the measure would end on 20 May, and the PNC and AGN summaries of 26 May say the last state of prevention ended on 20 May. DCA’s 22 May report quoted the Interior Ministry as saying it concluyó ayer (ended yesterday), which would be 21 May.

On 22 May the Diario de Centro America quoted the Interior Minister, Marco Antonio Villeda, on whether the measure would be extended. His answer was este fue el último (this was the last one). He added that combined patrols and searches (requisas) would continue with or without a state of exception. On 27 July he said a new state of prevention could be requested from the Executive de ser necesario (if necessary). After the armed clash of 27 September 2026 in Huité, Zacapa, the Interior Ministry prepared a specific security plan for the municipality. DCA’s 13 October report on that plan mentions no state of exception.

Neither the Diario de Centro America nor AGN lists a Guatemalan decree after 7-2026 under estado de prevención, estado de sitio, estado de calamidad, toque de queda or Decreto Gubernativo 8-2026 (dca.gob.gt and agn.gt, posts since 21 May 2026, checked 9 November 2026). Publication and entry into force did not always fall on the same day: AGN reported that Decreto Gubernativo 5-2026 entered into force on a Monday and was published in the Diario de Centro America the next day. For the official alert stream for US citizens, see US Embassy security alerts.

What each level allows

Article 139 of the Constitution sets five levels, in order: a) Estado de prevención; b) Estado de alarma; c) Estado de calamidad pública; d) Estado de sitio; y e) Estado de guerra. Article 138 says the effects of a decree “no podrán exceder de treinta días por cada vez” (cannot exceed thirty days each time). It also says Congress must be convened to review the decree within three days. For the state of prevention, Article 138 waives the formality of a decree issued in the Council of Ministers (no será necesaria esta formalidad), and Article 8 of the Ley de Orden Público says a prevention decree does not need Congress’s approval. For the article-by-article legal detail, including the alarm and siege measures in the Ley de Orden Público, see foreigners and protests in Guatemala.

State of prevention (Decretos 2-2026 to 7-2026)

Decreto 7-2026, as summarised by AGN, let the Executive:

  • limit outdoor meetings, outdoor demonstrations and other shows, or stop them from taking place;
  • “Disolver por la fuerza sin necesidad conminación alguna, cualquier grupo, reunión o manifestación pública en la que se hiciere uso de armas o se recurriere a actos de violencia” (break up by force any gathering where weapons or violence are used);
  • prohibit vehicles from circulating or parking in set places, zones and hours, stop them from leaving towns, or search them.

The same decree set two limits. The measures could not discriminate by ethnicity, sex, language, religion or social origin. And they could not restrict the filing of essential judicial guarantees (garantías judiciales indispensables). The decree also stated that the measures targeted people breaking the law, “no a los ciudadanos que con su trabajo contribuyen con el desarrollo del país”.

State of siege (Decreto 1-2026)

Under Article 4, the siege decree restricted the rights in Articles 5, 6 and 33 of the Constitution and the second paragraph of Article 38. These cover freedom of action, arrest without a judge’s order, assembly and demonstration, and carrying firearms. AGN said the decree applied these limits only to action against gangs. Congress ratified it with 149 votes. As published on 21 January 2026, the ratified text kept cultural, religious and sports activities and patron-saint fairs free. It allowed detention without a court order only for members of criminal groups (maras or pandillas), and suspended prison visits where members of Barrio 18 or the Mara Salvatrucha were held. It also stated:

  • “No se establece toque de queda” (no curfew is established);
  • “No se restringen acciones comerciales, servicios públicos ni el turismo” (commerce, public services and tourism are not restricted);
  • civilians could carry firearms only with a legal permit.

What it meant on the ground for visitors

The 2026 measures were aimed at gang structures, and the government’s own statements describe what a traveller would notice. When the state of prevention of 3-4 March began, President Arévalo said there would be more police and army in public transport “especialmente en horarios de madrugada” (especially in the early morning), and at checkpoints on routes across the country. During the siege, AGN reported that schools would reopen on 20 January and that there would be no restrictions on movement on foot, by motorcycle or by car.

INGUAT said on 19 January 2026 that it was keeping its assistance, guidance and information services for tourists running, with the 1500 line and WhatsApp +502 5188 1819 available 24 hours (see ASISTUR 1500). It asked the public and non-resident visitors to follow the authorities’ instructions. For which ID documents to carry, see carrying ID in Guatemala. For rules on photographing checkpoints and patrols, see photographing police and the military.

Sources

All retrieved 9 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Guatemala under a state of emergency right now?

Not as of 9 November 2026. The last decree of the 2026 series, Decreto Gubernativo 7-2026, was a 15-day state of prevention in Guatemala, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango and San Marcos that took effect on 6 May and ended on 20 May 2026 (one DCA report gives 21 May). On 22 May the Interior Minister said it was the last one; on 27 July he said a new state of prevention could be requested if necessary. Neither the Diario de Centro América nor the state news agency AGN has published a new state of exception since (checked 9 November 2026).

Is there a curfew in Guatemala?

AGN reported that the 30-day national state of siege of January-February 2026 (Decreto Gubernativo 1-2026), as ratified by Congress, stated that no curfew was established and that commerce, public services and tourism were not restricted. No state of exception is in force as of 9 November 2026.

What is a state of prevention in Guatemala?

It is the lowest of the five levels the Constitution lists in Article 139: prevention, alarm, public calamity, siege and war. Under the Ley de Orden Público, as summarised by AGN, it lasts no more than 15 days. The 2026 decrees let the government limit outdoor gatherings and demonstrations, break up by force any that involved weapons or violence, and restrict where and when vehicles could circulate or park, including stopping them leaving towns or searching them.

Can tourists travel in Guatemala during a state of prevention or siege?

Yes, travel continued in 2026, but a state of prevention lets the authorities restrict where and when vehicles circulate, stop vehicles leaving towns and search them, so check the decree’s departments and any road measures before a trip. The siege decree as ratified by Congress did not restrict tourism, and INGUAT kept its tourist assistance services running. INGUAT asked the general public and non-resident visitors to follow the authorities’ instructions. During the state of prevention that began on 3-4 March 2026, the President said people would see more police and army checks on public transport in the early morning and at road checkpoints.

Which departments were under a state of prevention in 2026?

The first two states of prevention (Decretos 2-2026 and 3-2026) covered the whole country. Decreto 4-2026 covered Guatemala, Petén, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango and San Marcos. Decreto 5-2026 added Sacatepéquez. Decretos 6-2026 and 7-2026 covered Guatemala, Izabal, Escuintla, Huehuetenango and San Marcos.

How long can a state of siege last in Guatemala?

Article 138 of the Constitution says the effects of the decree cannot exceed 30 days each time, and that Congress must be convened to ratify, modify or reject it within three days. The 2026 state of siege lasted 30 days from 18 January, and Congress ratified it with 149 votes.