La Vega.- The
Unión Carnavalesca Vegana (UCAVE), the
Carnaval Vegano Organizing Committee (COCAVE), and the other organizations that make up the structure of the world-famous
Carnaval Vegano confirmed that everything is ready for the start of this folkloric and cultural celebration, one of the most important in the country.
On this first Sunday of Carnival, in statements offered to the press prior to the departure of the “diablos cojuelos” (limping devils) of La Vega and the different troupes, Martín Duquela, president of UCAVE, informed that the Vegano Carnival is ready to receive thousands of visitors and offer an unparalleled artistic and cultural experience.
Duquela revealed that in this edition around 190 carnival groups are confirmed, equivalent to about 3,000 “diablos cojuelos”, of which it is expected that between 60% and 80% will come out in this first day.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the carnival, beyond its leading role in Dominican identity, folklore, and culture, is an industry that boosts the economy, revealing that in this edition an approximate investment of 90 million pesos has been made in the elaboration of costumes.
“We, in the registration of the Vegana Carnival Union, have 230 groups as members, which represents approximately 3,000 members. In the procedure we carried out in October, prior to the carnival, we inspected and hired the groups that are going to participate, and we have registered by contract around 190 groups. In addition,
we have between 10 and 15 new groups that will be performing for the first time. This gives us an estimate of about 90 million pesos in costumes for this year and ensures a minimum registration of 190 groups. Next Sunday we expect all the participating groups to come out, in addition to the floats that are going to parade,” expressed Duquela.
For his part, the
vice mayor of La Vega,
Amado Gómez, representing the mayor of the municipality, assured that the local government took all the necessary measures in terms of security and health, so that visitors to the Vegano Carnival can attend with their families and enjoy without any kind of worry.
He indicated that different organizations were deployed, including the
National Police, Civil Defense, System 911, DIGESETT, Politur, mixed patrols, members of the National Army, as well as collaborators from the Vegan Carnival Union.
“The greatest security that the Vegano Carnival has is that it belongs to all Vegans, without distinction of social classes. Doctors, lawyers, street vendors, shoe shiners, we all go out into the streets to dress up. This is a tradition that we carry in our blood, so we invite the whole family to live the experience,” said the deputy mayor.
In that sense, representatives of the
Ministry of Public Health shared that measures were put in place establishing that food and beverage vendors must wear masks to avoid any type of food poisoning. In addition, a
safety protocol was implemented to ensure that the areas where health centers are located are not obstructed, which is why caves of the different carnival groups were not installed in those areas, in order to maintain order in the face of any eventuality.
Authorities urged visitors to wear cool clothing, stay well hydrated, apply sunscreen, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption, especially those visiting the city of La Vega.
The Vegano Carnival 2026 begins this Sunday, February 1st, and will extend on Sundays, February 8th, 15th, and 22nd, formally concluding on Friday, February 27th, National Independence Day.
You may be interested in: Yiyo Sarante and Shadow Blow at the first concert of the Vegano Carnival
The event will be broadcast on national television via Microvisión Channel 10 of Telecable Central, Luna TV in Santiago de los Caballeros and Channel 25 for the whole country.
After the departure of the floats, characters, and “diablos cojuelos”, the organizing committee of the Vegano Carnival will offer a free concert on the esplanade of Pedro A. Rivera Avenue, enlivened by the singer and composer of the urban genre Shadow Blow and the renowned salsa singer Yiyo Sarante starting at 7:00pm.
