Cartagena Music Week: The indie music festival redefining the soundscape of the Colombian Caribbean

What it is and context

If you thought Cartagena was only about sun, beach, and champeta music blasting from tourist boats, you're in for a surprise. Since 2022, the walled city has a new heartbeat that doesn't come from the Castillo de San Felipe or the Historic Center, but from abandoned warehouses, colonial patios, and clandestine rooftops. It's called Cartagena Music Week, and in just four editions, it has become the most important indie music festival in the Colombian Caribbean.

It's not the classical Cartagena Festival of Music that fills the Plaza de la Aduana with string quartets. Nor is it Storyland, which brings international DJs to the beach. Cartagena Music Week is something else: a gathering of music lovers, producers, and travelers seeking sounds that don't make it to commercial radio. Here you'll hear electronic champeta, psychedelic cumbia, alternative rock in Spanish, and fusions that mix gaita flutes with synthesizers.

The most curious thing is that it was born almost by accident. A group of music producers from Bogotá and Cartagena organized a jam session in a warehouse in the San Diego neighborhood during Easter week 2022. They invited three bands, 200 people showed up, and the following year they already had to close streets. Today, the event competes on the calendar with FICCI (Cartagena International Film Festival) and attracts curators from festivals like Estéreo Picnic, SXSW in Austin, and the Festival Centro in Bogotá.

Event details: dates, program, and lineup

The fifth edition of Cartagena Music Week will take place from June 10 to 14, 2026, right after the celebrations for Cartagena's 493rd birthday. Five days where the city becomes a scattered stage, without a single main venue, but with multiple locations that change depending on the time.

Confirmed lineup (as of June 2026)

The organization has announced a mix of established and emerging artists from Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina. Some big names include:

• Lido Pimienta (Colombia/Canada) – The Wayuu-Palestinian artist who fuses electronics with indigenous chants.
• Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto (Colombia) – Living legends of the gaita flute, collaborating with a DJ from Berlin.
• La Zorra Zapata (Colombia) – A psychedelic cumbia project based in Medellín.
• Mauro Samaniego (Peru) – Andean experimental music with modular synthesizers.
• El Búho (United Kingdom) – British producer who samples Latin American rhythms.
• Bomba Estéreo (Colombia) – Headliner, presenting their new album.

Additionally, there is a special curation of local artists: champeta bands like Systema Solar (though they are already national) and new projects like Mulata Cósmica and Los Dementes del Caribe.

Daily program

Wednesday, June 10 – Opening in the Historic Center
Free concert at Plaza de la Aduana with local artists. From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ideal for those arriving that day who want to get into the vibe without spending money.

Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12 – Main venues
The two main days of the festival. Concerts start at 3:00 p.m. and go until 1:00 a.m. The main venues are restored warehouses in the San Diego neighborhood and patios of colonial houses in the Historic Center. Each venue holds between 500 and 800 people, ensuring an intimate experience with no crushing crowds.

Saturday, June 13 – Industry day and closing
Morning and afternoon: industry panels, music production workshops, and a vinyl fair at the Claustro de Santo Domingo. At night: the closing concert at a secret rooftop in the Getsemaní neighborhood (the location is revealed only to registered attendees).

Sunday, June 14 – Official after-party
Jam session at a private house in the San Diego neighborhood. Access only with a festival wristband or special invitation.

Prices and how to get tickets

Cartagena Music Week is not a massive festival like Rock al Parque. Tickets are limited and sell out quickly. For June 2026, reference prices are:

• General pass (5 days): $280,000 COP (approximately 70 USD at the June 2026 exchange rate). Includes access to all main venues and the opening concert.
• VIP pass: $450,000 COP. Includes priority access, a secret map of after-parties at private houses, and a kit with local craft beer and a limited-edition vinyl from a festival band.
• Single-day ticket: $80,000 COP (Thursday or Friday). Does not include Saturday's closing or Sunday.
• Press pass: Free, but limited availability. You must accredit media outlets with more than 6 months of history and send a request to the festival's press email (it is recommended to do so at least two months in advance).
• Local discount: Residents of Cartagena and nearby municipalities (Turbaco, Arjona, Santa Rosa) can purchase the general pass for $180,000 COP by presenting their ID. This discount is only available at the festival's physical box office, not online.

CTA: Purchase your ticket before March 31 and get access to the secret map of after-parties at private houses. After that date, the map is only given to those who buy the VIP pass.

Tickets are purchased exclusively through the festival's official website (cartagenamusicweek.com). There is no physical box office until the day of the event, and only for days that haven't sold out. It is recommended to buy at least one month in advance.

How to get there

The festival doesn't have a single venue, so logistics are key. The main venues are in two areas:

San Diego neighborhood: This is the festival's epicenter. Most concerts take place in restored warehouses near Calle de la Media Luna and Calle del Porvenir. From the Historic Center, it's a 10-15 minute walk. If you're coming from Bocagrande, take a taxi or Uber (10-15 minute ride, about $12,000 COP).

Historic Center: Some concerts take place in patios of colonial houses near Plaza de los Coches and Calle de la Moneda. This is a pedestrian zone, so it's best to walk or take a horse-drawn carriage if you're far away (negotiate the price beforehand, don't pay more than $30,000 COP for a short ride).

Getsemaní: The secret rooftop on Saturday is in this area. The exact location is revealed 24 hours before the event. Getsemaní is safe to walk during the day and night, but always with caution as in any tourist area.

If you're arriving from Rafael Núñez Airport, take an official taxi (there's a line outside the terminal). The trip to the Historic Center costs between $25,000 and $35,000 COP, depending on traffic. I don't recommend taking Uber from the airport because local taxi drivers often block the area.

Tips for attendees

Based on what I've seen in past editions and what the organization has confirmed for 2026, here are some useful tips:

• Arrive early at the venues. The San Diego warehouses don't have air conditioning. At 3:00 p.m. the heat is intense, but by 6:00 p.m. the Caribbean breeze comes through the open doors and the atmosphere becomes perfect. If you arrive after 7:00 p.m., you might wait in line for up to 30 minutes to get in.
• Bring cash. Some venues don't have card readers, and ATMs in the Historic Center often run out of bills on weekends. There's an ATM at Plaza de la Aduana and another on Calle del Sargento Mayor.
• Hydration is key. The heat in Cartagena in June is brutal (feels like 35°C in the shade). The festival sells water and local craft beer (brands 3 Cordilleras and Apóstol), but you can bring your own empty water bottle and fill it at the free hydration stations available at each venue.