Cartagena's Walled City hosts guitar festival from 8 to 11 October 2026
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cartagena will bring concerts to Cartagena's Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada de Cartagena) and other heritage venues from 8 to 11 October 2026. The programme combines performers from several countries with concerts at the Teatro Adolfo Mejía, a historic theatre in Cartagena, Colombia.
The festival is organised by Fundación Guitarras por Cartagena and is supported through the city cultural institute's 2026 theatre programme. Its dates fall between 22 September and 27 October 2026, giving visitors from Western Europe a specific cultural event to plan around during an October stay.
Guitar festival brings four days of concerts to Cartagena
The XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cartagena runs from 8 to 11 October 2026. Caracol Radio reports that the festival will use several venues, with three concerts scheduled at the Teatro Adolfo Mejía.
The international line-up named by the report includes Spanish flamenco guitarist Daniel Casares, United States guitarist Chip Henderson, Cuban musician Oney Cumba, Chilean artist Pituquete and the Cuerdas del Ecuador ensemble. Colombian participants include Trío Capital, Juan Dhas, Andrés Ortiz Trío, the Orquesta de Guitarras Adolfo Mejía and the Dúo Julián y Alexa. The programme spans flamenco, acoustic guitar, traditional music, Latin American styles and trio formats. Festival programme and venues
One part of the programme, Festiguitarras Sessions, is scheduled at the Teatro Adolfo Mejía and is dedicated to a Parranda Vallenata. Other concerts are announced for the Ruedo de La Serrezuela, the Palacio de la Proclamación, the Church of San Pedro Claver and Casa Bolívar. The combination of a guitar festival with the theatre's heritage setting links a contemporary international programme to one of the historic centre's established cultural buildings.
Teatro Adolfo Mejía connects the festival with Cartagena's history
The Teatro Adolfo Mejía is administered through the Instituto de Patrimonio y Cultura de Cartagena, which describes it as a Bien de Interés Cultural venue and a stage for residents and visitors. Its official address is Plaza de la Merced No. 38-10 in Cartagena de Indias.
The theatre was ordered in 1905 and designed by Luis Felipe Jaspe. It opened as the Teatro Municipal on 13 November 1911, was renamed Teatro Heredia in 1933 and closed in 1970 after years of deterioration. Restoration work led to its reopening on 31 July 1998, and the building received its current name that year in honour of composer Adolfo Mejía Navarro. theatre history and official address
For the October festival, that history is more than background: three concerts and a vallenato session place the guitar programme inside a building whose original purpose was public cultural access. The theatre's location at Plaza de la Merced also puts the event within the historic centre used by visitors exploring the walled district.
Visiting Cartagena's Walled City: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cartagena runs from 8 to 11 October 2026, with three concerts at the Teatro Adolfo Mejía and further events at other Cartagena venues.
- The festival is a scheduled cultural programme rather than a change to the walls or a closure of the historic district. Access arrangements and ticket details should be checked with the organiser before attending.
- The theatre is at Plaza de la Merced No. 38-10 in Cartagena de Indias, inside the historic centre. The walled district can be reached from the wider city by taxi or local public transport, with the theatre serving as the named venue reference.
- The Teatro Adolfo Mejía is a historic theatre, while the surrounding walled district contains colonial streets, plazas and masonry fortifications. Visitors should expect urban walking surfaces and the steps associated with an older theatre and fortified centre.
- The official language is Spanish and the national currency is the Colombian peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Cartagena's Walled City on social platforms
These links open searches for Cartagena's Walled City on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Cartagena's Walled City
When does the XIII Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cartagena take place?
The festival runs from 8 to 11 October 2026 across venues in Cartagena, including the Teatro Adolfo Mejía.
What is Cartagena's Walled City?
It is the historic fortified district of Cartagena, with the Teatro Adolfo Mejía at Plaza de la Merced among its cultural venues.
Where is Cartagena's Walled City and how do you get there?
The district is in Cartagena, Colombia, and the festival's theatre venue is at Plaza de la Merced No. 38-10 in Cartagena de Indias.
