Islanders are counting down the days to Cozumel Carnival 2020 and a Mardis Gras buzz is filling the air again, with "pre-Carnival" activities starting this Saturday.

Following several weeks of warm up parties and competitions, the week of main events will be from Wednesday, February 19 to Wednesday, February 26, 2020, including the main parades on Saturday, February 22; Sunday, February 23 and Fat Tuesday, February 25. Find the full Cozumel Carnival 2020 program here.

This year sees the 146th edition of island's Carnival, thought to be the oldest in the Yucatan Peninsula and possibly the whole of Mexico.

The annual event is famous for its live music and dazzling technicolor parades along Cozumel's downtown seafront. People line the street, dancing with the performers and catching gifts that are showered on them.

On procession nights, after the oceanfront extravaganza the music keeps playing and parties continue well into the night. Costumed revellers battle in dancing competitions and bands play live music around the city.

For more information see our Cozumel Carnival page.