Lima is preparing for a three-day celebration marking its 491st anniversary, beginning Friday, January 16th, with a series of cultural events intended to honor the city’s rich history and diverse heritage. While festivities include parades, concerts, museum tours, and a 10K run, a planned serenata scheduled for Saturday has been canceled following a tragic traffic accident that claimed the lives of two municipal workers. This weekend offers residents and visitors alike a chance to rediscover the cultural heart of Peru’s capital.
Check out the cultural activities available from Friday, January 16th through Sunday, January 18th, the central day of the anniversary celebrations.
Table of Contents
- Check out the cultural activities available from Friday, January 16th through Sunday, January 18th, the central day of the anniversary celebrations.
- Friday, January 16th: Activities Leading Up to Lima’s Anniversary
- Saturday, January 17th: Lima’s Anniversary
- Sunday, January 18th: The Main Day of Lima’s Anniversary
Lima is gearing up to celebrate its 491st anniversary with a full schedule of cultural events honoring the city’s history and diversity. The festivities, spanning several days, will offer activities for all ages, including concerts and performances.
The city government has prepared a special program inviting both residents and visitors to rediscover Lima.
However, a planned serenata for Saturday, January 17th has been suspended following the deaths of two employees of the Municipal Company for Strategic Projects (Emape) in a traffic accident on Wednesday, January 14th, on the South Pan-American Highway.
Friday, January 16th: Activities Leading Up to Lima’s Anniversary
8:00 a.m.: Salute to Lima with a cannon salute
8:10 a.m.: Flag raising
8:20 a.m.: National Anthem of Peru
8:23 a.m.: Municipal parade
8:30 a.m.: Homage to the last Inca chief, “Taulichusco”
8:35 a.m.: Homage to Francisco Pizarro
10 a.m.: Mass and Te Deum (Lima Cathedral)
12:00 p.m.: Solemn Session (Session Hall of the Municipal Palace)
4:00 p.m.: Retreat in honor of the city of Lima
Saturday, January 17th: Lima’s Anniversary
Guided Tours of Museums
The Lima Municipal Theater is offering guided tours of the Municipal Theaters, providing an opportunity to explore the main spaces, learn about their history, and appreciate their cultural and artistic value.
Visitors can tour the rooms, stages, and iconic environments that are central to the city’s cultural life in an experience designed for all ages. The tours are open to the public with limited capacity.
- Time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last tour at 5:15 p.m.)
- Cost: S/5 (per theater) | S/2.50 (Museum)
Lima Parade
A thousand dancers will parade through the main streets of Lima’s historic center.
- Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Route: Begins at the Wall Park and ends in the Rosa Merino Plaza
Museum of the Convent of Santo Domingo
The museum will host its first Night Visit of 2026 to commemorate Lima’s anniversary.
- Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Museum of the Convent of Santo Domingo (Jr. Camaná 170. Historic Center of Lima)
Manuel Donayre Concert
Celebrate the city with an elegant evening of music and emotion featuring Manuel Donayre, “The Black Diamond of Peru.” Tickets are available at Joinnus.
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Location: Bianca Convention Center (Av. Almirante Miguel Grau 135 – Barranco)
Sunday, January 18th: The Main Day of Lima’s Anniversary
Lima 10K Run
- 6:00 a.m.: Lima 10K Run at the Magic Water Circuit
- 4:00 p.m.: Lima City Classic
- 8:00 p.m.: Lima Gala Concert
Documentary on Lima’s Anniversary
The General Archive of the Nation will celebrate Lima’s anniversary with a journey through time. Admission is free.
Historical Talk
- Time: 12:00 p.m.
- Location: Casa de la Cultura Criolla “Rosa Mercedes Ayarza”
- Topic: “The Collapse of Lima’s Colonial Walls”
- Specialist: Miguel Ángel del Castillo will reveal plans and previously unpublished data about the city’s transformation
Grand Opening: “Footprints of Lima: A Documentary Journey Through Its Anniversary”
- Time: 12:30 p.m.
- What you’ll see: Never-before-seen historical documents, lectures, dances, live music, gastronomy, and traditional Lima street cries.
- Location: Jr. Moquegua 376, Historic Center of Lima.
- Dates: Through Thursday, January 29th (Tuesday to Sunday).
- Visiting Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lima Parade
A thousand dancers will parade through the main streets of Lima’s historic center.
- Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Route: Begins at the Wall Park and ends in the Rosa Merino Plaza
