Updated: July 2026 · by Frank Spitzer

Why the Ibero-American Theater Festival in Bogotá is a Must-Visit Event

The Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá is one of the world’s largest theatre festivals.

I am Frank Spitzer, founder of Pelecanus Travel (RNT 51402, IAGTO member, Bogotá-based since 2017). We arrange theatre festival-timed Bogotá itineraries. Send me a message to start planning.

What is the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá?

The Ibero-American Theater Festival is a very diverse festival that brings various performing arts together and its best exponents in the city of Bogotá for about two weeks every two years. Born in 1988, the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá has earned the title of one of the largest theater festivals in the world.
And rightly so, with theatrical companies and artists from the five continents showcasing the best of their talent in Bogotá.

What does it offer?

From theater plays that will leave you thinking to cultural performances that will make you laugh and dance:

• National and international theater works.
• Acting workshops.
• Fair of literary and theater publications.
• Restaurants and cafes (in closed theaters).
• Lectures and discussions.
• Experimental theater.
• Shadow theater.
• Street theater.
• Traditional and regional folk dances.
• Classical dance.
• Music and concerts with national and international artists.
• Cultural exhibitions and museum tours.
• Circus shows.
• VIA Business Roundtable on Exporting Colombian Talent.
• Cabaret tent with live music and DJs.
• Art and photography exhibition.
• Accounting functions.
• Screening of films.

Also, I invite you to check my blog about the top 17 most popular cultural events you can attend in Bogotá.

When is FITB 2026? Dates, Holy Week overlap, and how to plan

The 2026 edition of the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá (FITB) runs from March 20 to April 5, 2026 — 17 days across more than 30 venues in the city. The programming brings dance, theater, circus, music, puppetry and street arts from more than 15 countries, in line with the festival’s biennial cadence since 1988 (Colombia Visible, 2026).

Plan around Holy Week. The last week of FITB 2026 overlaps with Holy Week (March 29 – April 5, 2026), which is one of Colombia’s peak domestic travel windows. Bogotá hotels sell out and airfares climb from early January. If you want to see both the closing weekend of FITB and the Holy Week processions in Popayán, we recommend booking accommodation by December 2025.

Main 2026 venues we route clients through:

• Parque Simón Bolívar — the main outdoor stage for large-scale performances.
• Teatro Colón — symbolic opening act, indoor ticketed shows.
• Centro de Convenciones Corferias — the “Ciudad Teatro” hub with 10+ concurrent programs.
• Movistar Arena / Carpa Cabaret — late-night music and cast meetups.
• La Candelaria and Parque Nacional — free street theater tracks that run all 17 days.

For hotel positioning, we place FITB visitors in Zona T / Chapinero to keep Movistar Arena, Teatro Colón and Corferias inside a 15–25 minute drive without crossing the worst of Bogotá’s Carrera 7 traffic. Full context in the Bogotá travel guide.

Story of the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogota

Fanny Mikey, an Argentine-Colombian actress, initiated it on March 25, 1988, coinciding with the celebration of Bogota’s 450th anniversary, and it ran until April 3.

Her goal was to promote theater’s diversity, global performing arts, tolerance, and understanding between cultures while encouraging artistic development in Colombia. And she achieved it!

Since then, the FITB has stood out as one of the most comprehensive showcases of performing arts of the 21st century and nowadays is one of the world’s largest theater festivals in terms of its capacity to attract and the diversity of genres.

Fanny Mikey did not build the festival alone. She co-founded FITB with the Colombian cultural producer Ramiro Osorio, and together they ran it as a public-private partnership between the city of Bogotá and the Fundación Teatro Nacional (Wikipedia). The first edition, in 1988, ran under the slogan “Un acto de fe en Colombia” (“An act of faith in Colombia”) — a direct response to the international perception of the country at the time.

Fanny Mikey died in August 2008, and the XI edition of that same year (7–23 March 2008, before her passing) was the last she personally directed. The Fundación Teatro Nacional has produced every subsequent edition. The festival’s only serious disruption came with the XVII edition in 2020, which was postponed from March to June–July 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then returned to its regular March–April slot from 2022 onwards.

Some Curious Facts

• Prestigious companies: Famous theater companies have graced its stages. Some examples? The Beijing Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company of England, and many more.
• World guests: The festival has invited more than 40 countries throughout its history.
• The world’s largest: The number of performances hosted by the festival has not been surpassed by any other in the world.
• Theater capital: Bogotá is known as the “world capital of theater” due to the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá (FITB), which is the most important in Latin America and one of the largest in the world.

The festival in numbers

In one of its larger versions, specifically in 2016, it achieved some impressive figures, which you’ll see below:  

• More than 100 directors.
• More than 800 performances.
• More than 400,000 attendees.
• More than 3,600 actors.
• Guests from 5 continents.
• Top 10 Colombian major cities.
• Around 70 stages in Bogotá.
• 20 localities (up to 110 streets of Bogotá)

It’s a big deal!

FAQS about the Ibero-American Theater Festival

When is the festival held?

You can check the date for you to mark your calendar. Generally, it starts in March each year. The city will be filled with art and activities for all ages. Colors, music, and artistic expressions will be the focus of attention, both for Bogotans and visitors from everywhere.

Is it free?

No, the first 5 days take place in closed halls and different costs apply depending on the performance.

However, for the following 12 days, you will have free access to theater performances in public places in the city such as parks, shopping centers, from 60 to 70 stages, each year can take place in different spots.

Where does it take place generally?

There are some specific spots in Bogota this festival take place every year:

• Teatro Colón: The symbolic opening act of the FITB takes place at the Teatro Colón. This iconic theater is a landmark for the performing arts in Bogotá.
• Centro de Convenciones Corferias: National and international theater productions are presented here. There are also events for all ages, such as academic and commercial exhibitions, circus, and children’s activities.
• Carpa Cabaret: Located in the bar and party area of the Movistar Arena, where there is live music and you can meet national/international artists and producers.

Want to attend?
We are happy to help you visit this theater festival. Just email us.

How does a Pelecanus-planned FITB trip work?

Most of our FITB clients spend 4 to 5 nights in Bogotá during the festival — typically 2 ticketed indoor performances and 2 free street-theater days, plus a day for Monserrate, La Candelaria and the Museo del Oro. We combine that with a matching program: sometimes the Popayán Holy Week processions, sometimes a coffee-region extension, sometimes Cartagena.

What we handle: ticket purchase for the shows you actually want (not a “festival pass”), private airport transfer, bilingual driver-guide for city days, restaurant reservations in Chapinero and Zona G, and coordination with Bogotá-based theater producers when a client wants a backstage or cast-meeting introduction. See the full events in Bogotá hub and Colombia holidays calendar to slot FITB against your dates. To start planning, send me a message.

More about events and celebrations in Colombia

• Colombia’s 45 Best & Biggest Festivals in Detail
• How Holy Week is Celebrated in Colombia: Unmissable Traditions and Places
• Holidays in Colombia: Guide to Holidays and Long Weekend Breaks in Colombia
• 9 Unmissable Cultural Events You Must Experience in Barranquilla

FAQ

Is this relevant for first-time visitors?

Yes — basic preparation enriches the trip culturally and practically.

Do I need a guide?

Recommended. Specialised guides improve the experience significantly.

How much does it cost?

Costs vary widely. Premium: $80-250/day. Mid-range: $40-100. Budget: $20-50.

When is the best season?

Dry seasons (December-March, June-August) typically preferred.

Is Colombia safe for tourists?

Yes with standard precautions. Major cities have full police presence.

How do I plan with Pelecanus?

Send a message via /en/about-us-contact/ or WhatsApp Frank at +57 321 214 6210.

References

• Colombia Travel Guide – Pelecanus

About the Author

I’m Frank Spitzer — Swiss-born, Bogotá-resident since 2015, founder of Pelecanus. From first inquiry through return flight, you deal with me personally — not a handoff team. I’ve driven across 30 of Colombia’s 32 departments to inspect roads, hotels, guides and routes myself, and documented it in 400+ first-hand videos on the COLOMBIAFRANK YouTube channel. Before a destination goes into a trip, I’ve been there, often more than once, and I’ve slept in the bed I’d recommend. That field scouting sits on top of a 20-year background in finance, an MBA from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and a First-Lieutenant commission in the Swiss Army. I work in German, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, which is why luxury, golf, eco and wildlife travellers from Switzerland, Germany, the US and Latin America trust us to build trips that feel custom — not catalogued. Pelecanus operates under Colombian RNT 51402 and is an active IAGTO member.

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