Tulum’s municipal government announced that Carnival 2026 will include a mechanical rides fair featuring 17 attractions, with free access to all rides for two hours daily from Wednesday through Sunday, March 1. The initiative, ordered by Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo, applies from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day and coincides with the start of Carnival festivities on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The announcement marks an expansion of this year’s Carnival program, adding a large-scale fair component that municipal officials say is designed to increase access for families across the city. For residents of Tulum, the addition introduces new road closures, traffic changes, and extended public activity along Avenida Tulum during peak evening hours.
Carnival fair adds 17 rides downtown
According to Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo, the mechanical rides fair will operate with 17 attractions for children and adults. Among the featured installations is a 19-meter Ferris wheel equipped with 24 multi-family gondolas. The program also includes bumper cars imported from Italy, a Himalaya Express ride, the Travant, and several children’s attractions such as a carousel, a small roller ride known locally as the “gusanito,” and junior bumper cars.
Castañón Trejo said that from Wednesday through Sunday, all rides will be free of charge between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The free access period runs through March 1.
He described the Ferris wheel as one of the central attractions of the fair and confirmed that the rides are intended to complement the broader Carnival Tulum 2026 program, which officially begins Thursday, Feb. 26.
Municipal authorities also announced a musical show featuring sound and lighting effects as part of the entertainment lineup.
The addition of the mechanical rides fair represents a logistical expansion compared with previous Carnival editions, concentrating attractions in the central area of the city.
Traffic closures planned on Avenida Tulum
To accommodate the Carnival fair and related activities, municipal authorities will implement road closures in key downtown corridors.
Jessica Orozco, director of municipal traffic, said that the Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection will close Avenida Tulum between Alfa Sur and Beta Sur. In addition, Calle Venus Norte will be closed up to its intersection with Avenida Tulum.
The closures are intended to prevent traffic incidents and ensure pedestrian safety during the Carnival events.
Orozco said that a designated route will be established for public passenger transport vehicles in order to reduce congestion and maintain service continuity during the festivities.
For residents who commute through the affected areas, the changes will alter traffic patterns during the days of Carnival, particularly in the late afternoon and evening hours when free ride access is scheduled.
Who is affected by the changes
The free ride schedule directly benefits families with children and residents who may not otherwise pay for mechanical rides. By setting a fixed two-hour window each day, the municipality appears to be prioritizing broad public participation.
At the same time, business owners along Avenida Tulum and surrounding streets will experience modified access due to the road closures. Restaurants, retail shops, and service providers in the Alfa Sur to Beta Sur corridor may see increased pedestrian traffic but reduced vehicle flow.
Public transportation users will also be affected by the rerouted service, though municipal officials indicated that a specific alternative route has been defined to avoid severe congestion.
Visitors staying in central Tulum during Carnival should expect heavier foot traffic and temporary restrictions on vehicle circulation in the designated areas.
The municipal government said preparations are ongoing to finalize the event’s operational details.
Municipal focus on tradition and public access
Officials framed the expanded Carnival fair as part of an effort to strengthen local traditions and promote social cohesion.
The government stated that the goal of Carnival Tulum 2026 is to offer activities and entertainment for residents and visitors of all ages. By including free ride hours, the administration is introducing a structured access window that reduces cost barriers during peak family hours.
For Tulum, where large public events often intersect with tourism activity and urban mobility constraints, the operational coordination between entertainment, security, and traffic management is central to how the event unfolds.
The coming days will test how effectively the road closures, public transport adjustments, and pedestrian management plans function under increased attendance.
Carnival Tulum 2026 begins Thursday, Feb. 26, with free mechanical rides available daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday, March 1. After that period, the rides are expected to continue operating under standard conditions.
For residents and businesses in the downtown corridor, the main change is immediate: altered traffic routes, concentrated evening crowds, and a defined window of free access to 17 mechanical attractions during Carnival Tulum 2026.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation on The Tulum Times’ social media. How will the road closures and free ride hours affect your plans during Carnival week?