Quito Light Festival Postponed Due to Force Majeure

The highly anticipated 'Quito Luz de América' festival, a prominent light and mapping event, has been postponed from its original August 7-9, 2026 dates. Quito Turismo, the municipal company responsible for the event, announced the decision on Friday, citing circumstances of force majeure without specifying the exact reasons.

The postponement means the festival will not be part of the main activities planned for Quito's August 10th holiday weekend. Quito Turismo stated that a new date will be communicated to the public through official channels once the festival's schedule has been restructured. The event features audiovisual projections on emblematic buildings in Quito's historic center, including the San Francisco Church, National Sucre Theater, and the Basilica del Voto Nacional.

Since its inception in 2024, 'Quito Luz de América' has aimed to stimulate sectors related to tourism and the city's economy, such as hospitality, gastronomy, commerce, and transportation. The 2025 edition drew approximately 365,000 visitors over three days, a 37% increase from the previous year, and generated an estimated $2.8 million in associated spending. For 2026, organizers had anticipated attracting around 500,000 visitors.

Despite the festival's postponement, Quito Turismo assured that the city will still offer a diverse agenda of activities during the August 10th holiday. These will include the HuecaFest 2026 and other cultural, gastronomic, and entertainment events across Quito. Preparations for the festival had included special offers from hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, as well as extended hours for some tourist attractions, all intended to complement the videomapping spectacles.