The singer received an invitation to attend the festivities from February 6 to 9 and replied that she only needs one marimonda.
AI Brief
Your highlights
NewsThe singer received an invitation to attend the festivities from February 6 to 9 and responded that she only needs a marimonda. Shakira sparks expectations about her return to the Barranquilla Carnival 2027: this is what she said when invited in Madrid Photo: Mayor's OfficeJOURNALIST08.10.2026 16:44 Updated: 08.10.2026 16:44
"I only need a marimonda, one of them will be me!" With this response, amid laughter and the drums and dances of her homeland, Shakira left open the expectation about her possible presence at the Barranquilla Carnival 2027, after receiving an invitation to return to the city during the festivities to be held from February 6 to 9. READ ALSO The Barranquilla-born artist's remark came during a meeting with the 130 Carnival makers who have accompanied her during her musical residency in Madrid, Spain. There, among marimondas, cumbiamberas, and congos, the singer once again connected with the cultural expressions that marked her childhood and that today form part of her performances before European audiences. The invitation came directly from Diana Acosta, director of Carnaval de Barranquilla S.A.S., who took advantage of the meeting to propose her participation in the next edition of the festivities. "Shaki, on behalf of Mayor Alejandro Char, we await you in your homeland and at the 2027 Carnival, from February 6 to 9, so you can experience the magic of your Barranquilla," Acosta told her. The Barranquilla-born singer danced with the congos and cumbiamberas in Spain. Photo: Mayor's OfficeShakira did not confirm her attendance, but she did not close the door either. Her response, delivered jokingly and referencing one of the most representative costumes of the festivities, was received as a gesture of closeness to the Carnival she has so often promoted from international stages. The possibility of seeing her transformed into a marimonda, even if only for a few minutes, is especially striking for Barranquilleros, who have watched the singer incorporate elements of their culture into her shows. For now, however, there is no official announcement about her participation in the February program. READ ALSO The meeting took place just days before Shakira concludes her residency in Madrid, where she is scheduled to give her final concert on October 12. The series of performances has gathered thousands of followers and has also served as a stage to showcase the traditions of Barranquilla, thanks to the participation of a delegation of artists and Carnival bearers. Shakira, among marimondas, cumbias, and memories of BarranquillaFor about 30 minutes, the singer shared time with the members of the groups that have brought the music and dances of the Carnival to Macondo Park, the cultural space set up in Madrid around her concerts. There were the Marimondas del Barrio Abajo, the cumbiamba La Gigantona, the Cipote Garabato, the Corporación Artística Nativos, Son Calimba, and the Congo Grande dance, whose members took the opportunity to thank her for allowing them to showcase their talent on an international stage. Shakira shared time in Madrid with 130 makers of the Barranquilla Carnival Photo: Mayor's Office"Thank you for bringing all that Barranquilla joy here every night. A little piece of my homeland, of the culture I grew up with and of which I feel proud," said Shakira, visibly moved, according to the account released by the Barranquilla Mayor's Office. The artist did not limit herself to listening to the groups. She shared dance steps with the participants, wore a sombrero vueltiao, and received a traditional machete from the Congo Grande dance, crafted by Carnival artisans and decorated with symbols representative of the group. The piece bore a phrase that sums up much of the identity the singer has sought to project during her performances: "In Barranquilla, this is how we dance." The closeness with the Carnival makers was also reflected in the words of one of the members of La Gigantona, who thanked her for the opportunity to travel to Spain and represent the traditions of their city. "Thank you, Shaki, for bringing us, because we have been able to fulfill many dreams. We are happy to be here and to represent our beautiful Barranquilla," the cumbiambera told her. Char celebrated the meeting and issued an invitation to the worldThe mayor of Barranquilla, Alejandro Char, reacted to the meeting with a post on his X account, in which he highlighted the presence of the Carnival makers in Madrid and thanked Shakira for keeping the traditions of her birthplace alive. "@shakira showed Madrid that in Barranquilla this is how we dance, this is how we enjoy, and this is how we live the Carnival. What pride!" wrote the mayor. .@shakira le demostró a Madrid que en Barranquilla se baila así, se disfruta así y se vive el Carnaval así. ¡Qué orgullo!
Gracias a nuestra artista barranquillera por llevar un pedacito de la Puerta de Oro de Colombia a Macondo Park y compartir con el mundo la alegría, el talento y la riqueza de nuestras tradiciones.
Nos llena de felicidad ver cómo esta cultura cruza fronteras y enamora a tantas personas que hoy descubren más de lo que somos.
¡Barranquilla tiene una magia que el planeta entero merece venir a vivir! Los esperamos con los brazos abiertos para que sientan de cerca el sabor y la alegría de esta tierra. 🙌🏼— Alejandro Char (@AlejandroChar) October 8, 2026
Char also highlighted the reach of this cultural participation and its significance for the international promotion of Barranquilla. "Thank you to our Barranquilla-born artist for bringing a little piece of Colombia's Golden Gate to Macondo Park and sharing with the world the joy, talent, and richness of our traditions. It fills us with happiness to see how this culture crosses borders and captivates so many people who today discover more about who we are," he added. READ ALSO The mayor took the occasion to invite international visitors to get to know the city and experience its Carnival up close. "Barranquilla has a magic that the entire planet deserves to come and experience! We await you with open arms so you can feel up close the flavor and joy of this land," he said. Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.
EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPPJoin the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APPStay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL EDITIONReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.