Museo del Carnaval

Learn about the history of the carnival in Uruguay via colorful displays of costumes, masks and photography and then watch live dance performances.

The Museo del Carnaval (Carnival Museum) presents a glimpse into the history of Uruguay’s flamboyant carnival celebrations. It is a commemoration of one of the nation’s most-loved traditions. See displays of costumes, musical instruments and antique photographs. Learn about the different cultures that influence Uruguay’s 40-day carnival. Afterwards, watch dancing and drumming demonstrations.

A good place to start your visit is in the History of Carnival in Uruguay room. Find a chronological timeline of carnival history from the 18th century to the present day. Learn about the influence of African traditions in Uruguayan culture. Check out the displays of old costumes and masks. See homages to famous carnival directors, including Tito Pastrana and Antonio Casaravilla.

Go to the Candombe exhibition to discover the birth of candombe, a dance and musical style created by African slaves in Uruguay. In the Los Viejos Tablados exhibition you can see the recreation of decorative stages from carnivals held during the 1930s.

Ask at the museum’s entrance for details of temporary exhibitions. They cover everything from famous dancers and the evolution of costumes to the story of the murga, a form of Uruguayan musical theater. A previous example is Divas, which celebrated three of the most revered carnival queens.

Be sure to visit the museum’s Plaza del Carnival, an open-air space that hosts regular music and dance performances. Round out your visit in the museum’s shop, where you can purchase carnival souvenirs and Uruguayan handicrafts.

Find the Museo del Carnaval situated in the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town). It is about a 30-minute walk from downtown Montevideo. Public buses provide easy access to the museum. A hop-on hop-off tourist bus also stops nearby. While here, be sure to wander around the picturesque cobblestone streets of the Ciudad Vieja.

The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday during April to December and every day for the rest of the year. Paid guided tours are available in English. Purchase the combined admission ticket, which grants entry to three other city museums. Find full details of opening hours, tours and events on the museum’s official website.