On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the neighborhoods of Amón and Otoya will once again fill with art, history, and urban life for the twelfth edition of the Amón Cultural Festival, a 12‑hour day featuring more than 115 free activities for all audiences.
Amón Cultural 2026: date, location and theme
The Amón Cultural 2026 Festival will take place on March 14 in the historic heart of San José, specifically in the Amón and Otoya neighborhoods.
Under the theme “Heritage in today’s light,” the festival invites people to walk, look, and inhabit once again one of the most emblematic heritage areas of the capital, combining cultural, artistic, gastronomic, and educational activities.
The day will run for around 12 continuous hours, with programming from morning until night in multiple points across the neighborhood.
More than 115 activities in 38 spots around the neighborhood
The 2026 edition will offer more than 115 activities spread across about 38 venues, including parks, museums, heritage houses, cafés, galleries, and cultural spaces in Amón and Otoya.
The program will include concerts, performing arts, exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, fairs, and family‑friendly spaces, all free and open to the public.
The schedule also includes wellbeing activities, environmental content, and gastronomic proposals, turning the festival into a comprehensive experience to explore the city on foot.
Organization and institutional partners
The Amón Cultural 2026 Festival is organized by the Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) and Casa Cultural Amón, which have been working together for years to activate heritage and neighborhood life in this area of San José.
Partners such as the Municipality of San José, the Centro Cultural de España, Coopecaja, and various cultural collectives and local ventures also join the organization.
This network of institutions and residents helps consolidate a diverse, open, and accessible cultural offering, in line with the national policy on festivals promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
A festival dedicated to Costa Rican chef Santiago Fernández
The 2026 edition will be dedicated to Costa Rican chef and entrepreneur Santiago Fernández, a key figure in the gastronomic revitalization of Barrio Amón.
Fernández is co‑founder of projects such as Silvestre, Cantina Conejo Fishy, and Gilbertas Pizza, initiatives that have championed Costa Rican identity, local products, and a sustainable vision of cuisine.
This recognition highlights his contribution to strengthening the neighborhood’s cultural and business fabric, as well as the link between gastronomy, heritage, and the city that the festival aims to showcase.
Historical tours, art, and urban life
The program will include guided tours of Barrio Amón’s architectural heritage from around 9:30 a.m., designed to explore the urban history, heritage houses, and origins of this capital district.
Throughout the day, venues like Amón Solar and El Sótano will host concerts, artistic performances, and cultural gatherings, creating different circuits to enjoy on foot.
In parks and plazas, there will be games and activities for children, exercise and wellbeing sessions, environmental workshops, and educational spaces, strengthening the community dimension of the festival.
Photography contest and a new look at heritage
Within the framework of Amón Cultural 2026, the fourth photography contest will also take place, with categories for professional and amateur participants, as well as drone video.
The contest offers prizes of up to 400 dollars and aims to encourage more people to observe and document urban heritage from contemporary perspectives.
Entries may be submitted within the dates set by the festival organizers, according to the guidelines published on the event’s official channels.
Oficial sources
- The detailed program for Amón Cultural 2026 is available through the festival’s and organizers’ official channels.
- The Tecnológico de Costa Rica website features an official article about the 2026 edition and the dedication to Santiago Fernández.
- Amón Cultural’s official social media (for example, its Facebook page and Instagram account) share the full schedule and logistical updates.
