Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.
New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.
SanSe 2026 ran Thursday, January 15 through Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Old San Juan. Juanes closed Saturday night at the Quinto Centenario. Jowell & Randy played until 1:00 AM on the Sunday. Pedro Capó, Ednita Nazario, Víctor Manuelle, Tito Nieves, and Andy Montañez filled the four days in between.
The 2026 festival at a glance
- What: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián 2026
- When: January 15 to 18, 2026
- Where: Old San Juan
- Stages: Plaza del Quinto Centenario, Plaza de la Barandilla, Plaza Colón, Teatro Tapia
- Admission: Free
Thursday, January 15
Plaza del Quinto Centenario
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · La Tribu de Abrante
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Tito Nieves
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Artista sorpresa
Plaza de la Barandilla
- 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM · Trío Los Andinos
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · Tuna de Cayey
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Michelle Brava
Plaza Colón
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM · Trío Homenaje
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Los Pleneros de Severo
- 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM · DJ Luian
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Algarete
Friday, January 16
Plaza del Quinto Centenario
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Plena Libre
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Miriam Cruz y su Orquesta
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Pedro Capó
Plaza de la Barandilla
- 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM · Carlos García
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · A Son de Guerra
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Zayra Pola
Plaza Colón
- 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM · Elena
- 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM · Laberinto de Coco
- 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM · Chris Lebrón
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · La Secta
Saturday, January 17
Plaza del Quinto Centenario
- 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM · Victoria Sanabria
- 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM · Hermes Croatto
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Grupo Manía
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Víctor Manuelle
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Juanes
Plaza de la Barandilla
- 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM · Decimanía
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Choco Orta
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Puerto Rican Power
- 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM · Humberto Ramírez
Plaza Colón
- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM · Música Sacra
- 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM · Roberto Ortiz y su Fashion Band
- 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM · Glenn Monroig
- 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM · El Junte Loiceño
- 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM · Rafa Romero “El Gallo de la Raza”
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Juan Vélez
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Circo
Teatro Tapia
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM · Teatro en 15
- 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM · Baile de Época
Sunday, January 18
Plaza del Quinto Centenario
- 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM · Algareplena
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM · Andy Montañez
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Plenéalo
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Ednita Nazario
- 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM · Tommy Torres
- 11:45 PM to 1:00 AM · Jowell & Randy
Plaza de la Barandilla
- 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM · San Sebastián al Ritmo de la Bomba
- 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM · Luis González “El Tsunami de la Salsa”
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · Objetivo Fama… El Tour
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Joseph Fonseca
Plaza Colón
- 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM · Tercer Concurso de Trovadores de las Fiestas
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM · Orquesta Costa Brava
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Arnaldo “El Más Querido”
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Los Chinchillos del Caribe
- 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM · Los Rabanes
Teatro Tapia
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM · Teatro en 15
- 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM · Baile de Época
Find each stage
Old San Juan is compact, and that is the whole trick to SanSe: you can hop between all four stages on foot in minutes. Here is where each one sits.
Old San Juan. Every stage below sits within a short walk of the next.
Plaza del Quinto Centenario, the main stage, near El Morro. Where the cabezudos land and the headliners close.
Plaza de la Barandilla, the smaller, more intimate stage.
Plaza Colón, the eastern gateway into Old San Juan and the easiest stage to reach on arrival.
Teatro Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, beside Plaza Colón, home to Teatro en 15 and the Baile de Época.
What stood out in 2026
Sunday ran past midnight. Jowell & Randy went on at 11:45 PM at the Quinto Centenario and played into 1:00 AM Monday. On a Sunday. SanSe does not observe the working week.
The trovador contest reached its third year, and it grew. Sunday’s Tercer Concurso de Trovadores de las Fiestas ran from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Plaza Colón, seven hours of improvised sung poetry. In 2025 it was the second edition. It is becoming a fixture.
The range, again. Juanes and Víctor Manuelle back to back Saturday night. Música Sacra at 12:30 PM on the same stage that hosted Circo at 10:00 PM. Ednita, Tommy Torres, and a reggaetón duo closing the festival.
Plaza Colón carried the longest days. Saturday ran 12:30 PM to 11:00 PM, Sunday from 9:00 AM. If you want the most festival per hour, that is the plaza.
Our video from SanSe
Familiar scenes from the annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, shot in Old San Juan.
Planning a visit
SanSe returns every January on the third weekend. The 2027 edition runs January 21 to 24; see our 2027 post for what to expect. For the full history, the traditions, the plaza breakdown, and current transit details, see our complete guide to SanSe. See also our recaps of 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2024, and 2025.
Coming to San Juan? Pair it with our Puerto Rico travel guide and our guide to Puerto Rican street food.
Follow along
- Facebook: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
Were you at SanSe 2026? Tell us in the comments whether you lasted until Jowell & Randy. We read every one.
This post covers the 2026 edition. Details reflect the music schedule as published by the organizers. For the full story of the festival, see our complete guide to SanSe.
