Minute30.com .- The 68th Cali Fair closed its doors with a balance that exceeds all expectations. Consolidated as the main engine of the economic reactivation of southwestern Colombia, this edition injected an estimated 45 million dollars into the local economy, benefiting key sectors such as gastronomy, transportation and commerce.
Under the recovery strategy led by Mayor Alejandro Eder, the fair was not only a party, but a resounding success in numbers: the city reached a hotel occupancy of 83%, the highest figure recorded in the last 10 years.
Tourism growth and international projection
Cali received around 110,000 visitors, which represents a growth of 6.9% compared to the 2024 edition. The breakdown of the tourist flow shows confidence in the “Sky Branch”:
International: 11,781 visitors.
National: 40,719 visitors.
Regional (Valle del Cauca): 57,085 people.
“This fair shows that the entire city wins: artists, entrepreneurs and citizens. It reaffirms us as the World Capital of Salsa,” highlighted Mabel Lara, Secretary of Economic Development.
“The ‘Cali Fair’ is a collective achievement. This positive balance shows that the entire city wins: the entrepreneurs, merchants, artists and citizens in general”: Mabel Lara, Secretary of District Economic Development. Photo: Cali Mayor’s Office
Decentralization: The fair reached the neighborhoods
One of the great milestones of this edition was the arrival of the festival to historically relegated territories. The Aguablanca District, the Barrio Obrero and the rural area experienced a direct economic reactivation. Spaces such as ‘Agua’e lulo’ in El Obrero brought together more than 10,000 people, integrating shoe, makeup, gastronomy and clothing ventures, essential in the salsa production chain.
Cali towards UNESCO and the 2026 World Summit
In terms of internationalization, the administration sealed a strategic agreement with Puerto Rico. This alliance seeks to strengthen salsa’s application to UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In addition, it was announced that Cali will host the Great World Salsa Summit 2026, positioning the city as a leader of the American Salsa Route.
Security and Public Order
Despite the magnitude of the events, the security balance was described as positive by Secretary Jairo García. The coordination between the Metropolitan Police and the Unified Command Posts (PMU) allowed Cali residents and tourists to enjoy themselves with peace of mind. “Cali demonstrated that it has the capacity to receive large-scale events with security guarantees,” García concluded.
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Emblematic events with massive participation
According to figures from the Cali Events, Fairs and Shows Corporation (Corfecali), participation in official events exceeded 450,000 attendees, with capacity levels above 95% in most of the free activities.
The tourism balance confirms that this was the most visited ‘Cali Fair’ in recent years, with a growth of 6.9% compared to 2024. Photo: Mayor’s Office of Cali
Salsódromo: the inaugural parade brought together 35,000 attendees, who enjoyed the performance of 2,200 artists from 76 schools; 40% more than in the previous edition, raising the artistic and logistical quality of the show.
Fiestas de mi Pueblo: family parade that exalted the culture of the 42 municipalities of Valle del Cauca, with 15,000 attendees.
Parade of Classic and Antique Cars: 200 vehicles from the decades of the 30s to the 90s traveled 5.7 kilometers before 18,000 spectators.
Carnival of Cali Viejo: more than 25,000 people enjoyed this tribute to the identity, memory and traditions of Cali.
Meeting of Music Lovers and Collectors: for five days, 42,000 attendees participated in this free space for musical memory.
‘Agua’e lulo’ in El Obrero: brought together more than 10,000 people in two days, integrating music, entrepreneurship, memory and recreation for everyone.
Fair Booths: at the Acuaparque de la Caña, the María Isabel Urrutia Coliseum and the Bulevar de Oriente, these free spaces offered family, recreational and cultural programming, with local orchestras, salsa, alternative genres and gastronomy, reaching an attendance of more than 38,000 people.
Calle de la Feria: two historic nights with concerts by Willy García, Elvis Magno, La Suprema Corte, Grupo Niche, Orquesta Canela and Guayacán, which brought together 49,000 attendees, reaffirming this sector as the salsa core of the city.
“Only on the closing day of the ‘Calle de la Feria’, nearly 29,000 people circulated throughout the day. Artists and attendees agreed that it was one of the most successful editions in recent years. For musicians, performing there, in the heart of the Obrero neighborhood and the salsa ecosystem, is a source of pride,” highlighted Fabio Botero, manager of Corfecali.
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