Mariasela Álvarez Crowned Reina Momo of the Punta Cana Carnival 2026

The event celebrated its seventeenth edition, bringing together more than 15,000 people and reaffirming its position as a benchmark for art and culture in the country’s Eastern region.

Punta Cana, La Altagracia. – Boulevard 1ro. de Noviembre once again became the epicenter of art, tradition, and Dominican identity with the celebration of the Punta Cana Carnival 2026. This initiative by Grupo Puntacana, through Fundación Puntacana, has promoted the preservation and projection of national folkloric expressions in the Eastern region since 2008.

The event began with one of the most emblematic moments of the parade: the crowning of the Reina Momo 2026, an honor that this year was awarded to renowned communicator Mariasela Álvarez, becoming the second woman in the event’s history to receive this distinction.

Álvarez, the first Dominican to win the Miss World 1982 title, has built a solid career spanning more than four decades in communications, characterized by her leadership, critical thinking, and commitment to social causes. Her program “Esta Noche Mariasela” has established itself as one of the most credible programs on Dominican television, earning multiple Premios Soberano awards.

The crowning was carried out by Paola Rainieri, Chief Marketing Officer of Grupo Puntacana, marking the official start of the parade. Afterwards, the Reina Momo toured the boulevard in a vintage vehicle accompanied by Grupo Puntacana founder Frank Rainieri, amid the enthusiasm of the crowd.

More than 60 carnival troupes and around 1,500 carnival participants took part in this edition, representing various provinces of the country such as La Vega, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Bonao, San Cristóbal, San Juan, Barahona, and the National District, among others, as well as international delegations invited from Miami, Haiti, Peru, the Bahamas, and Aruba. The parade offered a spectacle of creativity, tradition, and cultural diversity that integrated traditional characters, fantasy, and contemporary expressions.

Attendees enjoyed the event from 17 stages and 20 free bleachers in a family-friendly, organized, and safe environment, complemented by a wide gastronomic offering and spaces designed for the enjoyment of both adults and children.

The Musas de Punta Cana Pay Tribute to the Mangrove

As every year, Las Musas de Punta Cana marked one of the most anticipated moments of the parade. In this edition, they presented “Las Musas del Manglar,” an artistic proposal that highlighted the biodiversity and ecological value of this key ecosystem for coastal protection. Through costumes crafted by the members themselves in shades of green and blue, the troupe integrated art, community, and environmental awareness in a performance that reaffirms the carnival’s distinctive seal.

Faithful to its vision of sustainability, the event implemented recycling stations and promoted the use of reusable cups and biodegradable materials, strengthening its commitment to reducing environmental impact.

With this seventeenth edition, the Punta Cana Carnival continues to consolidate itself as a cultural platform that connects community, tradition, and tourism, showcasing the best of Dominican identity to thousands of national and international visitors.

The Punta Cana Carnival 2026 was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Brugal, Claro, BHD, Universal, Texaco, CEPM, Grupo Rica, Banco Popular, Cervecería Canita, Puntacana Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana, Diario Libre, United Capital, Altavista Village, Banco López de Haro, Aperol, Disaronno, Maestro Dobel, Santo Domingo Motors, Panaca, Alpha Inversiones, Arajet, ACE, Asociación Mocana de Ahorros y Préstamos, Pirullin, Tupaq, Travesía, IMCA, Baskin Robbins, Suerox, Producciones Novigo, Hola Puntacana, Hartemania, Café Santo Domingo, Bluemall Puntacana, Coolekos, Medios EB, All Productions, Kola Real, and Agua Cool Heaven.

About Grupo Puntacana

Grupo Puntacana is a pioneer in sustainable tourism, with a workforce umbrella of 18,000 direct and indirect collaborators. Fifty-five years ago, it had the vision and dream of developing a destination with the mission of creating a tourism community that respects nature and promotes social responsibility.

About the Punta Cana Carnival

The Punta Cana Carnival is the most anticipated gathering of art and culture in the Eastern region. The cultural celebration was born in 2008 as an initiative of Grupo Puntacana, with the purpose of promoting the folkloric traditions of the Dominican Republic and guest countries to thousands of local and foreign visitors.

Among the emblematic troupes of the Punta Cana Carnival are “Las Musas de Punta Cana,” made up of a group of women from the community who each year jointly design their carnival costumes, choosing a theme representative of Dominican culture.

Las Musas de Punta Cana are accompanied by the troupe from Puntacana International School (PCIS) and Caracolí Global School (CGS), in which students and school staff parade in creative carnival costumes symbolizing themes related to the environment and the country’s culture. The troupe of Los Tres Caras, the protectors of Las Musas, also participates.

For more information: @carnavaldepuntacana puntacana.com/CarnavalPuntaCana