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Every year on 24 June, Cusco stages the Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun. In 2027 it falls on Thursday, 24 June 2027. The ceremony moves through three stages in one day: the Qorikancha temple, the Plaza de Armas and the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán above the city. This guide covers the dates, what happens at each stage, where you can watch for free, how paid seats work, and how to fit the festival into a trip to Machu Picchu.
Inti Raymi 2027 at a glance
- Date: Thursday, 24 June 2027. The date is fixed every year.
- Where: three stages in Cusco: Qorikancha, the Plaza de Armas (Huacaypata) and the Sacsayhuamán esplanade.
- Length: about six hours, from the morning at Qorikancha to the afternoon at Sacsayhuamán.
- Free viewing: the Plaza de Armas, the area around Qorikancha and designated hillside areas around Sacsayhuamán.
- Paid seats: numbered stands at Sacsayhuamán and a small stand at Qorikancha. In 2026 they cost from S/ 235 to S/ 1,030 and sold out before the event. 2027 prices are announced by the organizers.
- Organizer: Empresa Municipal de Festejos del Cusco (EMUFEC), the city’s municipal festivals company.
- Language: the main rites are performed in Quechua.
What is the Inti Raymi?
Inti Raymi means “Festival of the Sun” in Quechua. According to Peru’s state news agency Andina, Inca Pachacútec established it in the 15th century as a religious ceremony to honor Inti, the sun god. Chroniclers such as Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Guamán Poma de Ayala described a festival held at the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, around 21 June, that lasted 15 days, with dances and offerings to secure good harvests.
Banned, then revived in 1944
Spanish colonial authorities banned the festival as a pagan practice. In 1943 a group of intellectuals from the Instituto Americano de Arte, led by historian Humberto Vidal Unda, proposed bringing it back. On 8 January 1944 the authorities set 24 June as the Day of Cusco and approved the return of the Inti Raymi. The first modern staging took place at Sacsayhuamán on 24 June 1944, with President Manuel Prado Ugarteche in attendance. Quechua scholar Faustino Espinoza Navarro wrote the original script and played Pachacútec himself.
A national heritage ceremony
In 2001, Law No. 27431 declared the Inti Raymi Cultural Heritage of the Nation and the principal official ceremony of Peru’s national identity. Today hundreds of actors, dancers and musicians take part.
The three stages of the Inti Raymi
The ceremony lasts about six hours and moves across the city. The 2026 schedule, as reported from EMUFEC, had the Plaza de Armas act starting at 11:00 a.m. and the main performance at Sacsayhuamán from 1:00 p.m., after the morning ceremony at Qorikancha. Times shift slightly from year to year, so check the official 2027 program a few weeks before the date.
1. Qorikancha: greeting to the Sun
The day opens in the morning at Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun built under Pachacútec. The Santo Domingo convent was later built on its foundations. Here the Inca greets the Sun. There is a small paid stand (350 seats in 2026), and the public also gathers around the temple esplanade at no cost.
2. Plaza de Armas (Huacaypata): the meeting of times
The procession then moves to the Plaza de Armas, the Inca square called Huacaypata, which was the meeting point of the four regions (suyos) of the Inca state. The act here represents the meeting of two eras and includes a coca leaf ceremony, with the participation of local authorities. Access to the Plaza de Armas is free, so it is the most crowded stage.
3. Sacsayhuamán: the main ceremony
The central ceremony takes place in the afternoon on the esplanade of the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park, at 3,555 m above sea level. The rites are performed in Quechua and include the reports of the four suyos, the chicha (corn beer) rite, the sacred fire, the llama sacrifice rite, the reading of omens, the Sankhu or sacred bread, and the Q’ochurikuy, a closing burst of popular celebration with music and dance.
Where to watch the Inti Raymi for free
You do not need a ticket to see a large part of the festival:
- Plaza de Armas: free and open to everyone. People start taking spots early in the morning, so arrive well before the act begins.
- Around Qorikancha: the morning ceremony can be followed from the open area around the temple.
- Hillsides around Sacsayhuamán: in past editions, Peru’s Ministry of Culture office in Cusco (Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura) opened sectors such as Suchuna and Cruz del Papa for free viewing. You watch from a distance, so bring binoculars if you have them. Fenced-off archaeological areas are closed, and climbing walls, lighting fires and littering are prohibited.
Inti Raymi tickets: paid seats at Sacsayhuamán
The paid stands give you a numbered seat facing the main stage at Sacsayhuamán. They are limited and sell out every year. For 2026, EMUFEC reported 4,116 tickets sold, all of them before the festival. These were the 2026 prices, as reported in June 2026:
| Inti Raymi 2026 seating | Seats | Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sacsayhuamán: four categories (Inti Súper VIP, Chaska, Killa VIP, Illapa) | 3,766 | S/ 490 to S/ 850 |
| Qorikancha: single stand | 350 | S/ 235 |
| Combined package: Qorikancha + Sacsayhuamán | – | S/ 690 to S/ 1,030 |
2027 prices and sale dates are announced by EMUFEC. As a reference, sales for the 2024 edition opened in March, and in 2024 and 2025 EMUFEC sold tickets only through the Teleticket platform, with no physical sales points and no sales through agencies. Tickets were priced in Peruvian soles and did not include transport or other services.
Avoid fake and resold tickets
In 2025, Cusco prosecutors investigated fake ticket sales through unofficial websites, WhatsApp and social media, with some offers above USD 300. Resellers also asked up to S/ 900 for seats that cost S/ 455 officially. Buy only through the channel EMUFEC announces for 2027, and be wary of anyone offering seats after the official sale has closed.
Practical tips for the Inti Raymi
Arrive early
For free spots in the Plaza de Armas or on the hills around Sacsayhuamán, plan to be there hours before the act starts. If you have a paid seat, you still need time to get through the crowds and security around the park.
Respect the altitude
Sacsayhuamán sits at 3,555 m. Arrive in Cusco at least two days before 24 June, walk slowly on the first days, drink water and keep alcohol light. A full day standing in the sun at this altitude is tiring even for fit travelers.
Sun, cold and crowds
June is dry season in Cusco: strong sun during the day and cold mornings and evenings. Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, a warm layer and a light snack. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag, agree on a meeting point with your group, and expect slow traffic and full streets around the three stages.
Book hotels and transport early
The Inti Raymi brings visitors from all over Peru and the world, and the city fills up in the days around 24 June. Book your hotel, flights and trains to Machu Picchu as early as you can.
Combine Inti Raymi with Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail
June is high season for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. It is one of the driest months, so entrance tickets, trains and Inca Trail permits sell out early. The Km 104 route used by the Short Inca Trail has a quota of 250 people per day including staff, and permits are issued for one date and one passport: they cannot be changed, transferred or refunded. Read our Inca Trail permits guide before you fix your dates.
A simple plan for a festival trip:
- Arrive in Cusco 2 to 3 days before 24 June to acclimatize.
- Take the City Tour Cusco before the festival. The half day covers Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, so you will know the stages and their history before the big day.
- Watch the Inti Raymi on 24 June.
- Walk to Machu Picchu after the festival on the Short Inca Trail 2 days: about 11 km from Km 104 through Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, a night in Aguas Calientes and a guided visit of Machu Picchu on day 2. If you are short on time, the 1-day Inca Trail covers the same route in one day.
For more detail on the trail itself, see our Short Inca Trail guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Inti Raymi 2027?
On Thursday, 24 June 2027. The Inti Raymi in Cusco is held on 24 June every year, which is also the Day of Cusco.
Can I watch the Inti Raymi for free?
Yes. The ceremonies at the Plaza de Armas and around Qorikancha are free, and in past editions the Ministry of Culture opened hillside sectors around Sacsayhuamán, such as Suchuna and Cruz del Papa, for free viewing. Only the numbered stands are paid.
How much do Inti Raymi tickets cost?
In 2026, seats at Sacsayhuamán cost from S/ 490 to S/ 850, the Qorikancha stand cost S/ 235 and combined packages cost from S/ 690 to S/ 1,030. Prices for 2027 are announced by EMUFEC, the organizer.
Where can I buy official Inti Raymi tickets?
Only through the channel EMUFEC announces. In 2024 and 2025 that was the Teleticket platform, with no physical points of sale and no sales through agencies. Avoid resellers and unofficial websites, which have sold fake tickets in past years.
How long does the Inti Raymi last?
About six hours in total, from the morning ceremony at Qorikancha to the end of the main ceremony at Sacsayhuamán in the afternoon.
Is the Inti Raymi an original Inca ceremony?
It is a modern staging of the Inca Festival of the Sun, based on colonial chronicles. The Spanish banned the original festival, and it was revived on 24 June 1944 at Sacsayhuamán with a script by Quechua scholar Faustino Espinoza Navarro.
What language is the Inti Raymi performed in?
The main rites are performed in Quechua, the language of the Inca state.
Can I combine the Inti Raymi with Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail?
Yes, and many travelers do. June is high season, so book Inca Trail permits, Machu Picchu tickets and trains early. A good order is to acclimatize in Cusco, watch the festival on 24 June and then do the Short Inca Trail on the following days.
