Events

The Bienal Internacional de Artesanía Contemporánea (ARDIS 2026) wrapped April 13 at the Jardines del CIDAP. The top honor — the Medalla CIDAP — went to the Amazonian collective Ömere for a chambira fiber work called "Terekenkare. La voz interior." Cuenca's own Tomás Carpio made the honor mentions.

Lady Ximena Uzhca Zambrano of the San Andrés de Taday parish was crowned Azogueñita 2026 on Saturday, April 11 at the Coliseo Tipo Mil in Azogues, during festivities marking the canton's 201 years of cantonization. Worth a day trip this week.

Rare night for Cuenca's rock scene. Ruta del Rock celebrates its three-year anniversary tonight with 'El Ritual' at Hacienda San Diego — Santamuerte headlines with their new album, plus As de Picas, Black Purple, and Boca de Serpiente from Colombia. 8 PM, $20.

The biggest stretch of Foundation Week starts tomorrow. A massive rural fair with 70 artisan stands, Andrés Cepeda live Saturday night, a children's parade through El Centro, the official Foundation Day ceremony Sunday, and a holiday on Monday. Here's your weekend plan.

An earlier version of this post described a larger "International Book Fair" with 60 writers. That was based on outdated info from a 2024 edition. The event actually running this weekend is the sixth edition of «Segundas Lecturas», a local book fair at the Biblioteca Municipal Daniel Córdova Toral in El Centro, April 10-12. Thanks to reader Patty Mlady for surfacing the correct details.

The Ministry of Labor has ordered a special work schedule in Cuenca for today's Copa Sudamericana match against Santos FC. Over 200 fans gathered for a send-off and the city is draped in red. If you weren't already planning around this game, your boss just made the decision for you.

Ecuador's largest sacred music festival is happening right now in Cuenca. Over 200 artists — choral groups, soloists, and dancers — are performing free shows tonight and tomorrow night at 8 PM in the Casa de la Cultura theater. This is Foundation Week at its most beautiful.

The International Artisan Biennial has activated across four cities in Ecuador this week, with Cuenca as a key venue. Timed perfectly with Foundation Week, it's a chance to see world-class craftsmanship alongside Cuenca's already legendary artisan tradition.

The Brazilian delegation touched down at Mariscal Lamar airport Sunday evening and fans were already there for autographs. Tomorrow at 5 PM, Deportivo Cuenca hosts Santos in the Copa Sudamericana group stage opener. Here's everything you need to know — stadium access, broadcasting, and what to expect in the city.