Several major public institutions will not bring their traditional illuminated floats to San José’s Festival de la Luz this year, forcing organizers to rethink one of Costa Rica’s best-known Christmas celebrations. The Festival de la Luz 2026 remains scheduled for Saturday, December 12. However, the Municipality of San José has not released the final parade format or a complete list of participating floats.
Five public institutions have been identified as not participating: Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Nacional, Banco Popular, Grupo INS and Kölbi. The Junta de Protección Social has not confirmed whether it will take part. The Municipality said some public institutions had initially agreed to participate about two months ago but later backed out. According to Mayor Diego Miranda, some of those decisions were communicated informally.
The institutions that have spoken publicly have offered practical rather than political explanations. Banco Popular said it decided not to participate after reviewing its marketing plans and deciding where its money and activities could reach the most people. The bank is considering free family events in San José and other parts of Costa Rica during the holiday season.
Banco Nacional gave a similar explanation. It said it wants to spread its year-end activities across more communities, with a greater focus on local businesses and community events. The bank specifically denied that politics played any role in its decision. Grupo INS said its plans are based on budget limits and institutional priorities. The insurer entered a float in 2024 as part of its 100th anniversary celebration but it did not have its own float in 2025 however it participated in other Festival de la Luz activities.
For 2026, Grupo INS plans to illuminate Parque España, across from its offices in downtown San José. The institution also denied that its decision was political. Banco de Costa Rica offered a somewhat different account. The bank said the Municipality informed it that changes were being planned for the traditional float parade. Because of those changes, BCR said it would not take part this year and would instead consider other holiday activities.
Despite those explanations, Miranda has suggested that political disagreements between his administration and the national government may have influenced the withdrawals. The mayor said the timing comes after public disputes involving the treatment of homeless people in San José and other disagreements between the central government and the Municipality.
However, Miranda acknowledged that none of the institutions directly told him politics was the reason. He has not presented public evidence connecting their decisions to pressure from the government. The withdrawal of the public institutions does not necessarily mean the parade will have no floats at all. The Municipality is talking with private companies interested in participating, although it has not published a confirmed list.
City officials are also working on a new attraction featuring giant balloons similar to those used in New York City’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The number of balloons, their designs and how they would be used have not yet been announced. The Municipality has promised a renewed version of the festival, but the final mix of private floats, marching bands, balloons and other displays remains unclear.
