The International Peruvian Parade of New York (International Peruvian Festival) marches down 37th Avenue every summer as the centerpiece of Jackson Heights’ Peruvian Independence celebration. If you want to feel Peru’s culture without leaving New York City, this is where to go.
The 2026 theme is “Peruvian Heart, Hispanic Soul: Millennia of Culture, One Single Community.”
International Peruvian Parade 2026 Queen Coronation
Miss Perú New York 2026: Adela Nicole Salas attends
J Nazca Palace
Corona, Queens
Thu, July 9, 2026 | 6pm
International Peruvian Parade 2026 Floral Altar
Calle Perú (85th St at Northern Blvd
Jackson Heights, Queens
Sat, July 11, 2026 | 6pm or around dusk
FREE
International Peruvian Parade 2026
37th Avenue from 69th to 87th St
Jackson Heights, Queens
Sun, July 12, 2026 | 12noon
FREE
Jackson Heights is one of the most walkable, transit-friendly neighborhoods in Queens, and the parade route is easy to follow from one end to the other.
What Is the International Peruvian Parade?
The International Peruvian Parade is the signature event of the broader International Peruvian Festival, Jackson Heights’ Peruvian Independence celebration timed near Peru’s national holiday on July 28. Alongside the parade, the festival includes a Queen Coronation and a Floral Altar, drawing marchers and spectators from across Queens and beyond.
Its mission is simple: introduce New Yorkers of every background to Peruvian folklore, music, and history, while giving the local Peruvian community a stage to celebrate where they come from.
International Peruvian Festival Highlights
The International Peruvian Parade
Dance troupes, community organizations, and local dignitaries march together along 37th Avenue, filling the avenue with color. Past editions of the parade have brought out thousands of spectators, many of them Peruvian New Yorkers reconnecting with home, alongside neighbors from Colombia, Ecuador, and beyond who join in the celebration.
The Queen Coronation
Ahead of the parade, the festival holds a Queen Coronation, a press conference, coronation, and reception that kicks off the celebration with formality and pride. It’s typically held at a local Peruvian restaurant in the neighborhood.
Beauty contests are popular in Latin America, but this isn’t just about beauty. It’s also about understanding Peruvian culture and being able to represent the community.
Adela Nicole Salas is Miss Perú New York 2026. She is also a candidate for Miss Perú Universo.
The Floral Altar
The Floral Altar on Calle Perú adds a quieter, more reflective note to the festival, honoring Peruvian tradition through flowers and community gathering.
Peruvian Culture on Full Display
The International Peruvian Parade is a crash course in Peruvian folklore. Expect to hear the deep, resonant beat of the cajón and the haunting, high notes of the quena, two instruments central to Andean and coastal Peruvian music. Traditional dance groups perform in elaborate costumes representing different regions of Peru, from the Andes to the coast to the Amazon.
New York City is home to one of the largest Peruvian communities in the United States, and the parade is where that community shows up in full force, alongside neighbors from across the Latin world who come out to celebrate together.
Peru has so many folkloric traditions. It’s really wonderful to see.
Why Jackson Heights Is the Right Home for This Parade
Jackson Heights is widely considered one of New York City’s most diverse neighborhoods, home to parades and festivals celebrating communities from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic, among many others. The International Peruvian Parade fits naturally into this calendar, one more thread in a neighborhood built on cultural celebration.
Many cultures are represented in Jackson Heights. If you are new in New York City, a visit may be as close to home as you can get.