What’s on this February in the Riviera Maya and Yucatán

Lovebirds, we’ve got immoderate genuinely unsocial once-in-a-lifetime Valentine’s Day experiences this period successful the Riviera Maya, positive sparkles, sequins and dancing successful the thoroughfare for Carnival. So drawback your champion garb and feathered headdresses. Or bask a quieter originative pursuit similar a coating people with an Italian artist. 

And for the rockers, we’ve got a treat: A dense metallic fable is coming to Cancún. 

Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens comes to Cancún

Heavy metallic fans tin bask Tim “Ripper” Owens connected the Riviera Maya this month. (Facebook)

In February 2026, Tim “Ripper” Owens will instrumentality to Mexico for a bid of must-see unrecorded shows. 

Known arsenic 1 of the astir almighty voices successful dense metal, Owens volition present a show celebrating the cardinal moments of his career: his epoch with Judas Priest, his aggravated enactment with Iced Earth, his caller occurrence with KK’s Priest, and highlights from his solo releases.

This is simply a amusement wholly dedicated to him — his legacy, his dependable and his unstoppable energy. A genuinely peculiar nighttime for metallic fans successful Mexico.

Date: Feb. 5 astatine 1 p.m.

Location: McCarthy’s Cancún

Cost: Free

Movies nether the stars

Movies connected the large surface with an adjacent bigger backdrop. (Eventbrite)

I emotion a thrilling escapade with plentifulness of twists and turns successful the storyline to support maine guessing. So, what amended mode to ticker “Now You See Me” than with gourmet popcorn nether the stars? Enjoying a magician’s antics successful an open-air cinematic acquisition connected a rooftop, each the portion reclining connected a pillowy lounge, is conscionable the happening for a Saturday movie night. 

Date: Feb. 7 astatine 7 p.m.

Location: La Veleta, Tulum

Cost: 649 pesos, popcorn included

300 Championship League — Muay Thai

Muay Thai enactment comes to the Riviera Maya courtesy of the 300 Championship League. (Eventbrite)

Martial arts and combat fans, this 1 is for you. Get acceptable to witnesser electrifying Muay Thai battles astatine the 300 Championship League, wherever legends are calved and champions clash live!

Amateur and semiprofessional categories amusement passionateness and competitory tone successful showstopping athleticism. Whether you’re a seasoned jock oregon a existent enactment enthusiast, this lawsuit is designed to present aggravated bouts, maximum excitement and unforgettable moments.

Date: Feb. 7 astatine 5–11:30 p.m.

Location: Hunab Lifestyle Center, Tulum

Cost: 270 pesos

Carnaval Cozumel 2026

Who doesn’t emotion parties and costumes, particularly erstwhile free? (Facebook)

My favourite lawsuit of the year. Grab your dancing shoes, and get acceptable for the glitz and glamor of Cozumel’s yearly Carnival celebration: Sparkling dancers and devilishly bully costumes, immense feather headdresses and sequins successful the streets. 

Enjoy the weeklong festivities of parades and shows, each free, successful assorted locations astir Cozumel. It’s fantastic amusive for the full family. 

Dates: Feb. 11–15 

Location: Cozumel

Cost: free

Painting people with an Italian artist

Learning coating from an Italian creator is 1 of the champion events connected pat this period successful the Riviera Maya. (Eventbrite)

This 1 is close up my alley. An intimate creation people successful an Italian artist’s backstage workplace — yes, please! Plus, everything is included: the canvas, paints and materials. 

All the while, astonishing creator Corinna Carrara volition assistance your creativity travel to let you to make a unsocial and meaningful work. The cleanable keepsake to instrumentality location aft being guided step-by-step done the process. 

Date: Feb. 12 astatine 10 a.m.

Location: Casa Cora, Tulum

Cost: 550 pesos

Luxury cenote cinema experience

If you emotion movies nether the stars, hold until you ticker 1 successful a cenote. (Eventbrite)

I can’t deliberation of a much unsocial and romanticist mounting for a Valentine’s movie day than this! Champagne, artisan popcorn and a stunning cenote backstage mounting — ooh la la. Now, that’s a movie date! 

Sip champagne and recline successful comfy lounges to ticker your movie of prime portion enoying your ain artisanal pizza. Add backstage shuttle work and a cocktail, and it’s a genuinely peculiar Valentine’s movie date. 

Date: Feb. 14 astatine 3 p.m. 

Location: Amares Riviera Maya, 

Cost: 3,189 pesos per person

ZoukMX 2026

DJs and creation separate ZoukMX. (Eventbrite)

Celebrate their 11th twelvemonth successful Mexico. ZoukMX has created a unsocial experience, making an eventual formation abrogation mixed with a creation festival. Join immoderate of the world’s champion DJs arsenic they flight the wintertime successful Playa del Carmen and supply the soundtrack for a month-long zouk dance experience. 

Take classes, get a period of grooming oregon conscionable crook up for the Jungle Lagoon festival astatine the end. Any mode you take to bask it, it volition beryllium amazing.

Date: Feb. 17 astatine 10 a.m. Or, if you miss it: February 23 astatine 12 p.m.

Location: Playa del Carmen

Cost: 250 pesos for the Jungle Lagoon festival. See their website for the month-long training.

5th Mexican Caribbean Gastronomic Festival

The dishes of Quintana Roo are connected show astatine the 5th yearly Gastronomic Festival successful Cozumel.

Dive into the satellite of Mexican Caribbean cuisine! From jungle to reef, observe the authentic flavors and dishes of Quintana Roo. 

Every country of this Caribbean paradise is represented, featuring section products, handicrafts and an extended taste program. The  Fifth Mexican Caribbean Gastronomy Festival is 1 you’ll privation to cheque out.

Dates: Feb. 21-22 from 4–10 p.m.

Location: Downtown San Miguel de Cozumel (ferries from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel each fractional hour)

Cost: Free

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, lensman and videographer with 500+ articles published some successful people and crossed integer platforms. Living successful the Mexican Caribbean for implicit 7 years now, she’s successful emotion with Mexico and has nary plans to spell anyplace anytime soon.