Puerto Vallarta’s spring calendar is shifting into high gear, and the busiest stretch lands fast. Early March brings wine pairings by the water, followed by a wave of music, regional spirits, and community races. By late March, the focus turns to cycling, a half-marathon tied to World Water Day activities, and a national travel-and-gastronomy awards night. April then stacks headline concerts with two signature running weekends, while medical congresses fill the convention center toward the month’s end. If you live here or have visitors arriving, the dates matter more than you think.
For many residents, March and April are the months when Puerto Vallarta feels like two cities at once. Tourism stays strong, but the schedule turns more local and event-driven. This year, the calendar blends food and drink festivals, live music, sports weekends, and several industry gatherings. Some events are built for visitors, while others are designed for people who already call the bay home. The mix matters if you’re hosting friends, planning short trips, or avoiding peak traffic near the waterfront. Several venues recur throughout the season, including Puerto Mágico, the Centro Internacional de Convenciones, and the beach area around Playa Los Muertos. Most organizers publish schedules in advance, but start times and access rules can change close to show day. Buying tickets early helps for concerts and festivals with capped entry. For free public programs, arriving early usually matters more than paying anything. Either way, the next eight weeks are set to keep weekends booked.
March opens with festivals and live music
The run begins March 5–7 with Vinoma Fest 2026. It is billed as a wine-and-pairing weekend at Muelle 2 of the maritime terminal. From March 10–12, the tourism trade shifts to the convention center for Gala Puerto Vallarta–Riviera Nayarit. The event is built around meetings between buyers, hotels, and service providers. On March 12–15, FairyLand returns to Mantamar Beach Club. Organizers describe four days of house music and daytime poolside parties. The same week, jazz moves to the shoreline with Festival de Jazz de Primavera. It is scheduled for March 12–22 at Playa Los Muertos, with free outdoor shows. Regional spirits also get their moment with Festival de Raicilla Damajuana on March 13–15. The venue is Isla Cuale at the Instituto Vallartense de Cultura, and entry is free. For a lighter weekend, PVR Festival de Micheladas runs March 14–15 at Puerto Mágico. Mid-month closes with Exphotel Vallarta on March 18–20 at the convention center, focused on the hotel and restaurant sector.
Late March turns to bikes, running, and awards
After the mid-March festival stretch, the calendar tilts toward endurance and local crowds. On March 21, Ruta Turística Puerto Vallarta 2026 sets three ride distances with a start at Puerto Mágico. Organizers place the start time at 7:00 a.m. and schedule kit pickup the day before. The following morning, March 22, the city hosts the Medio Maratón SEAPAL Vallarta and a 5K race. Both start and finish at the Unidad Deportiva Agustín Flores Contreras, the municipal stadium complex. The route uses the central lanes of Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, so drivers should expect early closures. SEAPAL frames the run as the closing sports event for World Water Day activities in 2026. A few days later, on March 26, Puerto Vallarta is scheduled to host the Food and Travel Reader Awards ceremony. The awards are chosen by readers and focus on hospitality, restaurants, and travel experiences. For residents, it is a signal that late March will stay busy beyond the beach.
April stacks races, concerts, and medical congresses
April starts with a stadium-style date on April 9, when Christian Nodal is set for a VidantaWorld show in Vallarta–Nuevo Nayarit. The month’s biggest sports block lands mid-April with Puerto Vallarta by UTMB on April 16–18. Organizers describe a trail program that ranges from 5K to 100K, crossing Sierra terrain to the coast. On April 19, Maratón Puerto Vallarta follows with a renewed course that starts and finishes at Los Arcos del Malecón. The event includes 42K, 21K, 10K, and 5K distances, plus a public expo. Late April also brings professional travel tied to health care. The CONAPEME national pediatrics congress is scheduled for April 22–25 at the convention center. From April 27 to May 2, the SMNP Pediatric Neurology Congress is scheduled in Puerto Vallarta. From April 28 to May 3, the SMORLCCC otolaryngology congress will be held at the convention center. Between those meetings, Kany García is scheduled for April 26 at the convention center, and Marco Antonio Solís for April 30 at VidantaWorld.
