The Paraguayan capital will have an intense weekend, with a music marathon at the Alianza Francesa and a major citizen gathering in the historic center to cheer on the Albirroja at the 2026 World Cup.
On Thursday the 25th, Palma Street will once again become a massive meeting point for fans looking to watch Paraguay's decisive match against Australia, scheduled for 11 p.m. local time. The "Centro Alienta" initiative kicks off at 5 p.m. with free entry, featuring six large screens spread across the entire circuit, a food court, food trucks, and live music during the pre-game festivities.
Palma Street and its surrounding area will be closed to vehicles, turning the microcenter into a pedestrian-only zone. The main blockade covers Caballero, Oliva, 15 de Agosto, and Presidente Franco streets, coordinated between the National Police and the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT), which will deploy 120 officers across three shifts to guide drivers and ensure alternative routes.
The director of Prevention and Security for the Asunción National Police, Commissioner Juan Ramón Agüero Ríos, reported that the operation includes permanent patrols, fixed surveillance posts, agents from the Lince Group, volunteer firefighters, and emergency teams. Coverage will remain in place until the public has fully dispersed, according to the National Police.
On Saturday the 27th, the cultural agenda centers on the Alianza Francesa de Asunción (Mcal. Estigarribia 1039, between EE.UU. and Brasil), where the Fiesta de la Música 2026 takes place. The festival will bring together more than 20 artists across three simultaneous stages — Pátio Colonial, Pátio Pirâmide, and La Terrasse — with continuous programming from 2:30 p.m. to midnight.
The lineup includes names such as the Choir of the Catholic University of Asunción, Purahéi Soul, Bianca Orqueda, Supernova, Giovanna Chantal, the National Police Jazz Band, the ISNAMU Harp Trio, Esteban Ibarra, Julio Cristaldo, Orbitaless, Sasanuma Trío, Enrique Abadíe Trío, Nott Demian, Kieng Creemkeson, First Take, and Hazel RBBTS. On La Terrasse, a non-stop DJ set will feature Ariel Gómez, Mark Sharp, Antúnez, Facu Avenalli, Kwak, and Otot.
The program spans Paraguayan folk music, choral music, darkwave, indie pop, jazz fusion, progressive rock, and electronic music. In addition to the performances, the illustrators' collective Robusta will hold a fair featuring prints, collages, and illustrations, and La Última Disco will present vinyl records and other music-related items.
The Fiesta de la Música was created in France in 1982 by then-Minister of Culture Jack Lang and has become an international celebration with free access to music. In Asunción, it is organized by the Alianza Francesa and the French Embassy in Paraguay, with sponsorship from Sudameris and support from the Instituto Técnico Superior da Imagem (ITSI).
Also on Saturday, the Feria Palmear will hold a special San Juan edition on Palma Street and the plazas around the Cabildo, featuring traditional foods, classic games, music festivals, crafts, and cultural activities tied to the popular celebration. The Archivo Nacional de Asunción keeps open the exhibition "4 tiempos de la República. Las constituciones del Paraguay," which brings together original documents, photographs, official seals, and large-format reproductions of the constitutions of 1870, 1940, 1967, and 1992.
On Friday the 26th at 7 p.m., the "El Puerto Suena" cycle presents the Orquesta Nacional de Música Popular Paraguaya, under the direction of maestro Luis Álvarez, at the Auditório do Centro Cultural do Porto de Asunción, with free admission. In the same venue, the group exhibition "Fragmentos para imaginar lo posible. Curaduría en construcción" remains on display, the result of the curatorial program "Territorios en disputa," curated by Ticio Escobar and five young curators, open Wednesday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, the Biblioteca Nacional del Paraguay hosts another edition of "Asu Lee" from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring silent reading and literary experience sharing. Participation is free but requires prior reservation. The Museo Casa de la Independencia will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for guided tours, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes continues its exhibition "ELBA" by Paraguayan photographer Raúl Villalba.