20 July marches in Bogotá: these will be the seven points of concentration

On July 20, 2026, Colombia will commemorate the 216th anniversary of its Independence Day with military parades and public demonstrations across several major cities. The traditional parade in Bogotá has been moved this year to the southern districts of Bosa and Ciudad Bolívar, according to President Gustavo Petro. He announced that the event would take place in these areas to symbolize unity between the population and the armed forces under the theme "Ad Astra," which translates to "to the stars." The parade will feature the national flag as a central emblem of freedom and human knowledge. In Bogotá, the military procession will traverse Avenida Villavicencio, passing through neighborhoods such as El Perdomo, Madelena, El Ensueño, and Candelaria La Nueva. Authorities have specified that the route will extend from the intersection of Transversal 71C, near the Gran Plaza El Ensueño shopping center, to Carrera 23C, near the fire station in Ciudad Bolívar. Road closures along Avenida Villavicencio are expected from the South Highway down to Carrera 22B, near the local government office in Ciudad Bolívar. While the exact start time has yet to be officially confirmed, past events typically begin around 11:00 AM. In Medellín, the celebrations will commence earlier, starting at 7:00 AM. The parade will cover approximately 4.1 kilometers, beginning at the Juan Pablo II Airport and ending at the Parque de los Pies Descalzos. Traffic restrictions will apply on Carrera 70, Avenida Bolivariana, Avenida San Juan, and Carrera 58. Eighteen traffic officers will be deployed to manage movement during the event. Meanwhile, in Barranquilla, the military and police parade is scheduled for 5:00 PM on Avenida del Río, Gran Malecón. Pedestrian access will be limited to streets 72, 78, and Puerta de Oro. Vehicle parking will not be available due to restricted access. The avenue will be closed entirely from the Port Corridor roundabout (Bendición de Dios area) to Puerta de Oro, from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Cali’s parade will start at Avenida Cuarta Norte near the Jairo Varela Plaza and proceed along Avenida Sexta to the Chipichape Bridge area. The event is set to occur between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, during which Avenida Cuarta Norte, Avenida Sexta Norte, and part of Avenida Vásquez Cobo will be closed. In Pasto, the festivities will begin at 9:00 AM with a parade starting from Avenida Los Estudiantes heading toward Nariño Square, where commemorative activities will be held. The events in Bogotá will include seven designated gathering points for various marches and demonstrations organized by social and labor groups. These gatherings will lead participants to the Plaza de Bolívar. The largest anticipated demonstration is the one called by the Pacto Histórico, which plans to gather at four different locations before proceeding to the Plaza de Bolívar. Other events include a cultural demonstration titled “Many Thanks, President,” scheduled for 8:00 AM at the Redentor Park in the Villa Ximena neighborhood, and a civil disobedience march beginning at 9:00 AM with multiple assembly points. A dawn march, “Suroriente for the Defense of Colombia,” organized by the Alliance for Life, Popular Pact for the Defense of Colombia, will start at 4:00 AM from the Dollar City location on Carrera 10 with Calle 27 Sur in San Cristóbal. Additional demonstrations will be held at the Universidad Distrital Technological Campus in Ciudad Bolívar by the M-19 Movement and at the El Ensueño Shopping Center in Ciudad Bolívar by FECODE, both starting at 11:00 AM. The city's authorities have advised residents to plan their travel accordingly and stay updated through official channels regarding road closures and other logistical changes.