This Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Mazatlán Carnival 2026, “Arriba la Tambora” (Long Live the Drum), begins. Despite numerous missing persons cases in Sinaloa, including the kidnapping of miners and tourists, the event will proceed without interruption.
In the region, security concerns persist, as authorities have not clarified the situation of several missing persons. The mother of Carlos Emilio Galván, who has been missing since October 2025, issued a public warning, urging visitors to refrain from attending the carnival for their own safety.
The Sinaloa government prioritizes the event to promote tourism and project a positive image of the state. Mireya Sosa Osuna, head of the Sinaloa Tourism Secretariat, predicted an economic impact of over one billion pesos and an 87% hotel occupancy rate during the celebration, which runs until February 17.
Despite the security crisis, authorities have implemented an operation involving more than three thousand members of the Army, National Police, and state security forces. However, the lack of information regarding cases of violence in the region has generated distrust among the population and criticism of the authorities for their lack of transparency.
The situation in Sinaloa is troubling, with several recent cases of disappearances, including the abduction of tourists from the State of Mexico and the kidnapping of three individuals in Ahome. These cases remain unsolved and underscore the serious security problems in the state, while the carnival celebrations continue.
