Hay Festival Cartagena 2026

From the moment Santa Fe lifted their arms to celebrate becoming the first national champions, to the Nacional of Armani, Henríquez and Macnelly; and without forgetting the Millonarios of the 50s, Bilardo’s Cali, Maturana’s Nacional… up to 50 teams. Los 50 mejores equipos de la historia del fútbol profesional colombiano, by Mauricio Silva Guzmán, is a must for anyone who loves the beautiful game; with the in-depth research of Felipe Valderrama, full of unknown facts and a careful selection of images. Silva will talk about these historical teams with another football fanatic, Daniel Samper Pizano, and with the moderation of journalist Andrea Guerrero.

All events on Sunday, February 1st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.

Aged just 13, Cecilia Baena became the world speed skating champion. At the competition, held in Barrancabermeja, she won four world titles and broke the world record. So began the history of success of Chechi Baena, who, a year later, was awarded the title of Colombian Sportswoman of the Year. After her early start, she continued to win at championships around the world, and at competitions in Colombia and abroad, gaining both indoor and outdoor titles and becoming a role model for girls and boys who have decided to make skating their sport of choice. In conversation with Andrea Guerrero.

All events on Sunday, February 1st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.

Nueve innings. La cultura del béisbol en el Caribe colombiano, by Felipe Merlano de la Ossa and Bertha Lucía Arnedo Redondo —the pens behind Memorias de béisbol en Cartagena de Indias & Bolívar—, is a look at the effects of baseball on the history, culture economy and society of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. In nine chapters, emulating the nine innings of baseball, they use the lenses of academic study and sociology to look at the game’s relationship with the people, from the influence on forms of speech in the coastal region to the arrival of US music, and the social mobility of baseball players.

All events on Sunday, February 1st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.