Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the Sun, is celebrated in Cusco every 24 June. The next edition is on Thursday 24 June 2027. The ceremony moves through three venues in a single day: Qorikancha in the morning, the Plaza de Armas in the late morning and the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman in the afternoon. The Plaza de Armas is open to everyone; Qorikancha and the Sacsayhuaman grandstands need a ticket, sold only online through Teleticket. Here are the schedule, the official prices of the last edition and how to plan those days.
What Inti Raymi is
It is the great Inca ceremony in honour of the Sun, established by the Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century. It was held at the winter solstice, when the new farming cycle begins, and drew people from all over Tahuantinsuyo to Cusco. In 1572 the viceroy Francisco de Toledo banned it as contrary to the Catholic faith.
The current re-enactment has been staged without interruption since 24 June 1944, when that date was set as Cusco Day. The original script was written by the Quechua scholar Faustino Espinoza Navarro, who played Pachacutec in the first edition, based on colonial chronicles, above all those of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. Since 2001, under Law 27431, it has been Cultural Heritage of the Nation. It is organised by EMUFEC, the municipal festivities company of Cusco, with more than 700 actors, dancers and musicians.
The three venues and the schedule
The ceremony lasts about seven hours in total. Times shift a little each year: these are from 2026 and serve as a guide until EMUFEC publishes the 2027 schedule.
| Venue | Approximate time | What happens | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qorikancha | From 8:00–9:00 | First appearance of the Inca and greeting to the Sun on the esplanade of the Temple of the Sun | Yes: a single grandstand of 350 seats |
| Plaza de Armas | Late morning, around 10:00–11:30 | The procession arrives along Avenida El Sol and the meeting is staged in the old Huacaypata square | No: open access |
| Sacsayhuaman | From 13:00 into the afternoon | Central ceremony: reports from the four suyos, offering to the sacred fire, symbolic sacrifice of a llama, music and dances | Yes: four grandstand zones, about 3,770 seats |
If you cannot get a ticket, the Plaza de Armas is the way to see part of the ceremony for free. Arrive early: it is the venue with the biggest crowd.
Tickets: where to buy them and what they cost
EMUFEC sells tickets only online, through Teleticket, in soles. There are no physical sales points or authorised intermediaries, and EMUFEC itself has warned about websites selling fake tickets. If someone offers you «Inti Raymi tickets» in dollars, it is a package or a resale, not the official price.
In 2026 sales opened on 7 May and tickets sold out days before the ceremony, with 4,116 sold between Qorikancha and Sacsayhuaman. These were the official prices, service fee included:
| Venue and zone | Seats | General | Children (5–12) and guides | Peruvian nationals (with DNI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacsayhuaman · Inti Super VIP | 1,320 | S/ 850 | S/ 430 | — |
| Sacsayhuaman · Killa VIP | 448 | S/ 730 | S/ 365 | — |
| Sacsayhuaman · Chaska | 1,188 | S/ 680 | S/ 340 | — |
| Sacsayhuaman · Illapa | 810 | S/ 490 | S/ 250 | S/ 250 |
| Qorikancha · single grandstand | 350 | S/ 235 | S/ 120 | S/ 150 |
There were also 100 packages with tickets for both Qorikancha and Sacsayhuaman, from S/ 690 to S/ 1,030 depending on the zone. Other 2026 conditions:
- Children under 5 do not pay, but get no seat and enter with an adult. Children aged 5 to 12 need their own ticket.
- A maximum of 12 tickets per person. The e-ticket can be downloaded from two days before, and re-entry is not allowed.
- The ticket does not include transport to Sacsayhuaman.
We do not sell Inti Raymi tickets: buy them directly on Teleticket as soon as sales open and we will organise the rest of your trip.
Getting to Sacsayhuaman on 24 June
Roads near Sacsayhuaman are closed to private traffic for much of the day. Grandstand ticket holders can take shared transport to the Cristo Blanco area and continue on foot, or walk up from the historic centre in about 30 to 40 minutes, uphill. Leave in good time: that day the climb is crowded.
Sacsayhuaman sits above the city, so you will feel the walk if you have just arrived. Ideally spend at least two days in Cusco before the 24th; we explain how in the acclimatisation guide.
Tips for the day
- Protect yourself from sun and cold. June is dry and sunny, with cold mornings and nights: hat, sunscreen, water and a warm layer. The weather for each month is in the best time to visit Cusco guide.
- Book everything early. June is high season and demand in Cusco is very high in the week of the 24th: hotel, train and Machu Picchu ticket, the sooner the better. You can check the Machu Picchu ticket availability.
- Do not plan long excursions on the 24th. Keep that day for the ceremony and spread the rest over the days before and after.
- Bring water and something to eat. You will spend several hours seated in the Sacsayhuaman grandstand.
How to plan the days around Inti Raymi
A good plan is to arrive in Cusco two or three days before, do the City Tour and the Sacred Valley while you acclimatise, keep the 24th for the ceremony and do Machu Picchu afterwards. With a week, Cusco in 7 days has the full plan, and with less time, Cusco in 4 or 5 days. To see Sacsayhuaman calmly, without the festival crowds, visit it on another day with the Sacsayhuaman guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is Inti Raymi 2027?
On Thursday 24 June 2027. The date is fixed: it is held every 24 June, Cusco Day.
Can you watch Inti Raymi for free?
Part of it, yes: the ceremony in the Plaza de Armas is open to everyone. Qorikancha and the Sacsayhuaman grandstands need a ticket.
How much does an Inti Raymi ticket cost?
In 2026, from S/ 490 to S/ 850 at Sacsayhuaman depending on the zone, and S/ 235 at Qorikancha, with a discount for children aged 5 to 12. The 2027 prices will be known when sales open.
Where are tickets sold?
Only online, on Teleticket, the EMUFEC channel. There are no physical sales or authorised resellers.
How long does Inti Raymi last?
About seven hours across the three venues. The central ceremony at Sacsayhuaman takes up much of the afternoon, from about 13:00.
Can you watch it on TV or online?
Yes. In 2026 it was broadcast live by TVPerú and IRTP.
Message us on WhatsApp with your June dates and we will build the trip around the 24th: hotels, City Tour, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
