Tulum 2026 Festival Season Guide: Day Zero vs Zamna – Which One Is For You?

Tulum 2026: When the jungle becomes the dance floor

From late December to mid January, Tulum stops being “just” a beach destination and turns into a full electronic universe.

Two names define that season: Day Zero and Zamna Festival.

• Day Zero Tulum 2026 returns to the Mayan jungle on 10 January 2026, curated by Damian Lazarus and famous for its sunrise rituals and immersive storytelling.

• Zamna Festival 2026 runs from 31 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, with a series of standalone nights featuring names like MRAK, David Guetta, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Keinemusik, Adriatique, Bedouin, Black Coffee and more.

If you are planning Tulum in 2026, chances are you are asking the same question everyone asks on Google and in group chats:

“Should I go to Day Zero or Zamna?”

This guide breaks down what each festival actually feels like, who it is for, and how Cloud 9 Concierge can help you do both in one clean trip.

#What is Day Zero Tulum?

Day Zero was born in 2012 to mark the end of the Mayan calendar. Since then it has evolved into one of the most respected jungle parties on the planet.

Key facts for 2026

• Date: Saturday, 10 January 2026

• Location: Deep in the Mayan jungle near Tulum

• Format: One marathon night from sunset to sunrise

• Sound: Forward thinking house, techno and experimental electronica

The vibe

Day Zero feels like stepping into a parallel world for one night only.

• Three stages woven through the jungle

• Performance art, costumes and “creatures” moving through the crowd

• Lasers cutting through trees, fire shows, interactive art

• Moments designed around sunset, midnight peaks and sunrise

This is more of a ceremony than a regular party. You prepare for it, you plan your outfit, you arrive as a crew, and you probably talk about it for years.

Who usually loves Day Zero

• People who enjoy a story driven night more than chasing headliners

• Friends who want that “we did something legendary together” feeling

• Guests who can handle one very long night and then take a day to recover

#What is Zamna Festival Tulum?

Zamna is the backbone of the Tulum season. Instead of one event, it is a sequence of big nights in the same jungle cenote venue.

Key facts for 2026

• Season window: 31 December 2025 to 11 January 2026

• Location: Jungle venue built around a cenote near Tulum

• Format: Individual nights, each curated by a brand, artist or label

• Sound: From mainstream EDM to deep melodic and underground house

Example of 2026 nights

According to the 2026 schedule, Zamna hosts:

• Dec 31: MRAK NYE and the Zamna Experience

• Jan 1: Zamna On The Beach

• Jan 2: David Guetta Tulum

• Jan 3: ANTS and Francis Mercier

• Jan 4: RÜFÜS DU SOL DJ set

• Jan 5: No Art

• Jan 6: Keinemusik

• Jan 7: Adriatique pres. X and Bedouin pres. SAGA

• Jan 8: Pulse of Gaia

• Jan 9: Mayan Warrior

• Jan 11: Black Coffee closing party

Each of these is its own mini festival, with a different sound, different crowd and sometimes even different stage design.

The vibe

• Huge production on main stages

• Cenote water, bridges, trees and structures wrapped in lights

• International crowd that flies in for their favourite brands

• You can pick one night or stack several in a row

Who usually loves Zamna

• Fans of specific artists or labels

• People who want options and flexibility (you choose which nights to attend)

• Groups who like the idea of turning Tulum into their own extended festival hub

#Day Zero vs Zamna: side by side

They are not competitors. They are two different chapters of the same story.

#Which one is for you?

#1. The Ritual Seeker

You care more about the mood than the headliners. You want your favorite outfit, your crew and one night that feels like entering a movie set.

• Priority: Day Zero

• Strategy: Focus your energy on the 10 January event, add one lighter Zamna night either before or after.

#2. The Headliner Hunter

You follow artists, labels and brands. You choose nights based on lineups and love the idea of a different show every evening.

• Priority: Zamna

• Strategy: Build your trip around 3 or 4 strategic Zamna nights and maybe visit Day Zero if you like the more mystical angle.

#3. The Week-long Story

You want it all. Boat days, cenotes, multiple jungle nights, one big ritual, plus proper sleep and good food.

• Priority: Both

• Strategy: Arrive around January 2 or 3, hit a few Zamna nights, rest smart, then close with Day Zero and one last Zamna or beach club day.

#A sample 7 day calendar that includes both

Here is a flexible template you can adapt, using the 2026 dates.

Day 1 – Arrival and soft launch (Jan 3 or 4)

• Airport pickup to villa or hotel

• Pool and beach club afternoon

• Light dinner and early night or one low key bar

Day 2 – Cenote and first Zamna night

• Morning cenote swim and tacos

• Afternoon rest

• Evening: choose a Zamna night that fits you (for example RÜFÜS DU SOL on Jan 4 or Keinemusik on Jan 6).

Day 3 – Boat and recovery

• Private boat during the day, no heavy plans at night

• Gentle dinner and drinks

Day 4 – Zamna again

• Beach club or town brunch

• Second Zamna show such as Adriatique pres. X, Bedouin’s SAGA or Mayan Warrior, depending on your taste.

Day 5 – Chill and prepare for Day Zero

• Spa, massage, yoga or in villa wellness

• Glam squad, outfit planning, light food

Day 6 – Day Zero Tulum (Jan 10)

• Late start, pool, light snacks

• Private transfer to the jungle

• All night experience from sunset to sunrise

Day 7 – Proper decompression

• Sleep in, chef brunch, quiet cenote or beach

• Farewell dinner and pack for departure

Cloud 9 can adapt this to 5, 7 or 10 days, depending on how much your body (and bank account) can handle.

#Where to stay for the Tulum 2026 festival season

For festival-focused trips, we usually recommend:

• Jungle villas near the venues for short night transfers

• Design hotels in town for easier access to restaurants and cafés

• Beachfront stays if you want more daytime beach club energy

The ideal setup is often a villa with:

• Private pool and outdoor chill areas

• Strong Wi-Fi for remote work or content uploads

• Chef options and in-house wellness (yoga, massage, sound bath)

Cloud 9 handpicks options so you are not lost scrolling random listings.

#How Cloud 9 Concierge fits into your Day Zero & Zamna plan

You can absolutely plan a Tulum festival season on your own. You can also save hours of research and avoid the classic mistakes (wrong night, wrong area, no drivers, no tables) by letting us handle it.

For Day Zero and Zamna we can:

• Design your personal festival calendar based on your dates and taste

• Book villas or hotels that fit your group and budget

• Secure tickets, VIP tables and backstage options where possible

• Arrange drivers, airport transfers and late-night pick ups

• Add cenotes, yacht days, wellness and chef experiences around your party nights

• Coordinate content creators, photogs and glam squads if you want your trip to actually look as good as it feels

#So, Day Zero or Zamna?

If you are only coming for one night, choose the one that matches your heart:

• Ritual, storytelling and one intense night – Day Zero.

• Variety, big names and different chapters – Zamna.

If you are serious about Tulum 2026, the real answer is simple:

Do both, and let Cloud 9 Concierge choreograph the whole thing.

Tell us your dates, group size and approximate budget, and we will turn this guide into a live, breathing plan with your name on it.