Cali extends rumba opening hours: bars and clubs can open until 4:00 a.m. in December

Licensed nightspots must meet strict noise and waste disposal requirements, while liquor stores and tobacco shops continue to close at 1:00 a.m. – Credit Freepik

The City of Cali will allow bars and nightclubs to operate until 4:00 a.m. between December 19, 2025 and January 12, 2026, as part of a temporary decision by the Mayor’s Office to respond to the dynamics of the Christmas season and the traditional Cali Fair.

Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali, announced the issuance of a decree extending the opening hours for the sale and consumption of alcohol in licensed nightclubs. The new regulation stipulates that bars and clubs can be open until 4:00 a.m. during these holidays.

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Mayor Eder explained that the decision was aimed at stimulating the economy and strengthening the city’s cultural offerings. According to the currently issued regulation, only establishments that have a permit to sell and consume spirits within their establishments benefit from this.

Other businesses such as tobacco and liquor stores must close at 1:00 a.m. without changing their usual opening hours.

Liquor stores and tobacco shops do not do this

Liquor shops and tobacco shops do not benefit from the extension of opening hours and must continue to close at 100 p.m., as determined by the municipal administration. – Credit Mayor of Santiago de Cali

This is what the decree states The establishments that extend their opening hours may only serve the interior of the establishment and may not occupy public spaces.. In addition, the mayor’s office calls for the implementation of noise control measures to comply with the maximum noise limits and calls for effective solutions for the management and disposal of solid waste.

Failure to comply with the established conditions will result in the sanctions provided for in the Police Law (Law 1801 of 2016), which includes fines and temporary closure of the establishment. Local authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor’s Office Inspection, Monitoring and Control teams, will carry out checks and actions to ensure compliance with the measure, especially during the period of greatest influx of visitors to the Cali Fair.

Mayor Eder reported this The draft decree is now available for citizens to view and comment on the official portal of the Mayor’s Office of Cali. The regulation states that the extended opening hours are reserved exclusively for establishments that have a formal license for the sale and consumption of liquor, while liquor stores and tobacco shops will remain closed at 1:00 a.m

The request for an extension of working hours becomes final once the regulation has been officially issued. what is likely to happen in the coming days.

The mayor’s office has stipulated that only bars and nightclubs with permission to sell and consume alcohol indoors can expand their services, as long as public space is respected and noise levels are controlled. – Credit @alejoeder/X

To ensure security and coexistence, the Cali Metropolitan Police, in coordination with the interagency teams of the Mayor’s Office They will carry out control and verification procedures to ensure compliance with the new regulations. With this measure, the local administration aims to protect the rights of residents and visitors and avoid excessive noise and misuse of public space.

“For this time, we have decided to extend the opening hours of the rumba party. For bars and clubs, we will extend the opening hours until 4:00 in the morning.” The other businesses are open until 1:00 a.m“, Mayor Eder explained the scope of the measure.

The standard requires nightclubs to have soundproofing systems and adequate solid waste management plans to minimize inconvenience to residents and protect the environment. – Credit Mayor of Santiago de Cali

Representatives of dealers and nightclub unions greeted the news with anticipation, as the December season and the Cali Fair represent a period of high customer flow and higher revenue for the industry. The mayor’s office hopes the measure will also strengthen the city’s cultural program and contribute to economic development related to nighttime entertainment.

The measure applies from December 19, 2025 to January 12, 2026, a period during which the Cali Mayor’s Office Compliance will be continually monitored to ensure a safe, orderly and sustainable celebration season.