The Carnaval de Barranquilla is one of the most important cultural events in Latin America. In 2003, UNESCO declared it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and in 2008 it was included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This article aims to analyze this process of heritagization, from the popular celebration to the transformation into an industry and cultural enterprise.