Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, stated that she hopes the 2026 carnival will be another step to show the world the country's great spirit and that nothing can defeat it. "May these 2026 carnivals be precisely another step in this year for us to show the world our great spirituality; to show the world that nothing defeats us, nothing overcomes us," Rodríguez said during an event in the coastal state of La Guaira (north). In a broadcast on state television Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), the acting president urged all Venezuelans to enjoy these festivities, which she highlighted as an opportunity to show the world "all the tourist beauties of Venezuela." In La Guaira, near Caracas, an arrival of two million visitors is expected, according to the chavista leader, who assumed the role of interim president after the United States captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation on January 3. The Venezuelan government deployed a total of over 228,000 military and police personnel, as well as other state officials, across its territory as part of a security plan for the Carnival festivities, then reported the Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello. In a VTV broadcast from the state of Falcón, in the northwest of the country, Cabello announced that for this security plan, Venezuela will have 3,750 vehicles, 11,040 motorcycles, and 1,348 bicycles at its disposal. Additionally, 470 "special vehicles against fire and rescue", 556 ambulances, 71 "totally free" tow trucks, as well as 7 aircraft, including helicopters and planes, and 134 vessels for "any emergency" will be available. For these Carnivals, there will be 1,216 emergency posts and 3,286 checkpoints throughout the country, Cabello indicated.
