Panama expects to exceed $85 million in economic impact during the eighth edition of Panama Black Weekend, which will be held from October 2 to 4, with the participation of more than 16 shopping centers and plazas and more than 3,000 stores affiliated with the Panamanian Association of Shopping Centers (Apacecom). The projection includes the movement generated in the different industries linked to the event, which seeks to stimulate local consumption and attract international buyers during a season that traditionally registers less commercial movement.
The Panama Black Weekend officially emerged on September 15, 2017 as a commercial strategy promoted by Apacecom and supported by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP). Since then, it has established itself as one of the main initiatives to promote trade and shopping tourism in the country.
Unlike its first editions, held in September, this year the event was moved to October. The offer will include discounts of between 20% and 70% on selected merchandise, in accordance with the conditions established by each participating business.
The participating establishments will be identified with the official Panama Black Weekend 2026 sticker, placed visibly at the entrance of each business.
The activity will also include businesses and services linked to the value chain, including beauty salons, car rental companies, tour operators and restaurants.
Promotions will span categories such as fashion, technology, footwear, beauty, jewelry, accessories and home goods.
“The commercial industry prepares every year to celebrate Panama Black Weekend. This year we are announcing it on October 2, 3 and 4. This is a date agreed upon with the commercial structure. We are going to have more than 3,000 stores that will have their offers and best promotions with discounts of up to 70%. We expect both local and international audiences,” said the president of Apacecom, Bonny Sánchez, who is also general manager of Los Andes Mall.
The participating shopping centers and plazas are Albrook Mall, Westland Mall, Los Andes Mall, Centro Comercial Los Pueblos, Megamall, AltaPlaza Mall, Atrio Mall, Santiago Mall, Balboa Boutiques, Town Center Costa del Este, Soho City Center, Los Pueblos Juan Díaz, Chiriquí Mall, Plaza Terronal, Colón 2000 and Federal Mall.
The perspectives
Apacecom’s expectation is that the movement generated during the event will exceed $85 million in all industries, a figure that the organization seeks to maintain or exceed compared to the accumulated average of previous years.
“With all the investment we have made, with all the alliances, we hope to exceed the accumulated average in recent years. This is the eighth edition of the Panama Black Weekend and we are talking about an impact on the economy of more than $85 million in all industries. So what we hope is to maintain this number or exceed it and with the data that we are seeing through the information that Visa and Promtur are telling us in terms of reserves, we will be able to see this sales and consumption capacity during these days,” said Sánchez.
Part of the expectations are placed on the arrival of international buyers, mainly from markets in the region.
Sánchez pointed out that Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil and Argentina are among the countries from which buyers are expected to arrive. Ecuador is added to these markets, which in recent years had not had the same participation, in addition to the Caribbean islands. “We are prepared to receive them and so that we can continue to be what we have always been: one of the regions with the greatest capacity for commercial offer and we are clear about that because we manage not only the terms of security guarantee but also that the dollar gives us that guarantee of the entire public that visits us,” said the president of Apacecom.
Panama, shopping destination
The Panama Black Weekend is part of the strategy to promote the country as a shopping destination and link commercial activity with tourism. “This is a product that has been positioned in Panama and in the region as the best shopping season. We have done a great promotion together with the Tourism Authority and Promtur in potential markets, so we hope to receive a significant number of tourists who are going to visit us for this season,” said the president of the National Chamber of Tourism of Panama (Camtur), Nadkyi Duque.
Duque explained that the promotion has been maintained in markets such as Colombia, Brazil and Argentina and that this year new markets in Central America were incorporated. “It is definitely the most anticipated season for all Panamanians and tourists, to be able to take advantage of those great offers and shopping opportunities that shopping centers generate for this season,” he stated.
The president of Camtur highlighted that the event seeks to stimulate local consumption and attract foreign buyers, some of whom purchase products for their own use and others to resell. “Panama has positioned itself. It is our main product at a commercial level, the season with the greatest movement in terms of purchases. It is a regularly low season. Previously it was done in September, however, due to the (Jewish) religious holidays, this year we have moved it to October 2, 3 and 4,” he said.
Regarding the economic impact, Duque indicated that the latest figures place the commercial movement between $80 million and $85 million, with annual increases of between 1% and 2%.
The businesswoman also pointed out that the purchasing power of the local consumer is conditioned by factors such as the increase in electricity, the basic basket and fuel.
“We know the condition of the local consumer’s purchasing power, which is greatly impacted by the issue of the rise in electricity, the basic basket, and fuel; these are definitely factors that impact the Panamanian economy and will be reflected in the purchasing power of the consumer,” he stated.
In his opinion, the arrival of tourists makes it possible to compensate for part of the lower local purchasing capacity. “This is where the strategy of promoting tourism has achieved this compensation so that there is no drop that we would have had in the commerce sector if we had not had that large influx of tourists who, by purchasing, have compensated for the drop in local consumption,” he added.
Acodeco prepares operations
The 2026 edition has the participation and collaboration of Promtur Panama, Visa, the Mayor’s Office of Panama, the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Acodeco) and the National Police.
These allies will participate in areas related to tourism promotion, payment methods, purchasing experience, consumer orientation and security.
The administrator of Acodeco, Ramón Abraham Abadi Balid, pointed out that the entity will work together with Apacecom and economic agents to guarantee compliance with consumer protection regulations.
“We are working hand in hand with all businesses in Panama, one more year with Apacecom, facilitating a Black Weekend, an event that will bring commerce to all Panamanians and obviously consumers will have these benefits from merchants, good offers at a good price,” he stated.
Abadi explained that Acodeco will reinforce the guidance to businesses so that they keep prices visible and transparently communicate the conditions of their offers. “The important thing here before fining is to educate them. We are going to have operations, we are going to have Acodeco presence on the streets and obviously the best of the inspectors is the consumer,” he said.
The official recommended buyers compare prices and conditions before purchasing a product and review warranty policies. “It’s called Black Weekend; you can grab, walk, compare, always remember, an informed consumer has power. It is important that you move around, see the stores and digital offers, on social networks also in each of the stores, in the shopping centers, with patience, and when you make the product selection ask the warranty policies,” he recommended.
Regarding sanctions, Abadi explained that each case is evaluated individually when a violation is detected. Fines can range from **$0 to $25,000**, depending on the circumstances of each case.
According to the Acodeco administrator, one of the main infractions detected during this season is misleading advertising.
