[1][2] As part of the celebrations, the Orchestra Festival did not hold a competition for the Golden Congo, but instead awarded one to every performer.

In 2016 the Golden Congo for performance was split into separate prizes for vocalists and instrumentalists, and in 2018 "folk" was reintroduced as a genre category.

On the 50th anniversary of the Orchestra Festival in 2019 no awards were given; instead, past competitors and winners returned to perform at the festival, including Los Corraleros de Majagual, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Pacho Galán, Checo Acosta, Juan Piña [es], Poncho Zuleta [es], Sergio Vargas, Beto Zabaleta [es], Eddy Herrera, Bazurto All Stars, and Jorge Oñate.

[4] In 2021 there was no Barranquilla Carnival due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the Orchestra Festival held a virtual event featuring past performances.

Twice a Rey del Pueblo (King of the People) has been crowned at the Orchestra Festival, decided by a public vote.

"[17] Golden Congos are also given for floats and dancers that take part in the Battle of the Flowers parade of the Barranquilla Carnival.