Cancún to Host Festival of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún will host the Festival of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples of the World 2026 on Aug. 8, with events beginning at 5 p.m. at Plaza de la Reforma in Benito Juárez municipality.

Javier Alarcón, president of the organizing committee and the Association of Older Adults and Indigenous Peoples, said the event will feature representatives of various ethnic groups performing dances and displaying crafts and traditional food.

“We will have the participation of various representatives of ethnic groups, with samples of dance, crafts and gastronomy,” he said.

According to INEGI, Mexico’s national statistics agency, more than 10 indigenous peoples live in Quintana Roo, including the Maya, one of the world’s most influential cultures.

“Among the other groups settled in the state are the Tzotzil, Mixtec, Tzeltal, Ch’ol, Tojolabal and other indigenous populations,” Alarcón said.

Alarcón said invitations were extended to Maya communities in the south of the state to participate. “We are seeking the participation of the Maya ethnic groups, their representatives and priests, so they can come to Cancún and be part of this festival,” he said.

The event also seeks to include Afro-Mexicans born or living in Quintana Roo, a community that is not as large as in Oaxaca or Veracruz but has a notable presence in the state.

The program will begin with a floral offering to Benito Juárez, followed by Maya ceremonies and cultural performances such as pre-Hispanic dances, folk dances and the traditional Maya ball game.

The United Nations General Assembly designated Aug. 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In Quintana Roo, organizers have expanded the observance to include Afro-Mexican communities.

Mexico has about 17 million indigenous people from 62 pueblos, with Nahuatl the most widely spoken indigenous language. Chiapas and Oaxaca have the largest indigenous populations. In Quintana Roo, besides Maya, speakers of Tseltal, Tsotsil, Ch’ol, Nahuatl, Zoque, Mam, Zapotec, Q’anjob’al and Totonac can be found.

Alarcón said the Maya remain the most important indigenous presence in Cancún and Quintana Roo, with a significant cultural and linguistic legacy.