Cancun to Host Guelaguetza 2026 With Over 115 Oaxacan Artists

Cancun, Quintana Roo — The cultural richness of Oaxaca will return to Cancun with the Guelaguetza 2026 festival, bringing together more than 115 artists from July 23 to 26 to share the music, dances, and traditions of one of Mexico’s most emblematic celebrations.

The event is organized by the Benito Juarez municipal government through the Cancun Institute of Culture and Arts, aiming to bring artistic expressions that promote cultural identity and strengthen exchange between different regions of the country.

The program kicks off on July 23 at the City Theater with the show “Fiesta de la Costa Oaxaquena,” a performance featuring sones, chilenas, and traditional dances from communities such as Tututepec, Pochutla, Juquila, Huatulco, Pinotepa Nacional, Putla de Guerrero, and Jamiltepec, among others. The presentation will have a nominal admission fee to support the 70 Oaxacan artists and exhibitors participating in this edition.

Traditional Calenda Parade to Wind Through Cancun Streets

From July 24 to 26, activities will continue with the traditional calenda, a parade filled with music, marmotas, calenda monkeys, and wind bands. The parade will start at the Glorieta del Monumento a la Historia de Mexico, travel along Yaxchilan Avenue — where the fair will be set up — and conclude at Parque de Las Palapas. After the parade, the main Guelaguetza performances will take place, offering the public a broad sample of Oaxaca’s artistic heritage.

Over the three days, representative cuadros will be presented, including Sones y Jarabes de Tlaxiaco, Huautla de Jimenez, Sones y Jarabes Mixes, Jarabe Ejuteco, Istmo de Tehuantepec, Jarabe Mixteco, Flor de Pina, Danza de la Pluma, and Chinas Oaxaquenas, along with other expressions that will change with each performance to showcase the state’s cultural diversity.

The schedule includes the participation of the Pinotepa Nacional delegation on July 24; on July 25, representatives from San Melchor Betaza, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, San Juan Cacahuatepec, and the Sones y Chilenas de Huatulco will join. Finally, on July 26, the Santa Maria Huatulco delegation will perform, closing the activities.

The official image of Guelaguetza 2026 was created by designer Mario Castillo.