Chetumal Residents Question 2026 Festival del Caribe Organizer

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Residents are questioning whether Lilian Villanueva, director of the Institute of Culture and Arts (ICA), is the right person to lead the 2026 Festival del Caribe, following criticism over the recent Festival del Reggae, which was promoted as an international event but drew complaints about disorganization.

Critics say Villanueva has not shown enough skill to plan and coordinate such activities, raising concerns that public funds could be spent on a project that might yield better results elsewhere. Several residents have urged the governor to limit Villanueva’s event-organizing responsibilities for the remainder of the current administration, arguing that some of her decisions have already led to high costs for taxpayers.

Gabriela García, a mother and local resident, recalled incidents during the Festival del Reggae in which artists publicly criticized a lack of coordination and foresight, and also alleged mistreatment by Villanueva and ICA staff. She said those episodes hurt Chetumal’s reputation as a cultural hub, particularly on social media.

Martín Salgado said Villanueva does not have the qualities needed to lead a Festival del Caribe like those held in previous years, when the event was a major regional celebration with national and international reach. He noted that organizers used to spend months preparing details to ensure the festival benefited Chetumal.

Graciela Morales, also a mother, said the Festival del Caribe needs a complete renewal to become a genuine tourist attraction and support local merchants and service providers. She argued that staging the event simply to satisfy the ICA’s agenda would mean wasting public resources.

Villanueva recently announced that the 2026 edition of the festival will take place in October. The ICA has an open call for artistic groups and is also promoting drawing and painting contests. She added that the event will bring together musicians, artisans, writers, visual artists and other creators to showcase the cultural expressions of the Mexican Caribbean.