INBAL Announces Second Edition of Black Dances Festival in Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo — The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) has announced the second edition of the Festival de Danzas Negras: Reflexiones Afrocaribeñas 2026, a cultural event celebrating the legacy of Afro-descendant communities through dance, music, and artistic exchange.

The festival will take place from August 1 to 12, 2026, with the first stage in Mexico City (August 1–7) and the second in Cancun (August 6–12). It is organized in coordination with the Institute of Culture and Arts of the Municipality of Benito Juárez.

Artists from seven countries will participate: Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Mexican delegations will come from Mexico City, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Quintana Roo.

The program includes traditional and contemporary dance performances, choreographic galas, specialized workshops on Afro-Caribbean techniques, movement laboratories, lectures, panel discussions with researchers, documentary screenings, and dialogues on identity, memory, and cultural heritage.

Specific venues, schedules, and registration details for workshops and conferences will be announced by INBAL in the coming weeks.

Organizers said the festival aims to strengthen recognition of Afro-descendant communities, promote cultural diversity, and create spaces for reflection on the historical and social significance of these artistic expressions.