Mérida Fest 2026: 36 Free Concerts Across the City

Mérida, Yucatán — The latest edition of Mérida Fest has invited residents and visitors to the Yucatecan capital to participate in various musical offerings from January 5 to 18, featuring 36 presentations from 28 musical projects. The lineup ranges from tributes to maestro Armando Manzanero to 1970s music accompanied by a symphony orchestra, Caribbean and Antillean rhythms, and even a space specifically designed for children.

Claudia Chapa Cortés, Deputy Director of Identity and Culture for the Mérida City Council, emphasized that what has characterized the current municipal administration is focusing attention on local talent while also decentralizing cultural activities from the heart of the Yucatecan capital. She noted that the musical proposals of this Mérida Fest, as every year, are aimed at audiences of all ages and musical tastes.

Diversity of Genres and Cultural Decentralization in the City

“We will have an infinite diversity of musical genres for everyone, for the enjoyment of all people. We will have music considered for children, but also opera, Latin rhythms, Yucatecan trova, Caribbean sones, danzones, electronic music, chamber music in various points of the city, parks, neighborhoods, and townships,” she stated.

The municipal official indicated that one of the concerts that will remember maestro Armando Manzanero, but with the participation of figures such as Susana Zavaleta, Alex Lora, and Francisco Céspedes, will take place on January 10 at 8:00 p.m. at the Plaza Grande in Mérida. She advanced that, beyond a tribute, it will be a reminder of the illustrious Yucatecan in the present. She said that locally, Gina Osorno, Los Juglares, and Juan Pablo Manzanero himself will have a presence.

Fusion of Chamber Orchestra and Contemporary Music at El Remate

On January 15, with El Remate on Paseo Montejo as the setting, a musical option will be presented that integrates the chords of the chamber orchestra with the carefree notes of rock and pop that are already part of the musical imagination and repertoire of the last four decades.

This concert will last 90 minutes and will practically compel the audience to stand up, dance with the symphony orchestra, and the musicians of more popular and contemporary sounds. Additionally, the renowned local artist Jesús Armando will celebrate 35 years of artistic career by joining Mérida Fest 2026, so a very Yucatecan repertoire is anticipated. He said that a work made among friends with rhythms from around the world will be presented.

For those interested in knowing the entire lineup, both of the musical proposals and other fine arts that will also be present, it is sufficient to consult the website of this year’s Mérida Fest.