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July 20 & 27 · Cerro del Fortín, Oaxaca
The Guelaguetza is Mexico's most important folkloric festival and one of the most spectacular in Latin America. Every July, all 8 regions of Oaxaca send delegations with their best dancers and musicians to share traditional dances, costumes and ancestral traditions. It's a show of colors, sounds and cultural pride you must see at least once in your life.
Monday, July 20, 2026
· 10:00 AM — First performance (paid seating)
· 12:00 PM — Second performance (paid seating)
Monday, July 27, 2026
· 10:00 AM — First performance (paid seating)
· 12:00 PM — Second performance (paid seating)
* Final schedule confirmed by the Oaxaca State Government a few weeks before the festival.
Sol Sections (free)
Top open seating. Free admission, limited capacity. Arrive 2-3 hours early.
Sun Bleachers
Affordable price. Side view. Requires advance ticket purchase.
Shade Bleachers
Frontal view with shade guaranteed. Most in-demand ticket.
Shade Boxes
Best seats in the house. Premium pricing. Book months in advance.
The word Guelaguetza comes from Zapotec and means “offering” or “gift.” In Oaxacan culture, guelaguetza also refers to a community mutual-aid system where neighbors contribute labor, food, or money to others in need, knowing they'll receive the same in return.
The formal festival began in 1932, though celebrations on Cerro del Fortín in honor of the Virgin of Carmen are much older. Today it is Oaxaca's most important tourist event and one of the world's most recognized folkloric festivals.
Delegations from all 8 Oaxacan regions participate: Sierra Norte, Sierra Sur, Cañada, Mixteca, Papaloapan, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Coast, and Central Valleys. Each delegation presents its most representative dances and at the end throws gifts (fruits, crafts) to the audience — the tradition that gives the festival its name.
Our local editorial team wrote a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know: dates, tickets, what to expect, what to wear, where to eat before the show, and insider tips to make the most of the festival.
Read the complete guide →Answers to the most common questions about Mexico's most important folkloric festival.
The Guelaguetza 2026 takes place on July 20 and 27. These are the two Mondays in July closest to July 16 (the feast of the Virgin of Carmen). Each Monday has two performances: a morning show and a midday show.
Tickets for paid seating sections are sold through the Oaxaca State Government's official system. The top-tier Sol sections (open seating at the top of the hill) are free but limited — arrive 2-3 hours early. Travel packages that include transport and tickets are available from local tour operators.
The top sections (zona Sol) are free with open seating but you must arrive very early to get a spot. The lower sections (sombra — shade sections) have a ticket price announced each year in May-June. Some sections can be quite affordable; others are premium priced.
The Auditorio Guelaguetza is on Cerro del Fortín hill, about 20-30 minutes walk from the historic center. On Guelaguetza days, special public transport runs from the Zócalo. Taxis and shared vans (colectivos) are abundant. Many locals walk up via Pino Suárez street — a pleasant walk with good views.
The Guelaguetza is Mexico's most important folkloric festival. Delegations from all 8 regions of Oaxaca present their traditional dances, costumes, and ancestral traditions. The word 'Guelaguetza' in Zapotec means 'offering' or 'gift.' The modern festival began in 1932, though celebrations on Cerro del Fortín are much older.
Comfortable clothes and sun protection — the Cerro del Fortín sun can be intense. A hat or cap. Water and snacks if you're in the free zone (vendors are limited near the top). A camera. Arrive 1-2 hours early at minimum, 2-3 hours for the free Sol sections.