The Guelaguetza, Oaxaca's grandest cultural festival, returns in 2026 on the two Lunes del Cerro — Monday, July 20 and Monday, July 27. Track the days on our live Guelaguetza countdown.
When is the Guelaguetza 2026?
The festival's main performances always fall on the two Mondays after July 16 — in 2026, that means July 20 and July 27. Each day has a morning and an afternoon show at the open-air Auditorio Guelaguetza on the Cerro del Fortín, the hill overlooking Oaxaca City.
What happens at the Guelaguetza
Delegations from Oaxaca's eight regions take the stage in dazzling traditional dress to share the music and dance of their communities — from the feather-crowned Danza de la Pluma to the pineapple-bearing Flor de Piña. Performers toss gifts of bread, fruit and handicrafts into the crowd, a living expression of the Zapotec word "guelaguetza", meaning a reciprocal gift.
Beyond the main stage
The whole of July fills with parades, mezcal tastings, mole feasts, craft markets and free "Guelaguetza Popular" shows in neighbourhoods and nearby towns, making Oaxaca one of Mexico's richest places to visit in summer.
Count down to the Guelaguetza
Open the live Guelaguetza countdown, explore more festival countdowns, or create your own countdown to your trip. The Days Until tool works for any date too.