The Guelaguetza - Oaxaca’s signature celebration of indigenous dance, costume, and music - returns to the Cerro del Fortín amphitheatre for two main performances: Monday July 20 and Monday July 27, 2026. If you’re anywhere near Oaxaca this month, this is the event to build your trip around.
What the Guelaguetza Is
The Guelaguetza (a Zapotec word roughly meaning “reciprocal gift-giving”) has roots in pre-Columbian celebrations and was formalised as a public festival in the 1930s. Each July, delegations from Oaxaca’s eight regions perform dances, songs, and rituals specific to their communities - from the Zapotecs of the Sierra Juárez to the Mixes of the eastern highlands. The event ends with performers launching gifts - pineapples, chocolate, mezcal miniatures - into the crowd.
The main performances at the open-air amphitheatre begin at 10am and run for around four hours. Tickets for covered seating in the palcos (covered sections) sell out months in advance; the gradas (open stone terraces) offer free entry and fill up early - aim to arrive by 7am.
Beyond the Main Shows
The two Monday gala performances are just the anchor events. Throughout late July, Oaxaca hosts related activities:
- Bani Stui Gulal: a nightly show at the amphitheatre in the days leading up to each Monday, with lower admission
- Free performances at the Jardín Etnobotánico and zócalo, accessible to all
- Delegación exhibitions: community groups often perform in the streets around the city centre in the evenings
Planning Your Visit
Oaxaca City fills up sharply in Guelaguetza season - accommodation booked two or three weeks ahead is already scarce for the July 20 weekend. The city is compact and walkable, but taxis from the centre to the amphitheatre are around MX$40–60. For cultural context beyond the gala performances, Oaxaca tours and activities - mezcal distillery visits, market cooking classes, and Monte Albán ruins - run throughout the festival period.
For guided context on the festival and Oaxaca’s cultural depth, our Guelaguetza Festival guide covers the full history, which dances to watch for, and how to buy tickets. The Danza de la Pluma (Feather Dance) from Tehuantepec and the Jarabe del Valle are among the most visually striking performances on the programme.
Both July Mondays are public holidays in Oaxaca state (Lunes del Cerro), so government offices and many shops close. Factor that in if you’re handling any admin or need to exchange currency.