If you are in Guadalajara this week, the International Mariachi and Charrería Festival runs until 6 September 2026 — one of the most significant cultural celebrations in all of Mexico.
What Happens at the Festival
The festival pairs two of Jalisco’s defining traditions: mariachi music and charrería, the Mexican equestrian discipline that inspired the very concept of the rodeo. Both UNESCO recognised charrería as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, and this festival is the biggest annual showcase of both arts.
Free concerts take place daily in the Plaza de Armas and Teatro Degollado area. Mariachi groups from across Mexico and Latin America compete in technical and performance categories, and the judging is genuinely competitive — this is not a tourist show but a professional contest watched closely by musicians throughout the country.
Charrería displays (known as charreadas) are held at a lienzo charro, a purpose-built arena for the sport. Events include the cala de caballo (horse reining), the manganas (lasso work on horseback), and the cola — where a charro on horseback grabs a running bull by the tail.
Practical Details
- Dates: Most events run through 6 September 2026
- Main venues: Plaza de Armas, Teatro Degollado, and participating lienzos charros across the city
- Cost: Core street concerts are free. Ticketed competitions and some theatre events range from MXN 200–600 (roughly USD 10–30)
- Getting there: The festival centre is walkable from the historic district. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the lienzo charro venues
The festival draws performers and visitors from across Latin America, so restaurants and hotels around the centro histórico are busy. Book accommodation in advance if you have not already.
Combine It with Guanajuato
Guadalajara is a natural base for the surrounding state of Jalisco, but if you have a few extra days, Guanajuato is three hours east by bus and one of the most photogenic colonial cities in Mexico. The two make a straightforward pairing for anyone spending a week in central Mexico.
After the Festival
September in Guadalajara sits squarely in the rainy season — expect afternoon showers most days, typically clearing by evening. Temperatures stay mild at 20–25°C. The rains do not normally disrupt outdoor events but bring a light jacket and waterproof shoes if you are spending long stretches outside.
This is a rare chance to see mariachi performed at a genuinely competitive level — not the polished hotel lobby version but the full tradition, in the city that invented it. For everything else Guadalajara offers during festival week — tequila distillery tours, the colonial centro histórico, and Lake Chapala day trips — Guadalajara tours and activities are worth booking before you arrive.