Puerto Vallarta will once again host one of its most celebrated cultural traditions when the 20th Vallarta Azteca Festival of International Folklore takes place May 3–9, 2026. Organized by the Vallarta Azteca Folkloric Group of CECyTE Jalisco, the festival marks two decades of dedication to preserving and sharing traditional dance and music from Mexico and around the world.
Over the past twenty years, the festival has grown into one of the country’s most recognized folklore gatherings. Its 20th anniversary represents an important milestone that strengthens Puerto Vallarta’s reputation as a leading destination for cultural tourism while promoting Mexican traditions on an international stage.
This year’s edition will feature folkloric groups from 15 Mexican states, including Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Yucatán, Veracruz, and Jalisco. International delegations from Bolivia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Latvia will also participate, sharing traditional dances and music that reflect their cultural heritage.
Festival events will take place across several well-known venues throughout Puerto Vallarta, including Los Arcos del Malecón, Teatro Vallarta, La Isla Shopping Center, the Emiliano Zapata and Cuale Markets, the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Technological University of Bahía de Banderas, and the La Lija Cultural Center. In addition to performances in the city, visiting groups will travel to municipalities such as Mascota, San Sebastián del Oeste, Tomatlán, and Atenguillo to share their traditions with wider audiences.
The festival opens on Saturday, May 2 with two performances. Starting at 6:00 pm, troops from Yucatán, Aguascalientes, Sinalo and Costa Rica will entertain at Puerto Mágico. At 8:30 pm, dancers from Veracruz will perform at the Iglesia Santa Cruz in the Romantic Zone.
On Sunday, May 3, two gala performances will take the stage at Teatro Vallarta. The first show at 5:00 pm will feature the Kaambal Ballet of Mérida, Yucatán, along with the Ballet of the University of Guanajuato. A second performance at 7:30 pm will showcase the representative group of Latvia and the Sinaloense Folklore Company. Theater tickets support the festival’s organization and logistics.
Activities continue on Monday, May 4, beginning at 10:00 am with Baila Conmigo, an interactive experience where visiting groups teach members of the public some of their traditional dances. At 10:30 am, an exhibition of dolls dressed in traditional costumes from Mexico and participating countries will open inside the Municipal Presidency, where visitors can view the display free of charge.
One of the most anticipated moments of the week will be the grand inaugural parade on Monday, May 4 at 6:00 pm. More than a thousand artists will participate in the procession, which begins at the IPEJAL grounds in front of the Agustín Flores Contreras (Municipal) Stadium and continues to Los Arcos del Malecón, accompanied by live music and dance presentations.
On Thursday, May 7, the “Sowing Peace” activity will take place at the CECYTEJ El Pitillal campus at 10:00 am. Organized by students and faculty, this initiative encourages international friendship and environmental responsibility through the planting of native shrubs and flowers in local green areas.
A highlight later in the week will be the “Flavors of the World” event on Friday, May 8, where participating groups will share their culinary traditions. Festival organizer Maestro Antonio Salcedo Padilla explained that invited groups will prepare traditional dishes from their countries as part of a friendly cooking competition.
At the Emiliano Zapata Market, participants from Latvia, Costa Rica, and Mexico will present dishes, while the Cuale Market will host groups from Colombia and Bulgaria. The Emiliano Zapata Market will also be transformed into a performance forum, featuring presentations from Chihuahua and Latvia.
Maestro Salcedo noted that the cooking competition is designed to be fun and accessible rather than professional. “It’s a cooking competition, not a professional one. The participants aren’t chefs; they’re the ones who will prepare a dish from their country,” he explained.
Judges selected by the market organizers will evaluate the dishes and award a prize for the best entry. After the competition, a stage will be set up along one of the nearby streets so the festival can continue with evening performances.
The festival will conclude on Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 pm with a closing ceremony at the La Lija Cultural Center, bringing together performers and audiences to celebrate a successful week of cultural exchange.
Most festival activities are free and open to the public, with only the Teatro Vallarta performances requiring paid admission to support event logistics.
The Vallarta Azteca Festival of International Folklore is endorsed by the International Federation of Dance Festivals (FIDAF) and is made possible through the collaboration of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust, the Puerto Vallarta City Council, the Vallartense Institute of Culture, CECyTE Jalisco, the Vallarta Azteca Folklore Group, and community partners.
For a complete schedule of performances and activities, visitors are encouraged to follow the official Festival Vallarta Azteca del Folclor Internacional Facebook page, visit the Vallartense Institute of Culture website, or stop by their offices.
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