Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Jalisco will bring the sounds and traditions of mariachi to communities across Mexico this September as it hosts the 25th National Traditional Mariachi Gathering, “Fandango and Tradition: 25 Turns al Son.” The event will take place from September 8 to 12 and will unite musicians and dancers committed to preserving one of Mexico’s most important cultural traditions.
The September gathering is a separate event from the 33rd Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería, which will take place from August 26 to September 6. Together, the two events will give Puerto Vallarta an extended celebration of mariachi traditions as summer comes to a close.
Organized by the Jalisco Secretariat of Culture, the gathering will feature 30 traditional mariachi groups from Jalisco and other states. Performers will present traditional repertoires through concerts, educational activities, and forums designed to encourage dialogue and strengthen knowledge of the musical tradition.
Alejandra López Cuéllar, head of Community Culture for the Jalisco Ministry of Culture, said the overall program will include 17 venues and sub-venues across the country. Puerto Vallarta will serve as one of the official sub-venues, bringing the national celebration to the Jalisco coast on September 9 and 10.
The Puerto Vallarta program will begin September 9 with an evening performance at the Parroquia Asunción de María in the El Caloso neighborhood, followed by a community fandango in the city’s historic center. On September 10, the city will host “fandangos of knowledge” at the Cecyteh campus, combining music with opportunities for cultural learning and community participation.
Traditional mariachi differs from the modern ensemble most audiences recognize because it does not use trumpets. Instead, its sound is built around string instruments, including violins, vihuelas, guitarras de golpe, and guitarrones. The musical form reflects the historical traditions of rural communities in western Mexico and is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
López Cuéllar explained that bringing the gathering to Puerto Vallarta supports a broader effort to decentralize cultural programming and make major artistic events accessible beyond the Guadalajara metropolitan area. The initiative also provides residents and visitors with an opportunity to experience a traditional form of mariachi that preserves the genre’s historical character.
Puerto Vallarta will also host the Children’s and Youth Mariachi Competition from October 14 to 17. For the first time, the competition will take place outside Guadalajara, with the coastal city serving as its host. The event is being organized in coordination with the Vallarta Institute of Culture and will include a public master class in the main square of El Pitillal.
The competition’s elimination rounds will be held at venues throughout the municipality. The semifinals are scheduled for the Friendly Hotel, while the grand finale will take place at Teatro Vallarta. Musical performances at the Los Arcos del Malecón amphitheater will provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors to hear the next generation of mariachi performers.
All activities at public spaces and indoor venues in Puerto Vallarta will be free to attend. The Jalisco Ministry of Culture said it will continue offering artistic events and community workshops in the municipality in the coming months.
Together, the September gathering and October competition will give Puerto Vallarta a larger role in the preservation and celebration of traditional mariachi. They will also create opportunities for local families, young musicians, and visitors to connect with a musical tradition that remains an important part of Mexico’s cultural identity.
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