The artistic heart of Guanajuato, which began to be heard very quietly more than half a century ago in its capital with the crazy dream of bringing theater to the streets, now extends its pulse throughout the country with the 54th edition Circuit of the International Cervantino Festival (FIC).
The 2026 FIC has France as its guest country. Through the Cervantino Circuit, part of the national and international program will reach 32 cities in 16 states with offerings of music, dance, theater, opera, cabaret, performance, and more.
At a press conference, Amaya Ducru, cultural attaché of the Embassy of France in Mexico, highlighted that the Cervantino Festival embodies one of the “most cherished” values of her country: the decentralization of culture, taking it beyond Paris and making it accessible throughout the country.
“Our ambition is clear: for works to circulate, for artists to meet, and for audiences to discover new proposals where they live (…) When a work encounters a new territory, new artists, and new audiences, it can also be transformed. For us, that is the richness of this circulation—not simply moving works around, but allowing encounters to help them grow,” the official stated.
When and where is the 2026 Cervantino Circuit?
The 2026 Cervantino Circuit will take place from September 26 to October 28, 2026. The period extends before and after the International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, whose main program is scheduled for October 3 to 18, 2026.
The circuit includes 16 states:
- Baja California
- Baja California Sur
- Mexico City
- Chiapas
- Chihuahua
- Guanajuato
- Hidalgo
- Jalisco
- Michoacán
- Morelos
- Puebla
- Sinaloa
- Sonora
- Tamaulipas
- Tlaxcala
- Zacatecas
In Mexico City, activities will take place at emblematic venues such as the Palace of Fine Arts, the National Center for the Arts (Cenart), and the Los Pinos Cultural Complex. In the states, the circuit will even take place as part of events such as the San Francisco Fair of Hidalgo and the International Street Theater Festival in Zacatecas.
The Cervantino Circuit is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico through the General Directorate of Circuits and Festivals, with the collaboration of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL).
Featured activities of the 2026 Cervantino Circuit
The French presence, within the context of 200 years of diplomatic relations with Mexico, includes cooperation, co-creation, and co-production initiatives.
For example, in Mexico City, the program at the Palace of Fine Arts includes Mondo Cane with Mike Patton, one of the circuit’s most anticipated artistic experimentation projects, which revisits popular Italian songs from the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, the Pygmalion Ensemble, conducted by Raphaël Pichon, will arrive with Mundo, buenas noches, one of the major references in early music, culminating with the work of Johann Sebastian Bach.
At the Scenic Pavilion, Olivier Normand will present Vaslav, a multidisciplinary and drag cabaret production that humorously and ironically challenges gender roles.
(LA)HORDE, from the National Ballet of Marseille, and Rone, will present a Franco-Mexican co-production that will address urban protests and collective resistance at several venues, combining contemporary dance with live electronic music.
The circuit will also include activities in public spaces. At the Helipad of the Los Pinos Cultural Complex, projects such as México a través de la marimba, by Mario Nandayapa Quartet, will be presented. At Cenart, the Trío Mujeres Tamaulipecas and La ópera de los monstruos will participate.
Guanajuato will have extensions in municipalities such as Irapuato, León, and San Miguel de Allende.
Complete schedule of the 2026 Cervantino Circuit
| State | City | Venue | Performance | Date and Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baja California | Tijuana | Sala de Espectáculos del Centro Cultural Tijuana | Olivier Normand — Vaslav | October 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Baja California Sur | Cabo San Lucas | Instituto Baldor | Debit | October 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Chiapas | Tila | Festival Maya Zoque Chiapaneca, 36th edition | Los Tamborichocos | September 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. |
| Chihuahua | Chihuahua | Quinta Carolina | Compañía La Meute — Motel Cactus | October 17, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Lunario del Auditorio Nacional | Sofía Rei — Cervantino en CDMX | October 19, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Helénico | Thomas Quillardet — En Addicto | October 14, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Helénico | Los Purépechas de Charapan — Pirekuas, sones y abajeños | October 19, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Helénico | La Compañía Opcional — Existen muchas formas de llegar a la costa | October 20, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Silvestre Revueltas, Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli | Kotaro Fukuma, piano — Viaje sobre agua | October 20, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Centro de Cultura Digital | Dab Dance Project — “hello world”; | October 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Auditorio Blas Galindo, Cenart | Trío Mujeres Tamaulipecas — Canto a mi Huasteca | October 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Pabellón Circense, Cenart | Mazelfreten — Rave Lucid México | October 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Pabellón Circense, Cenart | Debit | October 10, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro de las Artes, Cenart | Tamara Cubas — Sea of Silence (Mar de silencio) | October 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro de las Artes, Cenart | Stage of the Arts México & Compañía Flotante — La ópera de los monstruos | October 17, 2026, 12:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro de las Artes, Cenart | Stage of the Arts México & Compañía Flotante — La ópera de los monstruos | October 17, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Helipuerto, Complejo Cultural Los Pinos | Mario Nandayapa Quartet — México a través de la marimba | October 9, 2026, 3:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Helipuerto, Complejo Cultural Los Pinos | Samoyedo — Tributo a la música tejana | October 9, 2026, 4:15 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Helipuerto, Complejo Cultural Los Pinos | Pat Boy with Báat Paax — U yik’el ak t’aan (La voz de la palabra) | October 11, 2026, 3:15 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Laboratorio de Creación Escénica, INBAL | NOVAYA — Noire | October 22–28, 2026, 10:00 a.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Pabellón Escénico, INBAL | Olivier Normand — Vaslav | October 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Principal del Palacio de Bellas Artes | Mondo Cane with Mike Patton | October 1, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Principal del Palacio de Bellas Artes | Ensamble Pygmalion — Mundo, buenas noches | October 9, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Principal del Palacio de Bellas Artes | Cuarteto Arod — En concierto | October 14, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Principal del Palacio de Bellas Artes | Compañía Antonio Gades — Carmen de Antonio Gades y Carlos Saura | October 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Bangarra Dance Theatre — FuturesPast | September 29, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Bangarra Dance Theatre — FuturesPast | September 30, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Adriana Mater, by Kaija Saariaho | October 3, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Adriana Mater, by Kaija Saariaho | October 4, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Compañía La Meute — Motel Cactus | October 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Leïla Ka — Maldonne | October 16, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | Dab Dance Project — “hello world”; | October 20, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | (LA)HORDE/Ballet Nacional de Marsella y Rone — Room with a View | October 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Teatro Julio Castillo | (LA)HORDE/Ballet Nacional de Marsella y Rone — Room with a View | October 25, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Nezahualcóyotl, UNAM | Ensemble Modern | September 30, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | Mexico City | Sala Nezahualcóyotl, UNAM | Camerata Salzburg with María Dueñas, violin | October 9, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | Irapuato | Parque Irekua | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 21, 2026, 11:00 a.m. |
| Guanajuato | Irapuato | Parque Irekua | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 21, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | Irapuato | Polideportivo del Instituto Irapuato | La Santísima Voladora | October 16, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | Irapuato | Teatro de la Ciudad | Compañía La Meute — Motel Cactus | October 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Auditorio Mateo Herrera | Ensamble Pygmalion — Mundo, buenas noches | October 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Aula Magna (IBERO) | Trío Mujeres Tamaulipecas — Canto a mi Huasteca | October 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Aula Magna (La Salle Bajío) | La Compañía Opcional — Existen muchas formas de llegar a la costa | October 5, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Calzada de las Artes | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 23, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Calzada de las Artes | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 23, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Plaza de Gallos | Los Purépechas de Charapan — Pirekuas, sones y abajeños | October 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Plaza Principal | San Juan de Dios | Osian Meilir — Qwerin | October 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Sala Principal del Teatro Bicentenario | Physical Momentum — Delay | October 10, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Sala Principal del Teatro Bicentenario | (LA)HORDE/Ballet Nacional de Marsella y Rone — Room with a View | October 13, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Sala Principal del Teatro Bicentenario | Compañía Antonio Gades — Carmen de Antonio Gades y Carlos Saura | October 15, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Teatro Manuel Doblado | Leïla Ka — Maldonne | October 13, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Teatro Manuel Doblado | Dab Dance Project — “hello world”; | October 24, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Teatro María Grever | La Compañía Opcional — Existen muchas formas de llegar a la costa | October 10, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | León | Teatro María Grever | LINA_ — Fado Camões | October 15, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Guanajuato | San Miguel de Allende | El Sindicato (Centro Cultural Comunitario) | Lemon Bucket Orkestra | October 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Auditorio Gota de Plata | Osian Meilir — Qwerin | October 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Auditorio Gota de Plata | Mazelfreten | October 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Auditorio Gota de Plata | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Auditorio Gota de Plata | Kotaro Fukuma, piano — Viaje sobre agua | October 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Teatro del Pueblo (Domo de las Estrellas) | La Santísima Voladora | October 15, 2026, 8:45 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Teatro San Francisco | Rita Donte — Ritual | October 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Hidalgo | Pachuca | Teatro San Francisco | Lemon Bucket Orkestra | October 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Jalisco | Guadalajara | Teatro Degollado | Tamara Cubas — Sea of Silence (Mar de silencio) | October 3, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Jalisco | Zapopan | Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas – Sala Plácido Domingo | (LA)HORDE/Ballet Nacional de Marsella y Rone — Room with a View | October 9, 2026, 8:30 p.m. |
| Jalisco | Zapopan | Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas – Sala Plácido Domingo | (LA)HORDE/Ballet Nacional de Marsella y Rone — Room with a View | October 10, 2026, 8:30 p.m. |
| Michoacán | Morelia | Parroquia de San José | Ensamble Pygmalion — Mundo, buenas noches | October 15, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | Mazelfreten | October 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | Debit | October 9, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | Osian Meilir — Qwerin | October 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | LINA_ — Fado Camões | October 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Morelos | Cuernavaca | Plaza de Armas | La Santísima Voladora | October 14, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Puebla | Puebla | Patio de Casa de Cultura | Bola Suriana — Canto Vivo | October 24, 2026, 2:00 p.m. |
| Puebla | Puebla | Sala Luis Cabrera | Colectivo de Artes Escénicas “Ecléctico & Bailarines Invitados” — Marry Who?! | October 24, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Sinaloa | Culiacán | Teatro Pablo Villavicencio | LINA_ — Fado Camões | October 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Sinaloa | Los Mochis | Universidad Autónoma de Occidente | Thomas Quillardet — En Addicto | October 19, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Sinaloa | Mazatlán | Teatro Ángela Peralta | Leïla Ka — Maldonne | October 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Tamaulipas | Ciudad Victoria | Teatro Amalia G. de Castillo Ledón del Centro Cultural Tamaulipas | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 5, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Tamaulipas | Matamoros | Teatro de la Reforma | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 7, 2026, 8:00 p.m. |
| Tamaulipas | Nuevo Laredo | Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m. |
| Tamaulipas | Reynosa | Teatro Principal del Parque Cultural Reynosa | Momi Maiga — Kairo | October 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m. |
| Tlaxcala | Tlaxcala | Teatro Xicohténcatl | Olivier Normand — Vaslav | October 9, 2026, 6:00 p.m. |
| Zacatecas | Zacatecas | Explanada del Congreso del Estado | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. |
| Zacatecas | Zacatecas | Explanada del Congreso del Estado | Gratte Ciel — RoZéo | October 14, 2026, 9:00 p.m. |
International Cervantino Festival 2026: What you need to know about the 54th edition
- 54th edition of the International Cervantino Festival: it will take place from October 3 to 18, 2026, in Guanajuato; the Cervantino Circuit will extend the activities from September 26 to October 28.
- France, guest country of honor: its participation takes place within the framework of 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France.
- Guanajuato capital: it will have 17 venues and artists from 29 countries, with dance, music, theater, opera, and street performance activities.
- The 2026 FIC will feature 212 performances and 2,746 artists. Highlights include Grupo Niche at the Esplanade of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas.
- Cervantina Chair: it will offer talks, master classes, discussions, and workshops on music, performance, technology, performing arts, and cultural heritage at venues in Guanajuato.
- There will also be literary tours, a Game Jam, and board-game activities addressing the preservation of cultural heritage.
Where can you buy tickets for the Cervantino Circuit?
Part of the 2026 Cervantino Circuit program will be free, as it includes street performances, traditional parades, and certain shows at enclosed venues.
For activities that do have a cost, physical points of sale have been established. In Mexico City, tickets can be purchased at the box offices of the National Auditorium. In Guanajuato, physical sales will be available at Casa Emma Godoy and Plaza Allaïa. Online sales are also available through Ticketmaster.
Source: elfinanciero
