Cervantino 2026 Moves Beyond Guanajuato: Here’s What the Circuit Will Look Like in Other States, with France as Guest of Honor

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

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