Orizaba to host National Dancing Masks Festival in November 2026

The city of Orizaba, Veracruz, will host the sixth edition of the National Dancing Masks Festival, also known as 'La Gran Fiesta de México,' from November 13 to 15, 2026. The event is expected to bring together more than 1,500 dancers and approximately 300 to 350 traditional musicians representing various community expressions from across Mexico.

Scheduled to take place at the Alameda Central park, the festival will feature street parades, sound rituals, and specialized pavilions for master mask makers, artisans, and gastronomy. The program also includes an international forum focused on regional rituals, where representatives from multiple states will present traditional dances.

Organizers, including festival director Manuel Álvarez Sánchez, described the event as an exercise in community memory and cultural resistance. Banco Azteca is serving as the principal sponsor for the second consecutive cycle, supporting efforts to dignify artisanal crafts and project Mexico's intangible heritage to wider audiences.