Querétaro hosts Festival of Mexican World Heritage Cities

The municipality of Querétaro hosted the 2026 Festival of Mexican World Heritage Cities from October 1 to 4. The event was held at the Manuel Gómez Morín State Educational and Cultural Center to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Santiago de Querétaro being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site.

The festival brought together representatives from 12 cities, including Guanajuato, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Miguel de Allende, Tlacotalpan, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Xochimilco, San Juan del Río, and Durango. The gathering featured 100 artisanal and gastronomic stands, 14 artistic presentations, and 18 academic forums designed to promote the cultural, historical, and culinary wealth of these locations.

Mariana Ortiz, the Secretary of Tourism, emphasized Querétaro’s role as a meeting point for heritage cities and the importance of preserving cultural expressions. Samantha Smith Gutiérrez, President of the National Association of Mexican World Heritage Cities and Mayor of Guanajuato, noted that heritage extends beyond physical buildings to include memory, identity, music, and traditional trades.