- Governor Libia Dennise presented the Presea Cervantina, the Presea Eugenio Trueba Olivares and the Distinguished Journalist Award.
- The Alhóndiga de Granaditas came alive with Mike Patton and his Mondo Cane project.
- For the Government of the People, culture transforms communities and opens paths.
The Governor of the People, Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, took part in the opening of the 54th edition of the Cervantino International Festival (FIC), the most important cultural celebration of Mexico.
In this Fiesta del Espíritu, Guanajuato is once again telling the world who it is: a land proud of its roots, generous in its talent, and willing to meet others through art, explained the Governor.
“You are the heart that makes this Fiesta del Espíritu beat. Thank you for showing, year after year, that culture can bring together what seems distant, illuminate what seemed forgotten, and open paths where there were none before. May these days allow us to be moved, discover new perspectives, and once again believe in the immense power of human creativity,” said Libia Dennise.
From October 3 to 18, Guanajuato, the Cervantina Capital of America, will become a stage for art, history, and diversity for 16 days. France is the guest country of honor, marking 200 years of diplomatic relations with Mexico. Artists from 20 Mexican states will also participate, strengthening the national character of the Fiesta del Espíritu.
The FIC includes 95 productions, 215 performances, 17 venues and 3,325 artists (2,802 Mexican and 523 international) from 29 countries. Music, theater, dance, opera, visual arts and multidisciplinary works will take place in theaters, museums and plazas.
Guanajuato is participating with more than 1,400 artists in 22 activities. Highlights include the Proyecto Ruelas, the Escenario de la Gente (People's Stage) and Vientos Musicales para la Gente, which bring culture closer to communities. This edition also celebrates the centennial of José Alfredo Jiménez and the legacy of María Grever.
Attendance is estimated at more than 268,000 people, with an economic impact of over 363.5 million pesos. An estimated 63,776 tourists will stay in hotels in Guanajuato City, with an average occupancy of 60%.
“May every round of applause celebrate diversity. May every stage build bridges. And may every experience remind us that when art touches the soul, the world changes to become a little better,” emphasized the Governor.
The Presea Cervantina, the Presea Eugenio Trueba Olivares and the Distinguished Journalist Award were presented.
The Presea Cervantina 2026 is presented to the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, an ensemble founded in Mexico in 1982, a two-time Latin Grammy winner recognized for bringing Latin American chamber music to five continents.
Arón Bitrán, a Chilean-born violinist who became a Mexican citizen, founder of the Cuarteto, international soloist and mentor to generations, received the distinction.
The Distinguished Journalist Award goes to Federico Velio Ortega Delgado, a journalist, communicator and historical researcher from León, for 40 years in journalism that contribute to the legacy and memory of Guanajuato.
The Presea Eugenio Trueba Olivares will also be presented. It was established in 2014 in memory of the former rector of the University of Guanajuato and director emeritus of the Teatro Universitario. This distinction recognizes the career and contributions of artists or groups from Guanajuato who have participated in the Cervantino and enriched the state's cultural life.
This year's recipient is Sara Pinedo, a Guanajuato-born creator who has transformed community theater through the Proyecto Ruelas, which draws on memory, participation and activism, linking territories, youth and human rights with national and international stages.
Mike Patton and his project Mondo Cane are making the Alhóndiga de Granaditas vibrate.
Later, the Governor, accompanied by Karla Curiel De Icaza, Secretary of Culture of the Mexican Government, witnessed the inaugural show on the plaza of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, led by Mike Patton with his project Mondo Cane.
This presentation opens 16 days of artistic encounter and confirms Guanajuato as a cultural venue for Mexico and the world.
Mondo Cane is a show that brings together the United States, Italy and Mexico through an intense, theatrical and immersive production. Mike Patton, known for defying genres and expanding the possibilities of the voice in groups such as Faith No More, Mr.
Bungle, Tomahawk and Fantômas, presents one facet of his career. Mondo Cane reimagines Italian pop of the 1950s and 1960s through orchestral arrangements and a cinematic sensibility.
For 90 minutes, Patton sang in Italian, performing pieces that ranged from the energy of Urlo Negro, by The Blackmen, to the beauty of Senza Fine, by Gino Paoli, and the cinematic power of Deep Down, by Ennio Morricone. It is a way of restoring relevance to songs from popular memory through a contemporary, bold and surprising interpretation.
France at the Fiesta del Espíritu
The opening takes place in an edition that features France as the guest country of honor, marking the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France.
Its presence goes beyond an artistic delegation; it allows for the strengthening of a relationship built on culture, education, heritage, and cooperation.
The French programming includes music, theater, dance, opera, urban art, and multidisciplinary proposals that showcase the diversity of contemporary creation.
FIC 54 features the Escenario de la Gente
As part of the Cervantino International Festival, the Escenario de la Gente brings the Fiesta del Espíritu to communities and recognizes the cultural diversity of Guanajuato.
This year, the Escenario de la Gente, located in Plaza San Roque, presents traditional and popular Mexican music and dance, with 409 artists from groups in 16 municipalities of Guanajuato.
Its goal is to give visibility to artists and groups from different municipalities, strengthening identity, participation and the exchange of knowledge.
For the Government of the People, the Cervantino demonstrates that culture can unite generations and countries, open conversations, and help us look at the world in a different way, said Governor Libia Dennise.
“The Cervantino International Festival was born here, grew here. It took root here. And from here it spread to the world. It was born from the imagination of artists, students, and a community that decided to open their streets to culture.”.
“That is why we share the Cervantino with Mexico and with the whole world, and today we are excited to welcome you and open our hearts once again,” she concluded.
Delphine Borione, Ambassador of France in Mexico; Lizeth Galván Cortés, Secretary of Culture of Guanajuato; Claudia Susana Gómez López, Rector of the University of Guanajuato; Samantha Smith Gutiérrez, Mayor of Guanajuato; and Juan Carlos Montesinos Carranza, President of the Advisory Council of the State DIF System were also present at this event.
