Guelaguetza 2025, considered the highest cultural expression of the state of Oaxaca, will be celebrated on Monday, July 21st and 28th in its traditional format of “Lunes del Cerro” (Monday of the Hill) and its “Octave” (Eighth). This edition will include more than 140 cultural, artistic, gastronomic, and commercial activities in various public spaces throughout the Oaxacan capital and surrounding municipalities.
According to what was announced by the state government and the State Tourism Secretariat (Sectur Oaxaca), the 93rd edition of this festival will formally take place from July 1st to August 2nd, although the main dates will be July 21st and 28th.
The main presentations will take place in the Guelaguetza Auditorium, located on Cerro del Fortín, as has been the tradition.
As part of “July, Guelaguetza Month,” 31 public spaces will be open for cultural and tourism activities, with the confirmed participation of 55 delegations representing the state’s eight regions, including the 16 Indigenous communities and the Afro-Mexican community.
What is Guelaguetza?
Guelaguetza, whose Zapotec term means “offering” or “exchange,” is a tradition rooted in pre-Hispanic rituals performed on the “Daninayaaloani” or “hill of beautiful view,” in honor of Centéotl, the goddess of corn.
Over time, this practice evolved into a mestizo celebration that honors the ethnic diversity of Oaxaca through dance, music, clothing, and cuisine.
How to watch Guelaguetza 2025 live?
For those unable to attend the event in person, Guelaguetza 2025 will be broadcast live through the state government’s official digital channels.
The broadcasts will be available on July 21 and 28 at two times: 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., through the “Guelaguetza Oficial” Facebook page.
It is also expected that, as in previous years, the Oaxacan Radio and Television Corporation (CORTV) will broadcast the entire event through its official YouTube channel, as well as on its website and broadcast throughout the state.
More than 140 cultural activities in July
The governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, and the federal Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, presented an agenda consisting of 140 parallel activities ranging from concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and parades of delegations, to keynote lectures, sporting events, and gastronomic events.
Among the main activities are:
Oaxaca Gastronomic Festival of a Thousand Flavors: From July 16 to 30 in the Plaza de la Danza, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the participation of 42 culinary exhibitors from the state’s eight regions.
Mezcal Fair 2025: From July 18 to 29 at the Oaxaca Cultural and Convention Center (CCCO), with 384 stands distributed across six pavilions: mezcal, beer, coffee, food, agro-industry, and crafts.
Tlayuda Fair: This year’s featured gastronomic event, with various culinary and cultural activities.
Convites and Calendas: These will be held on July 17, 22, and 24, departing from the capital’s Zócalo and the Ex-Garita de Xoxocotlán toward the Cho Ndobá Spring Park.
Artisan Fair: From July 17th to 25th, with the participation of 125 artisans offering products made of clay, palm, reed, wood, and textiles.
Oaxacan Textile Fair, Quarry Fair, and Huarache Fair, among others.
Source: milenio
