From August 20 to 29, 2026, Monterrey and its metropolitan area will become the center of national and international theater with the 25th edition of the Nuevo León Theater Festival (Festival de Teatro Nuevo León).
Recognized as one of Mexico’s most important performing arts festivals, this year’s edition promises to captivate audiences of all ages through a diverse program featuring renowned artists, innovative productions, and a wide range of theatrical styles and themes.
The 2026 Nuevo León Theater Festival is organized by the Council for Culture and the Arts of Nuevo León (CONARTE) with support from the Nuevo León State Ministry of Culture and the Mexican Ministry of Culture through the PROFEST (Program for the Support of Cultural and Artistic Festivals).
“The Nuevo León Theater Festival has become much more than a series of performances on traditional stages over these 25 editions,” said Melissa Segura Guerrero, Nuevo León’s Secretary of Culture, during the official presentation held at the Gran Sala of the Teatro de la Ciudad.
She emphasized the importance of the partnerships that have strengthened the festival at the state, national, and international levels.
According to Segura Guerrero, the festival has expanded beyond traditional venues by collaborating with the Ministry of Equality and Inclusion to bring performances to community centers, the Ministry of Health to present productions in hospitals, and the State Penitentiary Administration Agency, under the Ministry of Public Security, to offer performances for inmates in correctional facilities.
She also highlighted the continued support from the federal government through PROFEST, noting that the festival received increased funding this year in recognition of its long-standing success and cultural significance.
Ricardo Marcos González, Technical Secretary of CONARTE, noted that audience attendance has grown significantly over recent editions.
“This year we expect 115 artists, 41 activities, 35 performances, 15 national and international companies, and six companies from Nuevo León. It is essential that a festival of this caliber showcases local talent while also providing them with greater national and international exposure,” he said.
The festival will feature 21 productions from Mexico City, Morelos, Guanajuato, Veracruz, and Yucatán, along with international talent from Portugal and a special collaborative production involving Mexico, Argentina, Japan, and the United Kingdom. A strong representation of theater companies from Nuevo León will also be part of the program.
Performances will take place at various CONARTE venues and cultural spaces throughout the Monterrey metropolitan area.
A Landmark Festival
The festival presents an outstanding lineup representing the best of local, national, and international theater.
There will be performances designed for all audiences, including productions for early childhood, children, teenagers, young adults, and adults.
One of the festival’s highlights will be the opening performance on Thursday, August 20, featuring “El invencible verano de Liliana” (Liliana’s Invincible Summer), based on the work of Cristina Rivera Garza, adapted by Amaranta Osorio, directed by Juan Carlos Fisher, and starring acclaimed actress Cecilia Suárez.
The Nuevo León Ministry of Culture announced that physical tickets for the opening performance will be distributed on August 5 and 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Teatro de la Ciudad box office while supplies last.
As part of the “Theater in Your Community” program, the festival will also present UNAM’s Carro de Comedias production of “Ubú Rey” (Ubu Roi) at cultural centers and public squares in García, El Carmen, and Guadalupe.
The closing performance will take place on Saturday, August 29, with “La danza que sueña la tortuga” (The Dance Dreamed by the Turtle) by Emilio Carballido, directed by Nohemí Espinosa, at the Gran Sala of the Teatro de la Ciudad.
Professional Development Activities
The festival will also offer educational opportunities for theater professionals through a series of free specialized workshops (registration required, limited capacity):
- Theater Directing Workshop: Tools of Theatricality – Led by Martín Acosta (Mexico City), August 21–25.
- Enhebrar: Scenic Laboratory – Led by Sandra Muñoz (Tamaulipas), August 23–26.
- Cabaret Character Creation Workshop – Led by Cess Enríquez (Mexico City), August 24–27.
- Conjured Theater: Writing and Stage Production Laboratory – Led by Sayuri Navarro (San Luis Potosí), August 25–29.
Additionally, the festival will feature the keynote lecture “Theater Database”, presented by Enrique Gorostieta (Nuevo León) on August 21 in Classroom 5 of the Teatro de la Ciudad.
All performances, workshops, and academic activities are free of charge.
For most performances, physical tickets will be distributed one hour before each show at the corresponding venue, while supplies last.
Source: nl
