The 26th edition of the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City turned into a grand celebration of rock and its diverse expressions and styles on Saturday (March 14), with iconic acts such as Lenny Kravitz, John Fogerty, Juanes, Enanitos Verdes, and Maldita Vecindad. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico also shone, bringing salsa for the first time to the iconic rock gathering and making the crowd dance.
On its first day of activities, Vive Latino, held at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), brought together 80,000 people, according to promoter Ocesa.
On the Anglo side, Kravitz delivered one of the most memorable shows in the history of the event, while Fogerty, the iconic founder of Creedence Clearwater Revival, connected with multiple generations of rock fans. Colombian superstar Juanes surprised the audience with powerful riffs in homage to Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, and the Mexican band Madreperla offered a sublime moment as they made their Vive Latino debut.
California hip-hop legend Cypress Hill honored their roots and their people, inviting Mexican rapper Alemán to the stage to perform their new single “Wacha Trucha.” The festival also featured international acts from different genres, including Moenia, Los Amigos Invisibles, Cuco, Trueno, White Lies, Chetes, Nacho Vegas, Love of Lesbian, Carlos Sadness, Los Viejos, Alcalá Norte, and Margaritas Podridas.
During its second day on Sunday (March 15), the festival will host the reunion of Fobia and Illya Kuryaki and The Valderramas, as well as performances by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Tom Morello, The Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Aoki, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Esteman & Daniela Spalla and Santa Sabina.
For the third consecutive year, thanks to a partnership with Amazon Music, concerts can be streamed for free through the digital platform.
Below, some of our favorite acts from the first day of the Vive Latino 2026 festival.
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Lenny Kravitz
The debut of the iconic American rocker at Vive Latino will be remembered as one of the best performances by an Anglo artist in the history of the festival.
Kravitz not only reaffirmed the immense energy he exudes on stage, but he also sought to connect more with the audience by delivering a heartfelt, bilingual dialogue. “Bienvenidos a esta celebración (Welcome to this celebration),” he started in Spanish. “Everyday is a blessing. Estoy muy feliz de estar aquí con ustedes (I’m very happy to be here with you.) You’re always in my heart. Todos juntos (All together,) and I feel you so much. ¡Somos energía, somos vida, somos amor! (We are energy, we are life, we are love!)” he expressed, eliciting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Accompanied by his band, the singer-songwriter took over the main stage to perform a varied selection of songs, featuring classics from his discography like “Bring It On,” “I Belong to You,” “Believe,” “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,” “Again,” “American Woman” and the powerful “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” creating an epic moment for both new and longtime fans.
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Juanes
Image Credit: Lulú Urdapilleta The Colombian superstar returned to the Vive Latino festival for the second time since his debut in 2019 to deliver one of the most anticipated and celebrated performances on the first day of activities. Dressed in a Mexican national soccer team jersey, Juan Esteban Aristizábal (his real name) took the audience on a journey through the songs that have catapulted him to being one of the great voices in Latin music, such as “La Camisa Negra,” “Fotografía,” “Cada Vez,” “Mala Gente” and “A Dios le Pido.”
The Medellín-born star also showcased his guitar skills with powerful riffs and honored his heavy metal roots with a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s classic “Paranoid.” Additionally, he performed a small fragment of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the legendary band that influenced him during his adolescence and inspired him to form Ekhymosis.
Another surprise came when Juanes, later wearing a black T-shirt, invited Mateo from Conociendo Rusia to join him in a duet of “Es Por Ti.”
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El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Image Credit: Lulú Urdapilleta The legendary Puerto Rican band brought salsa music to Vive Latino for the first time, headlining a historic moment with a masterful performance that made thousands of people from various generations dance to the rhythm of songs like “Me Liberé,” “Falsaria,” “Achilipú” and “Esos Ojitos Negros.”
Dubbed the “University of Salsa,” the group opened the show with a homage to the host nation, “Conozca a México,” a 1978 track that invites people to visit emblematic places in the country, highlighting its beauty and warmth. One of the most exhilarating moments came with their classic “Un Verano en Nueva York,” whose version by Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” — part of his No. 1 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos — has massively popularized it among young people worldwide.
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Maldita Vecindad
The Mexican ska-rock band, was one of the acts responsible for closing Saturday’s marathonic session, and they did so with a message of peace and love. “We are living in such difficult and complicated times, with a bombardment of wars,” lead singer Roco Pachukote expressed with an energy that has stood the test of time. “They want us depressed, they want us divided, they want us afraid.”
The vocalist invited the audience to join in a ritual of resistance to cast away negative energy and embrace hope. With “Solín,” Maldita Vecindad unleashed the moshpit and slam, while their classic “Pachuco,” featuring emerging artist La Coreañera on the accordion, invited dancing and celebration.
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Madreperla
One of the standout performances from day 1 on the Intolerante Tent stage was the debut of the superband Madreperla, made up of four iconic musicians from Mexico’s rock scene: singer-songwriter Cecilia Toussaint, guitarist José Manuel Aguilera, bassist Federico Fong, and Caifanes drummer Alfonso André. With just a freshly released EP, the group captivated even the most demanding listeners with songs like “Tenue Luz,” “Cinemático” and “Si Pudieras Oír,” leaving them wanting more.
Blending progressive rock with hints of jazz, Madreperla has literally become a family — the quartet is joined by Toussaint and André’s son, Julián, on percussion — and continues the legacy of the lineup that three decades ago gave life to the cult band La Barranca. This new project now arrives with a fresh proposal that reaffirms its elegance, featuring poetic lyrics and enchanting sounds.
