México Canta 2026 Winners Revealed: A New Wave of Regional Talent

Mexican artist Bryan Soto and Mexican-American performers Lizandro Espinoza and Tiffany Galaviz have emerged as the winners of the second edition of the binational talent contest México Canta. The competition, which aims to highlight emerging voices in regional music, concluded on Sunday (Sept. 13) after receiving over one million public votes, according to figures released by the Secretariat of Culture of the Government of Mexico.

As the grand prize winners, these three artists will receive a professional record deal to produce their debut studio albums. Furthermore, they are set to perform at the prestigious Independence Day concert in Mexico City’s Zócalo, an event headlined by the iconic Texan band Intocable. The performance will serve as the centerpiece of the national festivities on Tuesday evening (Sept. 15).

The finale, broadcast live from the National Auditorium, showcased a commitment to promoting music free from content that glorifies violence or illicit substances. The event featured notable guest appearances, including Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga and Majo Aguilar, who served as the show’s host. The initiative was coordinated by the Mexican Music Council for the second consecutive year.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the high level of public engagement during her morning press conference on Monday (Sept. 14). “Yesterday, the finalists for México Canta were announced,” she noted. “One million people participated in the voting. It was truly excellent.”

The winning performances highlighted the diversity within the regional Mexican genre:

• Bryan Soto, representing the State of Mexico, delivered a powerful banda performance of “Labios de Cereza” alongside his band, Clave 5/7.
• Lizandro Espinoza, born in Portland, Oregon, captivated the audience with his sierreño-style ballad “Pena de la Buena,” drawing inspiration from legends like Juan Gabriel and Antonio Aguilar.
• Tiffany Galaviz, from Glendale, California, honored her deep-rooted connection to mariachi music with a sophisticated rendition of “Cosa Fina del País.”

This year’s contest focused heavily on regional Mexican music, which remains the most popular genre among the country’s youth. The government-backed initiative arrives during a period of significant cultural transition, as several Mexican states have implemented restrictions on songs that glorify drug trafficking, specifically corridos tumbados. Despite these regional policies, President Sheinbaum has maintained that her administration does not seek to ban specific musical genres, emphasizing that such decisions are made at the local government level.