President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo introduced the seven Mexican-American semifinalists for *México Canta* 2026, a binational contest that seeks to promote messages of peace, cultural identity, and addiction prevention among young people in Mexico and the United States.
During her morning press conference, the president noted that the competition aims to highlight the cultural and familial ties between the two countries—particularly among Mexican and Mexican-American communities that preserve their identity through music.
“That existing cultural bond and the effort to build through peace and love—while standing against addiction—is what we want to showcase with *México Canta*,” she emphasized.
The 2026 edition drew 16,289 participants: 10,528 from Mexico and 5,761 from the United States. The first stage took place from May 11 to June 10, utilizing both a virtual platform and in-person auditions.
Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza reported that the Mexican Music Council selected 14 semifinalists: seven Mexican-Americans and seven Mexicans. The participants from Mexico will be introduced on July 31.
The seven Mexican-American semifinalists are Grecia Marín (Perris, California), Daniel Ochoa (Tucson, Arizona), Tiffany Galaviz (Glendale, California), Miranda González (Castle Rock, Colorado), Joshua Soto (The Bronx, New York), Lizandro Espinoza (Portland, Oregon), and Rosalba Valdez (Chicago, Illinois).
According to the Federal Government, *México Canta* is part of the “Addressing Root Causes” pillar of the National Security Strategy, positioning culture and music as tools to foster development opportunities for young people aged 18 to 29. The semifinals will take place on August 23 at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles, California, and on August 30 at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. During this stage, six finalists will be selected via real-time public voting.
The schedule also includes a recap broadcast on September 6, during which an additional finalist chosen by the public will be selected. The Grand Final will be held on September 13 at the National Auditorium.
The winners will join the lineup of guest performers for the September 15 celebrations at Mexico City’s Zócalo, as part of the patriotic festivities led by the Federal Government.
During the presentation, singer Armando Toledo Rosas—known as “El Bogueto”—highlighted the importance of creating spaces for young people to tell their stories through music, identity, and pride in their roots.
