The México Now Festival returns from November 5 to 8 with renewed energy and a clear mission: to continue building cultural bridges between Mexico and New York. In its 21st edition, the only independent festival dedicated to contemporary Mexican art and culture presents a vibrant program that combines literature, music, film, visual art and conversations with leading creators.
For four days, México Now will carry out in-person and virtual activities at emblematic venues such as The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, Joe’s Pub, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the NYU Culture Space. Most events will be free with advance registration, and some concerts will require a ticket.
“At a time when the world seems to be fragmenting, México Now insists on building bridges,” says the festival’s founder and director, Claudia Norman. “This project was born to make visible the richness of contemporary Mexican creation, and today more than ever we need to sustain these spaces of encounter and dialogue that transcend borders.”
Literary and artistic opening
The festival starts on Wednesday, November 5 with three unmissable activities.
At 1:00 pm, in virtual format, the writer Jazmina Barrera talks with the translator Megan McDowell about The Queen of Swords, a work inspired by the life of Elena Garro.
At 6:00 pm, at The Center for Fiction, cartoonist Rafael Barajas “El Fisgón” will explore the origin of political art in Mexico and its role as a critical tool against Eurocentric narratives.
The day ends at 7:30 pm with the presentation of the commemorative book Celebrate México Now Festival 2004–2024 by Rocío Echevarría, which brings together two decades of history, interviews and photographs of the festival.
Music with roots
On Thursday, November 6, Doris Anahí Muñoz will take the stage at Joe’s Pub alongside Ramón Ponce’s Mariachi Real de México to pay tribute to ranchera music and its intergenerational legacy. Before the concert, at 1:00 pm, the singer will offer a virtual talk about her creative process.
Ancestral singing at the Met
On Friday, November 7, the Metropolitan Museum of Art joins the celebration with Singing Stones: Celebrating the Ancient Americas, a program honoring the reopening of galleries dedicated to the Ancient Americas.
Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth will perform Canta la Piedra—Tetluikan, inspired by the poetry of Nahua artist Mardonio Carballo.
The Acardenchado Choir, which captivated in the previous edition, will return with its cardenche song, a musical tradition that transmits pain and resilience.
The night will close with two world premieres by composer Gabriela Ortiz, where both ensembles will join their voices in a powerful double choral arrangement by Kauyumari.
Cinematographic closing
On Saturday, November 8, the festival closes at the NYU Culture Space with the New York premiere of the documentary Con Alma, which follows Magos Herrera and Paola Prestini in the creation of a global musical project born in the pandemic.
The performance will include the short film Lamento, directed by Diego Contreras and starring Gaby Moreno. This event also marks the first collaboration between México Now and CortoCircuito Latino ShortFest NY, in a joint celebration of Latin creativity.
With an agenda that reflects the strength and diversity of Mexican voices, México Now reaffirms its commitment to connecting cultures and showing the transformative power of art.
More information at www.mexiconowfestival.org.
