The Secretary of Culture explains to Billboard why the government-sponsored contest will focus on traditional Mexican music projects.
L to R: Miguel Trujillo, president of the Mexican Music Council; Sergio Maya, winner of México Canta 2025; Galia Siurob, special mention in México Canta 2025; singer Majo Aguilar; president of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum; singer Junior H; Brian Muñoz, contestant of México Canta 2025; and Claudia Curiel, Mexico’s secretary of Culture, at the National Palace on May 11, 2026 in Mexico City.
Secretaría de Cultura del Gobierno de México
The second edition of México Canta (Mexico Sings), a binational competition for artists in Mexico and the United States spearheaded by the Mexican government, aims to promote songs by young performers that are free of content glorifying violence and drugs. This year, the initiative will focus on regional Mexican music proposals.
The reason, explains Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza, is that “it is the genre most listened to by young people” in the country, she tells Billboard Español. “Regional music can fuse with any other genre. It is deeply connecting with young people, and that’s where we’re starting. Traditional Mexican music is already one of the most consumed in the world.”
