México Canta 2026 Winners Named After 1M Votes

Bryan Soto, Lizandro Espinoza and Tiffany Galaviz have won México Canta 2026, the second edition of the binational contest for young performers of regional Mexican music. The three winners were announced on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, after a live final at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, as reported by Billboard.

The result was decided by public vote. Mexico's Secretariat of Culture said more than one million votes were received. That is a large turnout for a contest in only its second year.

Soto is from Valle de Chalco in the State of Mexico. He performed "Labios de Cereza" with his band Clave 5/7.

Espinoza was born in Portland, Oregon. He won with "Pena de la Buena," a sierreño-style ballad, the guitar-and-bass-led sound that forms one branch of regional Mexican music.

Galaviz is from Glendale, California. She performed "Cosa Fina del País," a mariachi song, the trumpet-led traditional style often backed by strings and full ensemble vocals.

Each of the three winners will receive a record deal to produce a first studio album. The deal covers the recording of new music. Further terms, including label and release dates, have not been disclosed.

They already have a date for a very large stage. The trio will perform at the Independence Day concert in Mexico City's Zócalo, the capital's central square, on Tuesday evening, Sept. 15. That concert will be headlined by Intocable, the veteran norteño band built around accordion, bass and drums.

The final was broadcast live on Mexican public television from the National Auditorium. Eight finalists reached that stage, four from Mexico and four Mexican-Americans. Alongside the three winners, the finalists included Luna López, La Malixita, Fátima Cuevas, Rosalba Valdéz and Joshua Soto, who is from the Bronx in New York.

México Canta is a Mexican government initiative. It was organised to promote new songs by young performers that do not glorify violence and drugs. The 2026 edition was promoted by the Government of Mexico through the Secretaría de Cultura in collaboration with the Consejo Mexicano de la Música.

What makes this stand out is the balance. One winner is based in Mexico and two are based in the United States. For fans, this means the prize albums will draw on writers and players from both sides of the border, after a first test in front of a Zócalo holiday crowd.