(NEW YORK, NY) -- Ruidosa Fest returned to Lincoln Center on Sunday, July 12, 2026, for its third consecutive New York edition, bringing together a full day of music, dialogue, learning, and collective celebration. With engaging panel discussions, artist conversations, a music production masterclass, literary programming, and a vibrant community gathering, the 2026 edition marked the festival's most successful Lincoln Center event to date.
Founded by Chilean-American artist Francisca Valenzuela in 2016, Ruidosa has evolved into a global platform that champions women and gender-diverse voices through music, art, education, research, and activism. More than a music festival, Ruidosa creates spaces where creativity and critical conversations intersect, fostering connection, representation, and cultural exchange across generations and disciplines.
This year's festival once again transformed multiple spaces across Lincoln Center into places for reflection, inspiration, and celebration. The program featured performances by duendita, Elsa y Elmar, Rubio, Edna Vazquez, Lila Downs, and Pabllo Vittar's CLUB VITTAR featuring Armana Khan (Silent Disco), DOMINGA & VOLVOX, showcasing the diversity and richness of contemporary Latin music.
Francisca Valenzuela also offered audiences a first glimpse into her upcoming album, MALDITA, delivering a striking, string-driven, high-drama performance that debuted new songs from the record ahead of its July 30 release. Closing her set, she announced that she will be performing in Brooklyn at National Sawdust on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 7:30pm as part of the MALDITA Tour, giving fans another reason to celebrate.
With both stages at capacity, Lila Downs and Pabllo Vittar brought the festival to a close with an unforgettable celebration of artistic freedom, cultural identity, and community.
Beyond the music, audiences participated in compelling conversations, including a discussion with the Guerrilla Girls and artist and writer Coco Fusco exploring art, activism, and reclaiming cultural space. Latin GRAMMY-winning producer Ella Bric led a masterclass on music production through the lens of identity and memory, while the National Book Foundation and Café Con Libros hosted a literary space dedicated to storytelling, books, and community.
Now celebrating ten years since its founding, Ruidosa continues to grow as an international movement where music, literature, education, research, visual arts, and activism coexist within the same cultural conversation. Its mission remains clear: to amplify underrepresented voices, foster meaningful dialogue, and build a more inclusive and equitable creative ecosystem.
Ruidosa once again demonstrated that making noise is about much more than being heard—it's about creating space for others, building community, and moving forward together.
