Call for Artists · 2026
Performers & Artists
We invite traditional dancers, musicians, storytellers, and visual artists to share their gifts at this year's celebration.
Why Perform With Us
Art as an Act of Remembrance
At the Monterey Bay Día de los Muertos Festival, art is not decoration — it is ceremony. Every performance, every painting, every story told is an act of cultural preservation and ancestral honoring.
We seek artists whose work is rooted in authentic cultural expression — particularly those from Mexican, Chicano, and indigenous communities. We especially encourage first-generation artists, youth performers, and community-based groups to apply.
What Artists Receive
- Performance or exhibition space at the festival
- Artist honorarium (performance artists)
- Inclusion in festival program and website
- Social media promotion before and during the festival
- Access to festival grounds and hospitality area
- Certificate of cultural contribution
Who We're Looking For
Artist Categories
Traditional Dancers
Danza Azteca groups, folklórico companies, and ceremonial dance practitioners. Priority given to indigenous and community-based groups.
Musicians
Mariachi, son jarocho, norteño, cumbia, banda, and other traditional Mexican and Latin American musical forms.
Storytellers & Poets
Oral historians, calavera poets, spoken word artists, and cultural educators who share ancestral stories and traditions.
Visual Artists
Painters, muralists, printmakers, sculptors, and mixed-media artists whose work engages with Día de los Muertos themes and Mexican cultural traditions.
Apply Now
Performer / Artist Application
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadline: August 1, 2026.