Festival Latino—the largest Latino event in Ohio and marking its 29th year in 2026—is a two-day, free, family-friendly event celebrating family and community. Produced by CAPA, Festival Latino 2026 will be held at Columbus Commons and the Ohio Theatre on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23. Hours are noon to 8 pm Saturday and noon to 7 pm Sunday.
Festivalgoers can enjoy an entertainment lineup that includes national headliners and local artists, food, children’s activities, art, and dance from the heart of Latin America.
Festival Latino is presented by Honda. Festival Latino also enjoys support from The Meuse Family Foundation, The Robert Weiler Company, Downtown Columbus, Inc, Kemba Financial, Dr. Pepper, McDonald’s, Franklin County Children Services, Huntington Bank, MDVIP, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Teal Ridge Roofing, Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC and PNC. Festival Latino also receives support from the Columbus Crew, the Columbus Clippers.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2026?
Festival Latino 2026 will be held at Columbus Commons and the Ohio Theatre, marking a change from its longtime home at Genoa Park. These venues offer greater infrastructure and resources that can help ensure a setting where attendees can gather with confidence and focus on celebrating culture, music, food, and heritage.
This change will also allow for programming inside the Ohio Theatre, including free movies and activities from performing arts organizations.
MAIN STAGE
Saturday, August 22
noon — Derek Amaya
Derek Amaya, professionally known as DJ Cale, is widely recognized as one of Ohio's premier DJs. For more than 15 years, DJ Cale has been a featured performer at the Columbus Latino Festival, one of the Midwest's largest Latin cultural celebrations. Beyond the stage, DJ Cale comes from a family deeply rooted in Columbus' nightlife, owning and operating Bodi Columbus and The Cave Bar & Lounge. Today, he continues to be one of the most sought-after DJs in Ohio, bringing professionalism, energy, and world-class entertainment to every event.
12:15 pm — Golpe De Estado
Golpe de Estado is a rising Música Mexicana band from Columbus, blending the raw energy of sierreño with the evolving sounds of the new generation. In just over two years, the band has built a loyal following and has performed in cities including Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, and St. Louis, alongside established acts in the regional Mexican scene. With the release of their singles “Piel Rosita” and “Mirando al Cielo,” Golpede Estado continues to represent a new wave of artists proving that great Mexican music can emerge from unexpected places.
2 pm — OKAN
Cuba – Afro-Cuban Jazz
Fusing Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration, resistance and love, OKAN takes their name from the word for heart in their Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. With vocals in Spanish, Yoruba, and Spanglish, OKAN is led by the Cuban-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne, both Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominees. OKAN’s recent release Okantomi was awarded the 2024 Juno Award (the band’s second Juno recognition).
4 pm — Mazizo Musical
Mexico – Durangense
Mazizo Musical was founded in 2003 in Chicago by the Obregon Brothers: Raul, Ricardo, and Diego Obregon. They are originally from Canatlan de las Manzanas, Durango, Mexico. The band has released nine albums and has over 25 million views on YouTube. They have performed on the most important stages in Mexico, such as the Estadio Azteca twice in front of more than 100k people, touring most of the states in Mexico and the United States.
6:30 pm — Oro Solido
Dominican Republic – Merengue
Oro Sólido was formed by Raúl Acosta, nicknamed “El Presidente.” Coming from a family of musicians, Acosta and his brothers began performing when they were growing up in the Dominican Republic. When the family moved to the U.S., Raul continued his pursuit of music and performing. In 1994, he formed the merengue band Oro Sólido, which has established itself as one of the most important Latin music groups in the world. Acosta has been nominated for and won numerous awards over the years, including Estrella Awards, ACE Awards, and Lo Nuestro Awards. The group has shared the stage with artists like 50 Cent, LeAnn Rimes, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, Fat Joe, Johnny Ventura, Wilfrido Vargas, Tito Puente, El Gran Combo, and The Temptations.
Sunday, August 23
noon — Derek Amaya
Derek Amaya, professionally known as DJ Cale, is widely recognized as one of Ohio's premier DJs. For more than 15 years, DJ Cale has been a featured performer at the Columbus Latino Festival, one of the Midwest's largest Latin cultural celebrations. Beyond the stage, DJ Cale comes from a family deeply rooted in Columbus' nightlife, owning and operating Bodi Columbus and The Cave Bar & Lounge. Today, he continues to be one of the most sought-after DJs in Ohio, bringing professionalism, energy, and world-class entertainment to every event.
12:15 pm — Los Borirengues del Swing
Los Borirengues del Swing is a Puerto Rican musical group based in Columbus dedicated to bringing the joy of tropical music and Puerto Rican flavor to stages and events throughout the region. With a repertoire full of merengue, bachata, salsa and other Caribbean rhythms, the group has won the affection of the public for its energy, charisma and the connection it achieves with each presentation. Their mission is to keep Puerto Rican culture alive through music, making each event a celebration to dance, sing and share with the family. Throughout their career, Los Borirengues del Swing have shared the stage with renowned artists such as Maelo Ruiz, Zacarías Ferreira and Luis Vargas.
1:45 pm — Romero Norteño
Romero Norteño has captivated audiences across the Midwest with their dynamic performances and authentic sound. The band was founded in 2010 by a father and son duo, sharing the Romero surname, whose deep-rooted passion for traditional Mexican music laid the foundation for what would become a celebrated musical ensemble. The band's unique sound is characterized by the traditional norteño instrumentation of accordion, bajo quinto, bass, and drums. Their rise to fame in the Columbus Spanish music scene is a testament to their hard work, talent, and dedication to their craft.
3:15 pm — Chupeta de Ajo
Columbus-based Venezuelan singer, songwriter, and musician Víctor Zancudo is a longtime local performer with a variety of bands. His latest, Chupeta de Ajo, is a rock group covering the best rock en Español classic hits by bands from Mexico, Argentina, and beyond.
5:30 pm — Jose Alberto “El Canario”
Dominican Republic - Salsa
José Alberto Justiniano, known as “El Canario,” is a prominent tropical music singer born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Throughout his 50-year career, he has ventured into various musical genres such as Salsa, Son, Guaracha, Bolero, Merengue, Vallenato and Mambo, presenting his show on stages around the world. He has collaborated with several influential Latin music artists such as Celia Cruz , Johnny Pacheco, Tito Puente, Milly Quezada, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar De Leon, Pablo Milanes, Jorge Celedon, and Victor Manuel, to name a few. With 27 albums and numerous awards, he has achieved 15 Gold and Platinum Records, three Latin Grammys, has been nominated for the Grammy, two Hispanic Heritage Awards, Emmy Awards and more. Alberto is known for his charisma, improvisations, and abilities as a singer, producer and conductor, being nicknamed “El Showman de la Salsa.”
DANCE PLAZA, SPONSORED BY G&J PEPSI CO./DR. PEPPER
Saturday, August 22
1:15 pm — Salsa Lessons with Carlos Rubio
Take a salsa dance lesson from “The Salsa King of Ohio.” Carlos Rubio is an instructor at the Salsamante Dance Academy and Ohio’s all-time winning-est salsa dancer, with more than 20 years of teaching experience.
3 pm — Salsamante Dance Academy
Enjoy salsa performances from instructors and students of Columbus’ first and only salsa dance studio.
5:30 pm — El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico
Toledo-based dance company El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico (The Heart of Mexico) will demonstrate the beauty and charm of traditional Mexican dances.
Sunday, August 23
1:15 pm — Salsa Lessons with Carlos Rubio
2:45 pm — Salsamante Dance Academy
4:30 pm — El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY AREAS
• CHILDREN’S AREA
Interactive activities including crafts, games, face painting, healthcare consultations, and product sampling will be offered.
• ARTISTS’ AND AUTHORS’ SHOWCASE
Locally-based Latino artists will display and sell their visual artwork in the Artists’ Showcase area as well as local and regional authors who will provide bilingual readings and books for sale. Additional interactive arts activities will be provided in the area near the Rich Street Bridge, directed by local artist Juan Daza.
• MOVIES IN THE OHIO THEATRE
Free movies will be shown both days inside the Ohio Theatre on the big screen at 1 pm. On Saturday, the movie will be Coco. On Sunday, the film is Encanto.
• COMMUNITY WELLNESS RESOURCES AREA
A variety of local health and social service organizations will offer free health screenings, vital community resources, and bilingual information on their services.
• FOOD VENDORS
Festival Latino will offer a wide variety of cuisine from Latin America and beyond.
• MARKETPLACE
The Festival Latino marketplace will include jewelry, arts, crafts, and a variety of other traditional items from Latin America.
• DINING AREA, SPONSORED BY KEMBA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION
Relax and enjoy your meal at our Dining Area, supported by KEMBA Financial Credit Union.
• MERCADITO RAICES
Both the Marketplace and festival food vendors will include emerging entrepreneurs that are members of the 2026 class of Mercadito Raices. The program is sponsored by Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center (OLGC), a program of Catholic Social Services, and CAPA, providing training for new Latino business owners, who then debut at Festival Latino.
Please visit FestivalLatino.net for updates on activities and a full list of participating vendors.
