La Guelaguetza is a one-day cultural and arts festival celebrating the folklore of Oaxaca, Mexico through the experience of authentic Oaxacan dance, music and food.Celebrating its 19th year, La Guelaguetza 2026 brings Grupo Folclórico de Poughkeepsie (GFP), under the direction of Felipe Santos, volunteer members of La Guelaguetza Poughkeepsie organizing committee, and a dedicated group of over 40 individuals from the Hudson Valley community together to host the festival.

For La Guelaguetza 2026, a total of six dance groups, five singers and a live band from California will perform. The artists performing traditional folkloric dances native to Oaxaca are paired with music from each region. The audience learns of the meaning and historical context of each of the day's performances in both Spanish and English. Each dance is executed with corresponding costumes, offerings and movement to signify unique indigenous, historical, and cultural significances.

In addition to the colorful performances, visitors can enjoy a variety of authentic Mexican food to eat and craft vendors offer jewelry and other handmade items for purchase. Several area non-profits offer bilingual information about health screenings, voter registration, and library services, immigration and naturalization, as well as, tourist information for Dutchess County and the surrounding Hudson Valley.