November–December 2026 | MID CityBeat Art & Culture Guide
CALENDAR KEY: OFFICIAL BIENAL | PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
Mérida is entering an exciting new chapter in its contemporary art scene. The inaugural Bienal de Yucatán opens November 26, bringing together Mexican and international artists for three months of exhibitions, performances, installations, and cultural experiences throughout Mérida and Maní.
Alongside the official Bienal programming, independent galleries, artist studios, and cultural centers are presenting their own exhibitions and special events. From contemporary painting and sculpture to photography, architecture, dance, and design, the city is becoming a vibrant destination for art enthusiasts and cultural travelers.
MID CityBeat has put together this chronological guide to help you discover what’s happening across the city. Bookmark this calendar—we’ll continue updating it as new exhibitions and events are announced.
NOVEMBER 2026
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 11 — Horizontes como Espejos (Horizons as Mirrors)
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Galería Secreta
Time: 7:00 PM
Artists: Emilio Said and Saúl Villa
Location: Galería Secreta
Admission: Not specified
This exhibition brings together Emilio Said and Saúl Villa, exploring painting as a space for reflection, experimentation, and dialogue. The artists investigate concepts of space, matter, time, and the relationship between painting and image. Curated by Samia Farah, the exhibition creates a dialogue between two artists with international experience.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 11 — Península en Llamas (Peninsula in Flames)
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Galería Secreta
Time: 7:00 PM
Artist: Samia Farah
Location: Galería Secreta
Admission: Not specified
Artist and writer Samia Farah presents an exhibition examining the environmental and social transformations of the Yucatán Peninsula. Through dystopian landscapes, archival materials, and mixed artistic approaches, the exhibition reflects on industrial development, ecological crises, and the uncertain future of the region.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 11 — Los seis en la 6
Collective Art Exhibition | CADY
Location: Galería Bodega 6, CADY
Admission: Not specified
Presented by HARTII, this collective exhibition features Tony Brogan, Mónica Rezman, Juan Soskil, Martha Cabañé-Navarro, Tania Cámara, and Manolo Taure. The exhibition explores different artistic perspectives, forms, and sensibilities and will remain open during the Bienal de Yucatán.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 13 — Arqueología Neo-Maya
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Centro Cultural José Martí
Time: 11:00 AM
Artist: Omar Said Charruf
Location: Centro Cultural José Martí, Avenida Colón S/N at Calle 20, Colonia García Ginerés, Mérida
Admission: Free
Artist Omar Said Charruf presents Arqueología Neo-Maya, an exhibition exploring the intersections of light, architecture, memory, and cultural heritage. The exhibition invites visitors to reconsider historical identity and Maya-inspired visual language through a contemporary artistic perspective.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 19 — Evanescencia
Photography, Fashion & Contemporary Art | Centro Cultural HARTII
Time: 7:00 PM
Artist: Ana Molina
Location: Centro Cultural HARTII, Avenida Prolongación de Montejo 135, Colonia Campestre, Mérida
Admission: Free
Evanescencia is an artistic reinterpretation of the Major Arcana of the Tarot through photography, fashion, makeup, and visual expression. Created by Ana Molina, the project combines several creative disciplines to explore symbolism, identity, and contemporary aesthetics.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 19 — Umbrales
Contemporary Dance & Live Music | CADY
Location: CADY
Admission: Advance registration required; limited capacity
Umbrales is a choreographic performance by Diego Vega Solorza, accompanied by live music from Rafael Durand Kick. The performance explores the relationship between the body, movement, sound, and architectural space.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 24, 2026–January 16, 2027 — Mea Culpa
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Galería 25
Opening: Tuesday, November 24
Artist: Hamlet Lavastida
Curator: Marco A. Castillo
Location: Galería 25, Calle 25 #500, Jesús Carranza, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
Website: galeria25merida.com.mx
Cuban contemporary artist Hamlet Lavastida presents Mea Culpa, an exhibition curated by Marco A. Castillo. Lavastida’s work examines political history, ideology, collective memory, and the relationship between art and power.
Presented during the Bienal de Yucatán season, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discover an internationally recognized artist whose work engages with historical narratives and contemporary social questions.
BIENAL DE YUCATÁN — INAUGURAL WEEKEND
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 26–29, 2026 | Official Bienal Programming
The inaugural Bienal de Yucatán opens with four days of exhibitions, performances, and artistic activations across Mérida and Maní.
At the heart of the Bienal is VOCAL, a multidisciplinary exhibition under the artistic direction of Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas. The project explores language, communication, cultural identity, and artistic expression through installations, performances, and interventions across multiple venues.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 26 — Official Opening of VOCAL
Bienal Inauguration & Live Performances | Centro Contemporáneo del Mayab
12:00 PM: Official inauguration of VOCAL, artistic direction by Abraham Cruzvillegas
5:00 PM: Performance by Max Castañón
6:00 PM: Performance by Oscar Murillo
Location: Centro Contemporáneo del Mayab, Calle 63 #503-A, between Calles 64 and 66, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified in the preliminary opening program
The Bienal officially begins with the inauguration of its central exhibition, VOCAL. Visitors can discover contemporary artistic practices exploring language, identity, and communication, followed by performances from participating international artists.
Additional artistic activations by Cachorra, Nicole, and Alias are scheduled throughout the opening weekend, with individual times to be confirmed.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — Imágenes Hechas con Palabras: Los Trabajos y los Días de la Poesía Visual en México
Official Bienal Exhibition | Centro Cultural Olimpo
Time: 10:00 AM
Curators: Antonio Saborit and Patrick Charpenel
Location: Centro Cultural Olimpo, Calle 62 at Calle 61, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
This exhibition examines the history and evolution of visual poetry in Mexico, exploring the relationship between written language, artistic expression, and visual composition.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — Performance by Fabiola Torres-Alzaga & Naomi Rincón Gallardo
Official Bienal Performance | Centro Cultural Olimpo
Time: 12:00 PM
Artists: Fabiola Torres-Alzaga and Naomi Rincón Gallardo
Location: Centro Cultural Olimpo Auditorium, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
A live artistic performance presented as part of VOCAL, bringing together two contemporary artists whose practices contribute to the Bienal’s exploration of communication and expression.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — El Don de Lenguas
Official Bienal Exhibition | Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida
Time: 1:30 PM
Curator: Kit Hammonds, Museo Jumex
Location: Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida, Calle 56 #529-A, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
El Don de Lenguas opens at the Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida as part of the official Bienal program. Curated by Kit Hammonds of Museo Jumex, the exhibition contributes to the broader exploration of language and artistic communication that defines the Bienal’s inaugural edition.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — Performance by Marilita Quintana Molina
Official Bienal Performance | CECUNY
Time: 4:00 PM
Artist: Marilita Quintana Molina
Location: Centro Cultural de la Niñez Yucateca (CECUNY), Calle 59 #424, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
A live performance presented as part of VOCAL, expanding the Bienal’s program into another of Mérida’s cultural institutions.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 28 — Lo Que Permanece (What Remains)
Private Art & Design Viewing | ALRATITOstudio
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: ALRATITOstudio, Mérida, Yucatán
Lo Que Permanece is an intimate viewing of art and design presented inside a historic Porfirian-era building in Mérida that is rarely accessible to the public.
The private event brings together contemporary art, design, and architectural heritage, offering invited guests an opportunity to experience creative work within a distinctive historic setting.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 27 — YCMЯ GONCE
Private Art Event | Galería Secreta
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Galería Secreta
Admission: Invitation only
RSVP: +52 999 163 3114
A private event presented as part of Galería Secreta’s sixth cultural season. Advance RSVP is required.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — Talk by David Miranda
Official Bienal Artist & Curatorial Talk | Museo Casa Montejo
Time: 7:00 PM
Speaker: David Miranda
Location: Casa de Cultura Banamex – Museo Casa Montejo, Calle 63 #506, between Calles 60 and 62, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
A special talk by curator David Miranda ahead of the evening’s exhibition opening dedicated to Mathias Goeritz and the development of concrete poetry.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 27 — Pocos Cocodrilos Locos: Mathias Goeritz y su Legado en la Poesía Concreta
Official Bienal Exhibition | Museo Casa Montejo
Time: 8:00 PM
Curator: David Miranda
Location: Casa de Cultura Banamex – Museo Casa Montejo, Calle 63 #506, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
This exhibition examines the artistic legacy of Mathias Goeritz and his contributions to concrete poetry. It explores the intersection of language, typography, and visual art, highlighting an important chapter in Mexico’s modern artistic history.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 28 — Official Bienal Opening in Maní
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Maní, Yucatán
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Maní, Yucatán; exact venue to be confirmed
Admission: Not specified
The Bienal expands beyond Mérida with the official inauguration of VOCAL in the historic town of Maní.
Participating artists include Abraham González Pacheco, Karen Kantún, Lawrence Weiner, Luis Carlos Hurtado, Minerva Cuevas, and Salvador Xharicata.
Visitors traveling from Mérida are encouraged to depart around 9:00 AM and plan to return around 3:00 PM. Transportation is the responsibility of each visitor.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 28 — Cadencia
Contemporary Art Exhibition | Randy Shull Studio
Time: 5:00–9:00 PM
Artists: Randy Shull and Magdiel García
Location: Randy Shull Studio, Calle 54 #404, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
Presented with ADN Galería, Cadencia brings together the work of Randy Shull and Magdiel García for the first time in Yucatán.
The exhibition creates a dialogue between the artists’ approaches to material, form, and movement, contributing to the growing network of independent art presentations taking place alongside the Bienal.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 28 — Performance by Sarah Konté
Official Bienal Performance | Fundación La Cúpula
Time: 6:00 PM
Artist: Sarah Konté
Location: Fundación La Cúpula, Calle 54 #407-B, between Calles 41 and 43, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
A live performance by Sarah Konté presented as part of VOCAL, continuing the Bienal’s opening weekend program of artistic interventions and contemporary performances.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 28 — Artistic Activation by Jorge Pardo & Rirkrit Tiravanija
Official Bienal Artistic Activation | 65 X 82
Time: 7:30 PM
Artists: Jorge Pardo and Rirkrit Tiravanija
Location: 65 X 82, Calle 65 #636-A, corner of Calle 82, Centro, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
Internationally recognized artists Jorge Pardo and Rirkrit Tiravanija present a special artistic activation as part of the Bienal’s opening weekend.
Both artists are known for expanding the boundaries of contemporary art through approaches that connect artistic practice with architecture, social interaction, and everyday experiences.
OFFICIAL BIENAL
November 29 — Artistic Activations by Rayyane Tabet & Abraham González Pacheco
Official Bienal Performances | Centro Cultural La Ibérica
Times: 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM
Artists: Rayyane Tabet and Abraham González Pacheco
Location: Centro Cultural La Ibérica, Calle 37 #526, between Calles 74 and 74-A, García Ginerés, Mérida
Admission: Not specified
The Bienal’s inaugural weekend concludes with two scheduled artistic activations at Centro Cultural La Ibérica.
The presentations continue VOCAL’s exploration of contemporary artistic expression and communication through site-specific encounters and experimental approaches.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
November 2026–February 2027 — Punto Cero
Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition | CADY
Dates: November 2026–February 2027
Artist: Rivelino
Location: CADY
Admission: Not specified
Internationally recognized Mexican sculptor Rivelino presents Punto Cero, an exhibition organized in collaboration with Galería Urbana.
Known for monumental installations and sculptural explorations of material and form, Rivelino creates works that examine relief, space, memory, and human experience.
DECEMBER 2026
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
December 1 — El Hombre que Vio Demasiado (The Man Who Saw Too Much)
Documentary Film Screening | Galería Secreta Cultural Program
Time: 6:00 PM
Director: Trisha Ziff
Film: El Hombre que Vio Demasiado: Enrique Metinides
Admission: Not specified
A special screening of Trisha Ziff’s documentary about legendary Mexican photographer Enrique Metinides, whose career documented accidents, crime scenes, and dramatic moments in Mexico City.
The film examines the relationship between photography, tragedy, visual storytelling, and obsession.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
December 1 — Estados de la Imagen: Prácticas Contemporáneas de la Fotografía
Collective Photography Exhibition | Alejandra Topete Gallery
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Galeria Secreta
Curatorial Direction: Alejandra Topete and Alexa Torre
Admission: Not specified
Estados de la Imagen (States of the Image) examines how photographs construct identity, desire, and reality in a culture shaped by advertising, social media, and visual saturation.
Through photography, irony, and the appropriation of commercial imagery, participating artists question the boundaries between authenticity and artificiality, intimacy and public exposure.
The exhibition features artists including Alejandra Falconi, Alexa Torre, Cristina Kahlo, Enrique Metinides, Felipe Mazzeo, Georgina Reskala, James Bonachea, Lucía Reynoso, Maru Fitzmaurice, Mina Bárcenas, Omar Said, and Trisha Ziff, among others.
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
December 9 — La Voz del Tiempo
Live Music & Cultural Gala | CADY
Location: CADY
Tickets: Available through Palco4
Beneficiary: Iniciativa HAZ
CADY presents its annual musical gala, La Voz del Tiempo, an evening celebrating several generations of popular music.
The performance features the Mérida Big Band with 25 musicians, more than seven vocalists, and special guest Pablo Ahmad.
The program includes classics from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s alongside contemporary hits. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore Rivelino’s Punto Cero exhibition.
SPECIAL ART EXPERIENCES DURING THE BIENAL
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
Agua de Luz — James Turrell
Immersive Art Experience | Yucatán
An immersive art experience set in the Yucatán jungle, where light, landscape, and time become central elements of the artwork.
Duration: Approximately 8 hours
Reservations: annabelle@catherwood.mx
PARALLEL / INDEPENDENT
Tecoh — Jorge Pardo
Art, Architecture & Design Experience | Yucatán
An extraordinary habitable artwork by Jorge Pardo combining architecture, design, color, and nature. Visitors experience art through the physical spaces and environments created by the artist.
Duration: Approximately 6 hours
Reservations: annabelle@catherwood.mx
Mérida’s Growing Contemporary Art Scene
The Bienal de Yucatán represents an important moment for Mérida’s cultural development. With exhibitions spread across museums, galleries, historic buildings, independent studios, and public spaces, the event is helping introduce a wider audience to the region’s creative community.
The parallel exhibitions are equally important. They offer opportunities to discover emerging and established artists, visit independent galleries, and experience the intersection of contemporary art with Yucatán’s architecture, design, gastronomy, and cultural heritage.
For residents and visitors, November and December are particularly exciting months to explore Mérida’s art scene, support local cultural spaces, and discover the many creative projects taking shape throughout the city.
MID CityBeat will continue updating this calendar with additional Bienal exhibitions, gallery openings, performances, and special cultural events.
For more information about the official inaugural weekend, read our complete guide:
Read the MID CityBeat Bienal opening weekend guide
Important: The Bienal opening weekend schedule is preliminary and subject to change. Individual admission policies have not been specified for every activity. Independent and parallel exhibitions listed in this calendar are not necessarily official Bienal events.
