Early next month, the global spotlight will shine on Guadalajara as the FIFA World Cup kicks off on the city’s west side. As we look ahead to an action-packed month here in La Perla Tapatia, there are plenty of upcoming events and ways to keep busy, even if you don’t have plans to enjoy the matches.
World Naked Bike Ride back in Guadalajara on June 13
Hundreds of people will once again take to the streets of the city during the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) Guadalajara, scheduled for June 13.
More than just a bike ride, the WNBR is an international movement that seeks to raise awareness about the need to respect cyclists and the vulnerability of those who travel by bike in urban settings.
According to Miguel Asa, one of the Guadalajara event’s organizers, the ride is held as a challenge to car culture and the damage it does to both the human body and our environment.
“What we are looking for is for people on the street to question and criticize the excessive use of automobiles, to promote the use of means such as bicycles, to reflect on the way we move, because a large part of the city is built for cars, and there is little space for cyclists,” he said.
Riding naked also serves as a metaphor for the exposure and fragility that many cyclists face daily in Guadalajara’s perennially traffic-choked streets.
As in previous years, attendees can participate partially or completely naked. As the locals say, “Tápate lo que quieras, destápate lo que puedas.” (Cover up what you want, uncover what you can).
If this is your first ride, here are some recommendations:
- Stay well-hydrated and use sunscreen
- Carry only what you need
- Report any disrespectful behavior or photographic abuse
When: The ride takes place on June 13
Where: Departs from Plaza José Clemente Orozco. Gathering begins at 9 a.m. The ride kicks off at 11 a.m.
Cost: Free
Echoes Festival gets its fourth turn — in a new location
Guadalajara’s only homegrown indie music festival is returning for the fourth time next month, in what’s being branded as its World Cup edition.
Headlining this one-day event will be Australia’s five-piece electropop band Parcels, known for their infectious, danceable beats. For a sample, check out their hit, Tieduprightnow.
Also scheduled to perform at Echoes Festival is French musician Darius (a DJ set), Guadalajara’s own Babas Tutsipop, and another special guest to be announced shortly.
This year’s event takes place at the University of Guadalajara Cultural Center in north Zapopan. For additional details check the event’s social media.
Where: Plaza Bicentenario within the Centro Cultural Universitario in north Zapopan.
When: June 19, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Tickets: Available from Boletomovil for 1,680 pesos, excluding fees.
100 cats descend on Zapopan in new MAZ exhibit
It isn’t just the internet that’s obsessed with cats: Local artist Cecilia Rébora recently launched her “Cien Gatos” (100 Cats) exhibition at the Zapopan Museum of Art (MAZ) in Zapopan’s Centro.
The show, created especially for children, features illustrations, prints, and pieces inspired by cats of all kinds. The exhibit is interactive, with visitors encouraged to draw their own cat on a collaborative mural inside the gallery.
The six-week exhibit runs throughout the month of May. There will also be special activities tied to the exhibition inside the museum.
Cecilia Rébora is an illustrator from Guadalajara who specializes in children’s and young adult literature. Her work draws on references from classic stories such as ”Alice in Wonderland,” ”Puss in Boots,” and “The Black Cat.”
For more information, check the museum’s social media.
When: April 25 – July 5, 2026
Where: Zapopan Art Museum (MAZ), open Tues–Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the museum staying open on Thursdays until 10 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Cost: Free admission
OCESA shares plan for revamp of Guadalajara’s 3 de Marzo stadium
One thing that has differentiated Guadalajara from Mexico City (CDMX) in recent years has been Guadalajara’s lack of large-scale, world-class outdoor entertainment venues. This has prevented the area’s local entertainment promoter OCESA, from consistently staging high-profile shows on par with the Corona Capital festival in CDMX.
Fortunately, this infrastructure gap is narrowing with the recent announcement that the Estadio 3 de Marzo, on the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) in Zapopan, will be converted into a modern entertainment venue, to be known going forward as the Coliseo GNP Seguros.
The 55-year-old stadium has previously welcomed top acts such as Shakira, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, but it currently serves primarily as a sports venue for UAG’s collegiate soccer team.
New plans call for the space to be converted into a top-tier venue capable of hosting massive tours and concerts, establishing it as a “strategic hub within the global entertainment circuit,” according to OCESA.
The renovation will see a nearly 60% bump in capacity, holding up to 30,000 people. In the new layout, the stage is being incorporated into the building’s structure, freeing up space for general admission and hospitality areas, luxury boxes, and additional seating.
Backstage dressing rooms, production offices, and service spaces are also being added.
The entrance plaza is also being redesigned to improve access and crowd flow, with accessibility for the disabled (which doesn’t exist today). A new roof will also help to weatherproof the space.
Among the first artists scheduled to perform at the revamped facility are Spanish-language musical acts Alejandro Sanz, Yuridia, Auténticos Decadentes, Caligaris, and Panteón Rococó.
When the work is completed, the GNP Seguros Coliseum — coming on the heels of the recently opened 20,000-capacity Arena Guadalajara on the north side of Zapopan — should help expand the city’s live entertainment schedule.
MND Writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.
