Overview
- Africa Express, led by Damon Albarn, capped the 53rd edition with a nearly three-hour concert at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas featuring about 50 performers and collaborations with Mexican artists.
- Officials tallied roughly 330,000 event visits across 140 functions with 3,463 artists from 31 countries, with the United Kingdom and Veracruz serving as guests of honor.
- The state reported an estimated economic spillover of 442.4 million pesos and an average hotel occupancy of 50% during the 17 days.
- Festival communications drew criticism after the Sunday press conference was canceled in favor of a Monday ‘Desayuno de Agradecimiento,’ as only top-line numeralia was shared and several detailed metrics and methods remained unspecified.
- Local authorities said the festival ended con saldo blanco, noting 177 detentions alongside coordinated preventive and inspection operations throughout the event.