The second semifinal of *México Canta por la paz y contra las adicciones* (Mexico Sings for Peace and Against Addiction) took place at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
• Bryan Soto, Isabel Piñeyro “La Malixita,” and Luna López were selected live during the second semifinal at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Sinaloa.
• La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho and Kakalo appeared as special guests in this initiative, which explores new narratives within Mexican music.
• An initiative of the Government of Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture in collaboration with the Mexican Music Council, the Grand Final will be held on September 13 at the National Auditorium.
*México Canta por la paz y contra las adicciones 2026* arrived in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, for its second semifinal, showcasing the strength and vitality of youth through new voices that enrich Mexican music. This initiative by the Government of Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture, in collaboration with the Mexican Music Council, has selected three finalists who will perform at the Grand Final on September 13 at the National Auditorium.
Through the *México Canta* platform—with 395,444 votes cast live from various locations—the public chose Bryan Soto (who performed “Labios de cereza”), Isabel Piñeyro “La Malixita” (with “Malixita”), and Luna López (with “Aventando flechas”) to advance to the Grand Final.
“More than 10,000 young people from Mexico responded to this call for entries, and today we heard seven distinct proposals that speak to the vitality of our music. *México Canta* is rooted in a conviction: young people have far more to tell than stories of violence. We want to open up spaces so that their voices, their communities, and their experiences become part of the new narratives of Mexican music and reach ever-wider audiences,” stated Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Secretary of Culture for the Government of Mexico.
Hosted by Majo Aguilar and Natalia Jiménez, the second semifinal—held at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Mazatlán, Sinaloa—also featured special guests Kakalo (who released his debut solo album in 2024) and La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho (with a history spanning nearly three decades). Their presence demonstrated how both tradition and new genres of Mexican music are winning over audiences across the country and beyond our borders.
As part of the Government of Mexico’s Comprehensive Strategy to Address Root Causes—which coordinates various actions to tackle the social factors that breed violence—this binational contest creates opportunities for youth from Mexico and the United States. It fosters new narratives that broaden the scope of stories, identities, and experiences expressed through Mexican music, moving away from the glorification of violence.
The Road to the Final
The participants who reached the second semifinal were selected from a pool of 10,528 registrations from Mexico. Following an evaluation process conducted by the Mexican Music Council, seven young people from Mexico joined seven from the United States to form the 14 semifinalist acts for *México Canta 2026*.
Bryan Soto, of the group Clave 5/7 and a native of Valle de Chalco, State of Mexico, views music as the driving force that helps him overcome shyness; he took the stage before the Mazatlán audience to perform “Labios de cereza.” “I try to convey that feeling to people, and I think we do it very well—both my bandmates and I; I can’t say it’s just me, because we’re a team,” said the young artist, who has made discipline and teamwork part of her musical journey.
Belle “La Malixita”—the stage name of Isabel Piñeyro Acuña from Mérida, Yucatán—found her first stages at home when she was a child. Now 26, she has made her Yucatecan roots a central part of her artistic identity, embodied in the name “Malixita.” “My stage name comes from the Mayan word *malix*, which we normally use to refer to mixed-breed stray dogs. It’s like saying *mestizo*, but the word is *malix*,” explained the singer-songwriter. She hopes that young girls who listen to her music understand that their roots are not a limitation, but rather the starting point for everything they can become.
At 21, Luna López—from Zacatepec, Morelos—found a space for self-expression on stage and discovered that Mexican music was a way to build community. Before joining *México Canta*, she sang in the streets and markets of Morelos; a video of one of her performances at the Jojutla municipal market went viral on social media. “When I got on stage, I always felt right at home; I connected with it instantly and never let go,” recalled the young artist, who opened the semifinal round with the song “Aventando flechas.”
Tradition and Future
It is worth noting that the performances were interspersed with short video segments exploring the history and the trans…
