San Antonio will take center stage as international artists gather to celebrate the life and legacy of conjunto legend Flaco Jiménez during the 44th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival, happening May 14–17, 2026. Produced by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, the festival continues its decades-long tradition of honoring the roots of conjunto music while expanding its reach across cultures and continents.
For more than six decades, Jiménez carried the sound of San Antonio to audiences around the world, becoming a global ambassador for conjunto music while staying deeply connected to his hometown. This year’s tribute reflects that influence, bringing together musicians from Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, and beyond for one of the most internationally diverse celebrations the city has seen.
The tribute will take place Sunday, May 17, at 8:00 p.m. at Rosedale Park. The evening is curated by festival founder Juan Tejeda and Executive Director Cristina Ballí, and will begin with a performance by Los Texmaniacs, known for their signature blend of traditional conjunto and contemporary Tex-Mex sound.
Following their set, a powerful tribute performance will bring together artists from around the world to showcase the global reach of Jiménez’s music. The lineup includes Santiago Jiménez Jr., Dwayne Verheyden from the Netherlands, Honorio Imamura of Conjunto J, Antonio Tanguma Jr. from Monterrey, Miguel Perez from Spain, Linda Escobar, and Arturo Jiménez and Gil Jiménez, continuing the powerful legacy of the Jiménez musical family.
Now in its 44th year, the Tejano Conjunto Festival remains the longest-running conjunto festival in the world and a cornerstone of San Antonio’s cultural identity. Each year, thousands gather to celebrate a genre rooted in the city’s Westside while welcoming audiences from across the nation and around the globe. Festival events begin Thursday, May 14, with a free Senior Dance and continue with three days of performances at Rosedale Park, featuring more than 40 artists and groups spanning generations—from emerging youth performers to internationally acclaimed musicians.
Through its work, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center continues to preserve and promote conjunto music while fostering cultural exchange. Founded in 1980, the organization has played a vital role in cultivating, promoting, and preserving Chicano, Latino, and Native American arts and culture through year-round programming in music, dance, theater, and visual arts.
The 2026 tribute to Flaco Jiménez is more than a performance—it is a moment that reflects San Antonio’s cultural impact on a global stage, honoring a hometown icon whose music continues to connect communities worldwide.
