Five Days, One Stage: The Tucson International Mariachi Conference Returns April 29 – May 3

For five days starting Wednesday, April 29, 2026, downtown Tucson turns into the mariachi capital of the United States. The Tucson International Mariachi Conference — running since 1982 — returns with workshops and student showcases at the Tucson Convention Center, evening competitions in the Mercado District, and a free Fiesta de Garibaldi at Jácome Plaza on Saturday, May 2. Here is a sourced walk-through of what is scheduled, where to go, and why the week matters for anyone getting to know Tucson.