Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata revealed part of its lineup for the 2026 edition on Thursday (Dec. 18). The event will take place April 29 to May 2 at the iconic Parque de la Leyenda Vallenata “Consuelo Araújo Noguera” in Valledupar, Colombia, featuring stars like Silvestre Dangond, Guayacán Orquesta, and J Balvin.
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The organizers unveiled the schedule for May 1 and 2, which will feature a tribute to accordionist Israel Romero, the late singer Rafael Orozco, and the legacy of Binomio de Oro de América, the vallenato group known for classics like “La Creciente” and “El Higuerón.” The rest of the lineup will be announced at a later date.
The announcement of the festival’s 59th edition came with more surprises: on May 1, Silvestre Dangond and accordionist Juancho De La Espriella will give their final performance of the El Último Baile Tour as they bid farewell as a duo after taking their show to Colombian cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali.
The day will also feature a performance by Jean Carlos Centeno, remembered for being behind major hits of Binomio de Oro de América like “Me Ilusioné,” as well as Guayacán Orquesta, which, as part of its 40th-anniversary celebration, is about to release a new album that will include its latest single, “Mala Costumbre.”
May 2 will feature a tribute to Binomio de Oro. The legendary vallenato group, celebrating 50 years of history, is known for transforming the sound of vallenato and taking it to new stages both nationally and internationally — an achievement largely credited to the leadership of Israel Romero, who took charge after the passing of Rafael Orozco in June 1992.
That night will also mark the crowning of the new “Rey Vallenato” and feature performances by prominent artists in the accordion-driven genre, such as Churo Díaz and Elder Dayán Díaz — two of the few Colombian artists who have filled the Parque de la Leyenda Vallenata with their solo shows. The former is a phenomenon with two decades of career and hits like “El Fuete,” while the latter, heir to the Díaz dynasty (of Diomedes), is known for hits like “El Picantico” and his recently released Homenaje De Oro, a tribute album to Binomio de Oro that will surely bring a sense of nostalgia to the evening.
Lastly, J Balvin will take the stage following two massive sold-out shows in Bogotá and Medellín. After announcing a tour that will also take him to cities like Cali, Montería, and Cúcuta, he will bring his Ciudad Primavera show to Valledupar, also known as the national capital of vallenato.
Created in 1968 with the mission of preserving and promoting traditional vallenato while integrating cultural expressions that connect with younger audiences, Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata has also stood out for the excellent quality of performances in recent years, featuring stars like Luis Alfonso and Juan Luis Guerra, as well as tributes to iconic figures such as Omar Geles and Jorge Oñate.
—This story was originally published by Billboard Colombia
