2026 El Mariachi Canta Vocal Competition

Submission Guidelines

• 2026 video submission due date 2/27
• Three categories: Grades 3-8, Grades 9-12 and Open Community (Post high school and older)
• Grades 3-12 contestants submitting for the vocal contest MUST BE paid registrants of the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference PRIOR to submission. Open Community contestants – TIMC registration is not required.
• Open Community contestants must be available to compete for live performance in Tucson, AZ on Wednesday, April 29th. (if selected).  TIMC registration not required
• Contestants must submit ONE standard mariachi song from the following categories for their video submission:
  • Son
  • Huapango
  • Ranchero
  • Bolero
• Upload videos and send to elmariachicantatimc@gmail.com.
  IMPORTANT: record video (using phone or camera); upload to YOUR personal YouTube channel; make the video as ‘Unlisted – anyone with link can view’ so that it’s not public; copy link and e-mail to elmariachicantatimc@gmail.com.
• Limit of 4 minutes per song
• NO KEY CHANGES after video submission. Contestants must sing in the same key as the submitted entry.
• Potpourris excluded from submission
• El Mariachi Canta competitors will be selected remotely by panel of judges

Finalists

Finalist selection will be awarded from the video submissions and announced on March 10, 2026.  Each category will have 3 finalists that will compete live on stage Wednesday, April 29th 2026.  Awarded finalist will perform the same song submitted and a scheduled rehearsal will be set for all finalists in Tucson. Each winner of the three categories (Grades 3 – 8, Grades 9 – 12 and Open Community) will also be a featured performer on Saturday May 2nd 2026 at the Fiesta de Garibaldi.

El Mariachi Canta vocal competition will be held on Wednesday, April 29th 2026 at the MSA Annex: 267 S. Avenida del Convento, at 6pm.