Overview The Taste of Jalisco Festival is a three-day Mexican culture festival in downtown Cathedral City, California, built on the city's sister-city tie to Tequila, Jalisco, formalized in 1996, and it pairs a carnival midway with tequila tastings, an artisan market and lucha libre in the town amphitheater. The City of Cathedral City puts it on with Soundskilz, a Southern California event producer founded in 1999. The 2026 edition, May 1 to 3, was the 10th. On site The festival fills the Town Square festival lawn and the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater on Avenida Lalo Guerrero. In 2026 it ran Friday from 5 p.m. and weekends from mid-afternoon, and every ticket included the amphitheater shows. The carnival sells unlimited-ride wristbands and fast passes, and the artisan market runs alongside. Tequila tastings are for guests 21 and over, sold in flights of four or ten, and cooking demonstrations from Luchador Brewing Company, La Casa del Mariachi and Fresh Agave ran through each evening. Cathedral City residents, military, first responders and teachers got in free on Friday and before 5 p.m. on the weekend. Talent and Influencers The amphitheater bill leans on tribute acts and wrestling. In 2026 Dreaming of You, a Selena tribute, played Friday; Saturday brought The Shakira Experience and Savor, a Santana tribute band; and Sunday closed with Lucha Libre Mexicana presented by Masked Republic. The 2024 festival ran Legends of Lucha Libre Mexicana with masked wrestlers and title matches on both weekend nights, plus a Sunday car show. Track record In 2026 Friday night opened with a top-shelf tequila and mezcal competition; Tequila Laya's Silver Blanco had taken first place at an earlier edition. The 2024 edition, the eighth, doubled the size of the carnival, and the festival moved from February to May for its 10th year in 2026. Brand presence Agua Caliente Casinos was presenting sponsor in 2024, and Agua Caliente, Raising Cane's, El Informador del Valle and KMIR-TV NBC Palm Springs sponsored in 2026. Masked Republic presented the 2026 lucha libre show. Soundskilz also offers annual sponsorship across its 2026 slate of festivals in Southern California and Texas.