Vive Latino 2026: Lenny Kravitz, Juanes & El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico Among the Best of Day 1

The debut of the iconic American rocker at Vive Latino will be remembered as one of the best performances by an Anglo artist in the history of the festival.

Kravitz not only reaffirmed the immense energy he exudes on stage, but he also sought to connect more with the audience by delivering a heartfelt, bilingual dialogue. “Bienvenidos a esta celebración (Welcome to this celebration),” he started in Spanish. “Everyday is a blessing. Estoy muy feliz de estar aquí con ustedes (I’m very happy to be here with you.) You’re always in my heart. Todos juntos (All together,) and I feel you so much. ¡Somos energía, somos vida, somos amor! (We are energy, we are life, we are love!)” he expressed, eliciting a standing ovation from the crowd.

Accompanied by his band, the singer-songwriter took over the main stage to perform a varied selection of songs, featuring classics from his discography like “Bring It On,” “I Belong to You,” “Believe,” “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,” “Again,” “American Woman” and the powerful “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” creating an epic moment for both new and longtime fans.

The Colombian superstar returned to the Vive Latino festival for the second time since his debut in 2019 to deliver one of the most anticipated and celebrated performances on the first day of activities. Dressed in a Mexican national soccer team jersey, Juan Esteban Aristizábal (his real name) took the audience on a journey through the songs that have catapulted him to being one of the great voices in Latin music, such as “La Camisa Negra,” “Fotografía,” “Cada Vez,” “Mala Gente” and “A Dios le Pido.”

The Medellín-born star also showcased his guitar skills with powerful riffs and honored his heavy metal roots with a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s classic “Paranoid.” Additionally, he performed a small fragment of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the legendary band that influenced him during his adolescence and inspired him to form Ekhymosis.

Another surprise came when Juanes, later wearing a black T-shirt, invited Mateo from Conociendo Rusia to join him in a duet of “Es Por Ti.”

The legendary Puerto Rican band brought salsa music to Vive Latino for the first time, headlining a historic moment with a masterful performance that made thousands of people from various generations dance to the rhythm of songs like “Me Liberé,” “Falsaria,” “Achilipú” and “Esos Ojitos Negros.”

Dubbed the “University of Salsa,” the group opened the show with a homage to the host nation, “Conozca a México,” a 1978 track that invites people to visit emblematic places in the country, highlighting its beauty and warmth. One of the most exhilarating moments came with their classic “Un Verano en Nueva York,” whose version by Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” — part of his No. 1 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos — has massively popularized it among young people worldwide.

The Mexican ska-rock band, was one of the acts responsible for closing Saturday’s marathonic session, and they did so with a message of peace and love. “We are living in such difficult and complicated times, with a bombardment of wars,” lead singer Roco Pachukote expressed with an energy that has stood the test of time. “They want us depressed, they want us divided, they want us afraid.”

The vocalist invited the audience to join in a ritual of resistance to cast away negative energy and embrace hope. With “Solín,” Maldita Vecindad unleashed the moshpit and slam, while their classic “Pachuco,” featuring emerging artist La Coreañera on the accordion, invited dancing and celebration.

One of the standout performances from day 1 on the Intolerante Tent stage was the debut of the superband Madreperla, made up of four iconic musicians from Mexico’s rock scene: singer-songwriter Cecilia Toussaint, guitarist José Manuel Aguilera, bassist Federico Fong, and Caifanes drummer Alfonso André. With just a freshly released EP, the group captivated even the most demanding listeners with songs like “Tenue Luz,” “Cinemático” and “Si Pudieras Oír,” leaving them wanting more.

Blending progressive rock with hints of jazz, Madreperla has literally become a family — the quartet is joined by Toussaint and André’s son, Julián, on percussion — and continues the legacy of the lineup that three decades ago gave life to the cult band La Barranca. This new project now arrives with a fresh proposal that reaffirms its elegance, featuring poetic lyrics and enchanting sounds.