MND Local: Experiencing a taste of Oaxaca at its annual mezcal festivals

July sees hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving successful Oaxaca to observe (and photograph) the traditions of Guelaguetza. Many are connected the hunt for the champion mezcal, and determination are galore events to supply conscionable that, ranging from tasting seminars to thoroughfare parties.

The main lawsuit successful Oaxaca City is the Feria del Mezcal, hosted astatine the Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Oaxaca (CCO) successful Santa Lucía del Camino. This is simply a multi-day extravaganza concluding July 28. Although galore dainty the lawsuit similar the world’s largest unfastened bar, it is overmuch much than that. It is an agro-industrial, taste accumulation wherever you tin find uncommon mezcals and conscionable the producers who marque them.

Oaxaca’s mezcal sipping and sampling festivals

For those seeking to illustration the world’s champion mezcals, the yearly Feria del Mezcal offers a aureate opportunity. (Anna Bruce)

Glynn Pegler runs 2 bars successful Oaxaca City and says helium has seen a “noticeable summation successful the professionalism of the Feria this year. There is simply a afloat programme of amusement and seminars, and stricter controls connected the prime of the products and their authenticity. From the prime of the displays and decorations successful each of the mezcal stands this year, it is wide that everyone successful the Feria has upped their game.”

Santiago Matatlán is simply a Oaxacan municipality known arsenic “the World Capital of Mezcal.” The municipality precocious hosted its ain “Grand Mezcal Festival,” held from July 23-26, 2026. The dates coincided with the authorities solemnisation of Guelaguetza, arsenic good arsenic the town’s saint’s time (July 25) honoring Santiago Apóstol.

This year, the just took spot conscionable a fewer blocks from the municipality square. Stalls showcased section mezcal brands, arsenic good arsenic accepted crafts and food. Over the people of the event, experts including Mabi Cuish, Carmen Vásquez and Cynthia Villalobos gave lectures. Music and dancing were featured successful the signifier of a calenda, a cabalgata (horseback procession) and a jaripeo (rodeo).

An acquisition successful mezcal

Events similar the yearly Feria del Mezcal bring unneurotic Oaxaca’s champion distillers for a solemnisation of the state’s astir iconic product. (Anna Bruce)

The solemnisation integrates the mezcal contented with different elements of Oaxaca’s taste identity, strengthening the tourer offerings of Santiago Matatlán and its transportation with Guelaguetza activities.

On Saturday, organizers presented awards, cheered connected by the festival crowd. These included diplomas for students who completed a people successful mezcal accumulation done the “University of Mezcal.” The main lawsuit was the Largest Agave Heart Contest, sponsored by ProMez. The contention recognizes the prime and effort of the producers, highlighting 2 cardinal aspects of the agave: its sweetener content, measured successful degrees Brix, and the value of the hearts.

“University of Mezcal” graduates besides celebrated during the festival. (Anna Bruce)

Although the Grand Mezcal Festival successful Matatlán has finished, you tin inactive sojourn the assemblage and the mezcal producers who enactment there. You tin bash this by reaching retired to mezcalerías specified arsenic Quiote oregon by contacting section guides.

Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based successful Oaxaca, Mexico. Just immoderate of the media outlets she has worked with see Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find retired much astir her work at her website or sojourn her connected societal media on Instagram or on Facebook.