Nayarit named American Capital of Culture 2024.

The State of Nayarit (Mexico) has been elected American Capital of Culture as announced by the president of the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals, Xavier Tudela.

Nayarit has been elected American Capital of Culture for three different as well as complementary reasons: for the quality of the candidacy project, for the institutional and citizen consensus and for wanting to make the Cultural Capital an instrument of sum, cohesion and social inclusion at the same time as an element of economic development.

Throughout 2024, Nayarit will offer both its inhabitants and its domestic and foreign visitors an interesting and diverse cultural agenda, highlighting the historical wealth and cultural heritage of this region of western Mexico. The agenda of events will be announced in due course.

Thanks to its election as American Capital of Culture 2024, Nayarit will have a great promotion through the official TV channels associated with the Cultural Capital. These channels are Antena 3 Internacional and Discovery. The scope of these emissions embraces thirty countries of the world.


About the State of Nayarit, Mexico:

The State of Nayarit is located in the NW part of Mexico, between the Pacific coast and the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental. The region has been a cultural melting pot since pre-Columbian times.

It is one of the few Mexican states in which the traditions and rituals of the indigenous peoples have been preserved over the generations: the Nayeri (Cora), the Wixarika (Huicholes), the Tepehuanes and the Mexicaneros, proud Nayarit cultures keep alive a wealth of immense cultural value to the state.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Nayarit was the gateway to America with a remarkable cultural exchange whose traces are palpable: It was on its shores that the crew of the famous Nao of China (the name given to the boats that for 250 years united America with Asia) arrived at the historic port of San Blas, Nayarit and exchanged silk fabrics, spice or wood for cocoa beans, silver, gold and cochineal to dye their clothes red, one of the great luxuries of the time.
Also in the 18th century, Nayarit was the departure port for the Jesuits and Franciscans expeditions to conquer the Californias.

Looking deep into this region’s history, we discover four Magical Villages full of history, a particular gastronomy and interesting museums: Compostela, former capital of the extinct Kingdom of Nueva Galicia and one of the first cities founded by the Spanish conquerors; Jala, a picturesque colonial village at the foot of the Ceboruco volcano; Sayulita, a true paradise for surfing and bohemian life lovers with the best seafood cuisine, and Mexcaltitlán, a fascinating town situated on an island and very special for the history of Mexico, since it is believed to be the ancient Aztlan, the place from where the Nahuas departed in the 12th century to found the Great Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City).

Today, in the state capital, Tepic, you can meet the artists who have contributed to give light and shape to Nayarit. There are museums such as that of Emilia Ortiz (outstanding surrealist Nayarita painter) or that of Amado Nervo, the home where this great Mexican poet was born.

Last but not least is the spectacular coastal region known as the Riviera Nayarit: a paradise along the Pacific Ocean with a wide repertoire of cultural events throughout the year and with the town of San Pancho as a cultural epicenter, thanks to the symbiosis existing between its original inhabitants and those who came more recently from all over the world to make the region their home. At the Riviera Nayarit, you can enjoy exquisite cuisine or travel by sea to visit the many islands of Nayarit, such as the Marietas, where thousands of birds and endemic species nest, or the Marias Islands, a nature reserve and former prison recently converted into a cultural and tourist centre.


About The American Capital of Culture: 

The American Capital of Culture (www.cac-acc.org), aims to promote Inter-American integration in the cultural sphere, contribute to a better knowledge among the peoples of the American continent, respecting their national and regional diversity, while highlighting the common cultural heritage.

To date, have been chosen as American Capital of Culture (2000 – 2024):

2000: Merida (Mexico)
2001: Iquique (Chile)
2002: Maceio (Brazil)
2003: Panama City (Panama) and Curitiba (Brazil)
2004: Santiago (Chile)
2005: Guadalajara (Mexico)
2006: Cordoba (Argentina)
2007: Cusco (Peru)
2008: Brasilia (Brazil)
2009: Asuncion (Paraguay)
2010: Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
2011: Quito (Ecuador)
2012: Sao Luis (Brazil)
2013: Barranquilla (Colombia)
2014: State of Colima (Mexico)
2015: Mayaguez/Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)
2016: Valdivia (Chile)
2017: Merida (Mexico)
2018: State of Anzoategui (Venezuela)
2019: San Miguel de Allende-Guanajuato (Mexico)
2020: Punta Arenas (Chile)
2021: State of Zacatecas (Mexico)
2022: Ibague (Colombia)
2023: Election July 2022
2024: State of Nayarit (Mexico)