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The municipal government hosted a series of events commemorating Puerto Vallarta’s 108th anniversary as a municipality and its 58th as a city on the afternoon and evening of Sunday, May 31, 2026. The festivities took place at Los Arcos and El Malecón in the historic downtown district. The main event began at 4 p.m. with a solemn session, during which the City Council presented the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Awards to citizens and organizations that have contributed to the municipality’s development.
María del Carmen Anaya Corona received the “Ignacio Luis Vallarta” award for her lifelong dedication to the municipality and her environmental defense efforts. Isela Mariscal Hernández was honored with the “Teresa Barba Palomera” award for her contributions to cultural promotion. Ana María Martínez Delgado earned the “Francisca Rodríguez Rodríguez” award for her dedication to higher education, while María Matilde Covarrubias Sánchez received the “Manuel Lepe Macedo” recognition for her artistic career. Additionally, the non-profit organization Desarrollo Sustentable, Cultura y Conservación de Vida Silvestre Nakawe A.C. was distinguished with the “Guadalupe Sánchez Torres” award for its wildlife and environmental conservation work.
At the conclusion of the solemn ceremony, Municipal President Luis Munguía recognized the generations of Vallartenses who have shaped the city’s history, asserting that the municipality will continue moving forward into a new era.
The festivities continued with an aerial display by the Mexican Air Force’s aerobatic squadron, the “Águilas Aztecas” (Aztec Eagles). For the second consecutive year, the squadron graced Puerto Vallarta’s anniversary, captivating onlookers with their maneuvers. The six aircraft from Air Squadron 402 and their 12 crew members executed crossovers, inverted flights, barrel rolls, and synchronized turns that painted the sky.
Among the most applauded moments was the “Eagles’ Goalpost” maneuver, presented in honor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as the fan-break formations that left long trails of smoke over the bay. Some of the evolutions were executed at speeds exceeding 500 kilometers per hour, demonstrating the discipline, coordination, and trust required for this type of aerial operation.
Afterward, the local government continued the celebration with the traditional cake cutting. This year’s tres leches cake was crafted by students from the Universidad Vizcaya de las Américas. Mayor Luis Munguía took advantage of this formal gathering to present special recognitions to Eduardo Legorreta Chauvet and Robert Kistner for their contributions to the comprehensive tourism development of the destination.
As night fell, the anniversary activities continued with a lineup of performances on the main stage, set up next to the Matamoros Lighthouse on El Malecón. Around 8,000 residents and tourists gathered to enjoy the artistic and cultural program.
The musical lineup kicked off with a performance by the Mariachi Femenil de Tecolotlán, recognized as the largest all-female mariachi group in the world, which delighted the audience with a repertoire of traditional Mexican music. Later, Grupo Caché and the versatile band Farra picked up the tempo, getting locals and tourists dancing and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
One of the most anticipated moments of the night was the fireworks display, with the countdown led by Municipal President Luis Munguía. The celebration concluded with a performance by the technobanda El Ciclón del Pacífico from Tepic, Nayarit, putting the finishing touch on a day of celebration in the heart of Puerto Vallarta.
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