Frida Fest 2026 takes place in Santa Fe June 26–28 with a three-day schedule centered on art, music, film, scholarship fundraising, and community events inspired by the life and work of Frida Kahlo. Organized by Nacha Mendez Scholarship, the festival brings together musicians, artists, educators, photographers, filmmakers, and cultural organizations across Santa Fe.
The 2026 festival includes appearances by photographer Cristina Kahlo, lectures by Professor Carlos Rovelo, performances by the Nacha Mendez Trio, a Frida Kahlo mini film festival, photography exhibits, lowrider displays, food events, scholarship awards, and the return of the Traveling Frida Bed installation.
Proceeds from Frida Fest 2026 benefit the Nacha Mendez Scholarship for New Mexican Girls of Color.
What Is Frida Fest?
In short: Frida Fest is a Santa Fe fundraising festival organized by Nacha Mendez Scholarship that supports scholarship opportunities for New Mexican girls of color through arts programming and community events.
Frida Fest combines visual art, performance, music, scholarship fundraising, and public programming connected to the cultural legacy of Frida Kahlo. The festival includes local and visiting artists, public installations, educational talks, film screenings, and live performances across Santa Fe.
One of the festival’s central attractions is the Traveling Frida Bed, a mobile installation inspired by Frida Kahlo’s iconic bed and personal imagery. The installation travels between festival venues throughout the weekend and serves as both a visual centerpiece and a fundraising opportunity for the scholarship program.
Photographer Simon Lopez will also offer festival photography sessions with the Traveling Frida Bed during Frida Fest 2026 for a $10 donation benefiting the scholarship fund.
What are the Frida Fest 2026 event details?
In short: Frida Fest 2026 combines live performance, public art, film, scholarship fundraising, and cultural programming across multiple Santa Fe venues over one weekend.
- Dates: June 26–28, 2026
- Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico venues
- Organizer: Nacha Mendez Scholarship
- Featured Guest: Cristina Kahlo
- Main Venues: Jean Cocteau Cinema, Museum of International Folk Art, New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe Community College, La Casa Sena
- Tickets: Tickets are on sale now
- Festival Pass: $250 per person
- Scholarship Gala: Free admission
- Beneficiary: Nacha Mendez Scholarship for New Mexican Girls of Color
What is the Frida Fest 2026 ticket information?
In short: Festival passes include access to all Frida Fest 2026 events, while individual tickets will also be available for select programs and performances.
Festival Pass
- $250 per person
- Includes admission to all festival events
Individual Event Tickets
- Friday Opening Reception: $80
- Saturday Cristina Kahlo Q&A and Signing: $50
- Saturday Scholarship Awards Gala: Free admission
- Sunday Cristina Kahlo Talk and Photography Exhibit: $50
- Sunday Paella and Tapas Reception: $75
- Sunday Frida Drag Show Closing Celebration: $25
Tickets for Frida Fest 2026 are on sale now. Reserve festival passes, receptions, film events, and Frida Drag Show tickets before events sell out!
What is the Frida Fest 2026 schedule?
In short: Frida Fest 2026 programming spans three days across Santa Fe venues with lectures, live music, scholarship events, film screenings, food experiences, public art installations, and community celebrations tied to the legacy of Frida Kahlo.
Friday, June 26, 2026
Professor Carlos Rovelo Talk at Santa Fe Community College
- Time: Noon
- Location: Santa Fe Community College
Professor Carlos Rovelo will present a public talk focused on Frida Kahlo and the Traveling Frida Bed installation. The event is open to the public and includes a display of the Traveling Frida Bed alongside a portrait of Frida Kahlo created by artist Ben Garza.
Ben Garza’s portrait will later be auctioned during the festival, with proceeds benefiting the Nacha Mendez Scholarship.
Opening Night Reception at La Casa Sena
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Location: La Casa Sena, Santa Fe
In short: Friday evening opens Frida Fest 2026 with live music, food, drinks, and the arrival of the Traveling Frida Bed outside La Casa Sena.
The Friday night reception includes appetizers, drinks, and live music by the Nacha Mendez Trio. Festival painter Susie Cortez will begin a live portrait painting of Frida Kahlo during the event.
The Traveling Frida Bed will also be parked outside La Casa Sena during the reception.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Film Screenings and Festival Events at Jean Cocteau Cinema
- Time: Begins at noon
- Location: Jean Cocteau Cinema
Saturday programming includes a Q&A session with Cristina Kahlo, moderated by Maria Martinez, director of El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe. Cristina Kahlo will also participate in a book and poster signing event.
Festival painter Susie Cortez will continue work on her Frida portrait painting on-site during the event weekend.
Photographer Simon Lopez and board member Toni Viva Munoz will offer photographs with the Traveling Frida Bed for a donation supporting the scholarship fund.
The afternoon screening schedule includes the documentary Naturaleza Viva, introduced by Professor Carlos Rovelo. Additional films throughout the weekend will be dedicated to the festival.
The 2026 Nacha Mendez Scholarship Awards Gala
- Time: 5 p.m.
- Location: New Mexico School for the Arts and Zane Bennett Gathering Space
In short: The scholarship gala recognizes student award recipients while bringing together live music, guest speakers, lowrider displays, Aztec dancers, and community fundraising efforts.
The Nacha Mendez Scholarship Awards Gala is one of the central events of Frida Fest 2026. The evening begins with an Aztec dancer blessing ceremony at 4:30 p.m., followed by scholarship presentations and community recognition.
Music performances will feature Nacha Mendez, Melanie, Carla, and Chase, along with performances by New Mexico School for the Arts students.
The Traveling Frida Bed and a lowrider display will also be on-site outside the New Mexico School for the Arts during the gala.
Festival organizers will additionally introduce the official festival food item, the Frida Pie, during the evening celebration.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Cristina Kahlo Talk and Photography Exhibit
- Time: 4 p.m.
- Location: Museum of International Folk Art
Cristina Kahlo will present a public talk and book signing at the Museum of International Folk Art alongside a photography exhibit connected to the festival weekend.
The Traveling Frida Bed and festival painter Susie Cortez will also appear onsite during Sunday programming.
Paella and Tapas Reception
- Time: 5–6:30 p.m.
- Location: Museum of International Folk Art Atrium
Chef James Campbell Caruso will prepare a buffet-style paella and tapas reception inside the Museum of International Folk Art atrium.
Live music during the reception will feature guitarist Daniel Ward.
Frida Drag Show Closing Celebration
- Time: 7–8 p.m.
- Location: Museum of International Folk Art
The Frida Drag Show closes Frida Fest 2026 with an evening performance celebrating Frida Kahlo’s artistic influence and public image through live stage performance and costume interpretation.
About the Nacha Mendez Scholarship
In short: Frida Fest helps fund scholarships and creative opportunities for New Mexican girls of color pursuing music, arts, and cultural education opportunities.
The Nacha Mendez Scholarship was created to support young women whose artistic goals may otherwise face financial barriers. Through scholarship funding, public recognition, and community support, the program helps expand access to music, arts education, and creative opportunities for girls of color across New Mexico.
Frida Fest functions as both a cultural celebration and a fundraising effort tied directly to that mission. Ticket sales, fundraising auctions, Traveling Frida Bed photography donations, and community events throughout the weekend all help support future scholarship recipients and programming connected to the arts.
The scholarship awards gala at New Mexico School for the Arts remains one of the emotional centerpieces of the weekend, bringing together students, artists, musicians, educators, and community members in support of the next generation of New Mexican creatives.
Learn more about the Nacha Mendez Scholarship.
Attend Frida Fest 2026 and Support the Nacha Mendez Scholarship
Frida Fest 2026 brings together performances, film screenings, artist talks, exhibitions, receptions, and community events that help raise funding for the Nacha Mendez Scholarship for New Mexican Girls of Color.
Throughout the weekend, festival guests will move between concerts, lectures, photography exhibits, lowrider displays, and public gatherings inspired by the life and artistic influence of Frida Kahlo. The Traveling Frida Bed, scholarship gala, live performances, and closing Frida Drag Show all contribute to a festival centered on art, visibility, education, and community support.
Tickets for Frida Fest 2026 are on sale now. Purchase festival passes or individual event tickets and help support the next generation of New Mexican artists and musicians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frida Fest 2026
When is Frida Fest 2026 happening in Santa Fe?
Frida Fest 2026 takes place June 26–28, 2026, across multiple venues in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The three-day festival schedule includes lectures, film screenings, live music, scholarship events, art installations, food events, photography exhibits, and the Frida Drag Show closing celebration tied to the legacy of Frida Kahlo.
Frida Fest programming begins Friday, June 26, with public talks and opening night events connected to the Traveling Frida Bed installation. Saturday programming continues with film screenings, Cristina Kahlo appearances, scholarship fundraising activities, and the Nacha Mendez Scholarship Awards Gala. Sunday closes out the weekend with additional talks, a photography exhibit, a tapas-and-paella reception, and the Frida Drag Show celebration at the Museum of International Folk Art.
The festival schedule is spread across several Santa Fe cultural institutions and gathering spaces, creating a weekend-long community event rather than a single-venue festival. Tickets for Frida Fest 2026 are on sale now, with both full festival passes and individual event tickets available.
Where are Frida Fest 2026 events taking place?
Frida Fest 2026 events will take place across Santa Fe, New Mexico, at venues including Jean Cocteau Cinema, Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico School for the Arts, La Casa Sena, and the Museum of International Folk Art. The Traveling Frida Bed installation will also move between locations throughout the weekend.
Each venue hosts a different part of the festival schedule. Santa Fe Community College hosts the opening lecture by Professor Carlos Rovelo, while Jean Cocteau Cinema serves as the main location for film screenings and Cristina Kahlo programming on Saturday. The New Mexico School for the Arts and Zane Bennett Gathering Space host the 2026 Nacha Mendez Scholarship Awards Gala and lowrider display.
Sunday programming moves to the Museum of International Folk Art for Cristina Kahlo’s lecture, photography exhibit, tapas reception, and the Frida Drag Show closing celebration. La Casa Sena hosts the Friday evening opening reception featuring music by the Nacha Mendez Trio.
Because events are spread throughout Santa Fe, attendees may want to plan parking, transportation, and timing between venues before the weekend begins.
Who is Cristina Kahlo, and why is she part of Frida Fest 2026?
Cristina Kahlo, a Mexican photographer and relative of artist Frida Kahlo, is participating in Frida Fest 2026 as a featured guest. Cristina Kahlo’s appearances during the festival include talks, Q&A sessions, book signings, photography programming, and public discussions connected to Frida Kahlo’s life and artistic legacy.
Cristina Kahlo’s work as a photographer has been exhibited internationally, and her participation adds a direct family connection to the festival’s Frida Kahlo programming. During Frida Fest 2026, Cristina Kahlo will appear at Jean Cocteau Cinema for a moderated Q&A session with Maria Martinez of El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe. Cristina Kahlo will also participate in book and poster signing events during the weekend.
Additional Sunday programming at the Museum of International Folk Art includes a Cristina Kahlo lecture and a photography exhibit tied to the festival schedule. These events are expected to be some of the most attended portions of Frida Fest 2026 because they combine educational programming, photography, and direct conversation connected to Frida Kahlo’s cultural influence and artistic legacy.
What is the Traveling Frida Bed at Frida Fest?
The Traveling Frida Bed is a mobile art installation inspired by Frida Kahlo’s bed, artwork, and public image that travels between Frida Fest 2026 venues throughout the weekend. The installation serves as one of the festival’s main visual centerpieces and appears during lectures, receptions, scholarship events, and photography sessions.
The Traveling Frida Bed will first appear during Friday programming at Santa Fe Community College before moving to La Casa Sena for the opening night reception. Additional appearances are scheduled at New Mexico School for the Arts during the scholarship gala and at the Museum of International Folk Art during Sunday programming.
Festival attendees can also take photographs with the installation throughout the weekend. Photographer Simon Lopez and board member Toni Viva Munoz will offer photo opportunities for a $10 donation benefiting the Nacha Mendez Scholarship fund.
The installation helps connect multiple festival locations visually while also functioning as a fundraising and community engagement piece throughout Frida Fest 2026.
How much are tickets for Frida Fest 2026?
Frida Fest 2026 ticket prices range from $25 to $250, depending on the event. A full festival pass costs $250 per person and includes entry into all official festival events throughout the June 26–28 weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Individual ticket prices vary by event. The Friday Opening Reception at La Casa Sena costs $80 per person, while Saturday’s Cristina Kahlo Q&A and signing event costs $50. The Nacha Mendez Scholarship Awards Gala on Saturday evening is free to attend.
Sunday events are ticketed separately, including the Cristina Kahlo talk and photography exhibit for $50, the paella and tapas reception by Chef James Campbell Caruso for $75, and the Frida Drag Show Closing Celebration for $25.
Tickets for Frida Fest 2026 are on sale now. Because several events involve limited-capacity venues, receptions, and guest appearances, early ticket purchases may be important as the festival approaches.
What does Frida Fest 2026 support?
Frida Fest 2026 supports the Nacha Mendez Scholarship for New Mexican Girls of Color, a scholarship initiative connected to music, arts education, and community support opportunities in New Mexico. Festival proceeds help fund scholarships, recognition programs, and future educational opportunities tied to the arts.
Several parts of the festival directly contribute to fundraising efforts. Ticket sales, festival passes, donations connected to Traveling Frida Bed photography sessions, artwork auctions, and special programming throughout the weekend all support the scholarship fund.
One featured fundraising item during Frida Fest 2026 is a portrait of Frida Kahlo created by artist Ben Garza, which will be auctioned during the festival. Additional fundraising activities include community donations tied to photo opportunities and gala programming.
The scholarship awards gala at New Mexico School for the Arts also highlights student recipients and community recognition efforts connected to the organization’s broader educational mission.
This article was posted by Jess
