The 2026 Ponce Cuna de la Salsa Fest honored the work of Don Tite Curet all weekend long.
The second edition of the Ponce Cuna de la Salsa Fest drew and welcomed more than 30,000 attendees to the Ciudad Señorial (The Majestic City), according to reports from the mayor’s office. The festival, which paid tribute to Don Tite Curet Alonso on the occasion of his centennial, took place at the Héctor Lavoe Stage inside the La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex, keeping salsa fans captivated throughout the entire weekend.
On Friday, July 31, 2026, the opening day kicked off right on schedule, delivering an organized, top-tier lineup.
El Junte Ponceño, under the direction of Julito Alvarado accompanying Dakota Flores, Kriptony Texeira, and Wito Colón opened the show, making it clear why Ponce retained its title as the “Cradle of Salsa” (Cuna de la Salsa) for the second consecutive year. To achieve this, the Ponce-born trumpeter, who is the director of the Juan Morel Campos Music Institute and the musical leader of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, assembled a roster of master musicians, including: José “Murcy” Reyes on congas, Richie Carrasco on bongo and cowbell, Pablo Padín on timbales, Reynaldo Burgos on piano, Efraín “Frao” Hernández on bass, Víctor “Yuka” Maldonado on baritone sax, Víctor Vázquez on trombone, Carlos Atiles on trumpet, Francisco Javier Quiñones and Juan Bautista on backing vocals, as well as emerging trombonist Carlos Malavé a recent graduate of the Juan Morel Campos Institute who stepped onto a major international stage within the salsa movement for the very first time.
El Junte Ponceño was followed by Charlie Aponte and his orchestra, who, as always, kept the stage ablaze. This set the tone for the grand finale led by Luisito Figueroa’s Orquesta Abran Paso, backing Luigi Texidor, Anthony Colón, and the First Lady of Salsa, Yolanda Rivera.
The second day, Saturday, August 1, featured a stellar lineup: Los Guardiola, Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña proving themselves to be a world-class orchestra in front of an audience represented by delegations from Italy, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Panama, Ecuador, Japan, and Thailand, along with many Puerto Ricans from across the island and the diaspora. Willie Rosario and his crowd-pleasing band showcased the ever-treasured playing of “Míster Afinque” behind his timbales, handing off the drumsticks to his grandson, Yoaquím Cintrón Rosario, between songs. The grand finale of the second night was delivered by Moncho Rivera, who faithfully upheld the legacy of El Sonero Mayor, blending in his now extensive repertoire as always. The municipal administration ensured smooth traffic flow by establishing designated transportation shuttles into the recreational complex.
The third and final day of the 2026 edition of this salsa landmark event kept the genre and its Puerto Rican exponents flying high right from its birthplace, Ponce. This was made possible by the Honorable Mayor of Ponce, Marlese Sifre, the Salsoul team under the programming of Ricardo Padilla-Núñez, and the production of Madera Events. Adding to the musical lineup was a cultural exchange with the city of Cali, featured through the voice of Willy García. The artists who kept the Sunday crowd fully locked into Ponce Cuna de la Salsa Fest mode until the very last minute were Papote y su Grupo Esencia, Bobby Valentín and his orchestra, José Alberto “El Canario”, Luis Enrique, and Andy Montañez and his orchestra. The event closed with a tribute to the late, legendary composer from Guayama, Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso, featuring the Orquesta del Centenario performing his musical repertoire under the direction of Pete Perignon. They backed an extraordinary lineup of vocalists: Tito Allen, Herman Olivera, Papo Sánchez, Jeremy Bosch, and Caleño singer Willy García.
Carmencita DJ kept the music flowing, staying true to the central theme of the Ponce event and keeping Don Tite Curet’s music playing all weekend long.
Photo of Julito Alvarado: (c) Bella Martínez
All other images: (c) Ciudad de Ponce & (c) Visit Ponce
Also Read: Bella Martínez, Salsa’s Irreverent Writer
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