Our city’s presence on tourist lists is already a tradition year after year. And for 2026, Mexico City was named World Cultural Capital by the German agency Tourlane.
This distinction, in which the Mexican capital beat out cities such as London, Dublin, Berlin, and Edinburgh, rewards a city’s cultural and museum offerings, as well as its accessibility to art.
“The city balances extraordinary institutions, world-famous venues, and a vibrant contemporary scene like few others in the world,” writes the travel agency in its report.
What won Tourlane over about Mexico City for its 2026 list?
Photo: @tourlane on Instagram
The publication makes special mention of: the Palace of Fine Arts, Diego Rivera’s murals, and Frida Kahlo‘s Blue House.
It also mentions the Soumaya, Tamayo, and University Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC). Tourlane gives special mention to the Modo(Museum of the Object).
“Bringing it all together is the city’s most visited institution, the National Museum of Anthropology.”
Tourlane points out that Mexico City has 44 art museums, 110 galleries, 19 history museums, and 14 science museums. It adds that our city has a strong presence of iconic art, as well as affordable prices and regular free admission.
Other cities in Latin America for your travel list
Bogotá, Colombia. Photo: Random Institute on Unsplash
Our region has an endless cultural offering. If you want to fill your passport with Latin American stamps this year, here are the top 5 you shouldn’t miss.
1. Bogotá
The Colombian capital is no slouch when it comes to culture. For proof, check out this list of places you can’t miss on your next visit:Botero Museum,Gold Museum,National Museumof Colombia, Santa Clara Museum,Casa de la Moneda, and Independence Museum.
A stroll through the Historic Center will allow you to visit some of the city’s most important cultural sites. But if walking is your thing, fall in love with the La Candelaria neighborhood as you wander its cobblestone streets and admire the urban art that decorates its walls.
Be sure to take the cable car up Cerro de Monserrate for the best view of the city. Sundays are for visiting the Usaquén Flea Market, with its bohemian atmosphere and abundance of local crafts and dishes.
Plaza Bolívar, the Botanical Garden, and the Metropolitan Park are also must-sees.
2. Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires also offers a wide range of cultural attractions. Be sure to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Modern Latin American Art (Malba).
Continue your artistic tour at the Recoleta Cemetery, the El Ateneo bookstore, and don’t miss the multidisciplinary shows at the Teatro Colón.
Be sure to include stops at the Obelisk, Tres de Febrero Park, and the Japanese Garden on your tour.
3. São Paulo
The largest city in Brazil ( and the entire region) also has a huge artistic and cultural offering.
Among the museums you shouldn’t miss on your visit are the São Paulo Museum of Art, the Pinacoteca (with its extensive collection of national art), and—if you’re in the country of King Pelé—the Museu do Futebol is a must-see.
Complement your tour by admiring the architectural beauty that fills Avenida Paulista, one of the city’s main avenues, and also escape to Ibirapuera Park.
4. Santiago
The Chilean capital awaits you with vibrant cultural venues, such as the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museumof Memory and Human Rights, one of the most important of its kind in the world.
You’ll love the fact that many of Santiago’s museums offer free admission and are concentrated in the center and its surrounding area.
Be sure to include a climb up the hills of San Cristóbal and Santa Lucía in your itinerary, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. Don’t miss the La Moneda Palace and its Cultural Center.
5. Rio de Janeiro
Rio is not just sand, sea, and sun; it also has an important cultural heritage in the Museum of Tomorrow, the Rio Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center.
Tijuca National Park, as well as the beautiful beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, are natural destinations like no other.
Your visit would not be complete without seeing Christ the Redeemer and the Maracanã Stadium, one of the largest in the world.