Shadows, performance and community: Gothic Picnic took over southern Mexico City

Dark dances completed the ritual that brought the community together at the Gothic Picnic 2026 held in the Tláhuac district of Mexico City.

*^{Julie Rivera dancing at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico, May 24. Hans Leguizamo / MxPA.}*

This past May 24, enthusiasts of gothic culture traveled to the south of Mexico City to enjoy music, dance, poetry and theater, all within the framework of World Goth Day, celebrated every May 22.

*^{Attendees of all ages enjoyed a variety of dances and music at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico City, May 24. Hans Leguízamo / MxPA.}*

With the support of the Tláhuac Arts and Crafts Factory, also known as the Tláhuac Lighthouse, artists and attendees of all ages (and the occasional pet) were able to enjoy a cultural offering that is hard to find in other spaces.

*^{In a space suitable for the whole family, pets were also present at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico City, May 24. Hans Leguízamo / MxPA.}*

The stars of the afternoon were the dance performances, which included the presentation of Dueto Maya, who showcased enormous bat wings that were impossible to look away from.

*^{Ana Lilia Maya, of Dueto Maya, at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico, May 24. Hans Leguízamo / MxPA.}*

*^{Ana Laura Maya of Dueto Maya at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico, May 24. Hans Leguízamo / MxPA.}*

Julie Rivera, a multidisciplinary artist, delivered a mesmerizing performance with scimitars that left the audience speechless.

*^{Julie Rivera at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico, May 24. Hans Leguizamo / MxPA.}*

The dancer ROMMA also performed an intriguing and colorful choreography, while using an insectoid makeup, executed by the INSEKTO studio.

*^{ROMMA at the Gothic Picnic, Mexico, May 24. Hans Leguizamo / MxPA.}*

The joy of existing here and now with a community that shares gothic and alternative culture is difficult to describe. Thanks to the physical space provided by Faro Tláhuac and the Mexico City government, it’s possible to celebrate what was once seen as hostile or strange.