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Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: How to Celebrate Community and Culture

Discover meaningful ways to honor Latinos’ contributions across the country

Robin L. Flanigan,

AARP

En español

Published September 11, 2026

people dancing in color dresses and outfits

For Hispanic Heritage Month, consider festivals, virtual events, museum activities and financial programming across the country to learn more about the Hispanic and Latino communities.

FG Trade Latin/Getty Images

Key takeaways

National Hispanic Heritage Month highlights Hispanic culture, history and contributions to the U.S.
Events across the country include museum exhibits, cultural festivals, music performances and community celebrations.
For the month, AARP is focusing on financial security.

Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the history, culture and achievements of the country’s second-largest ethnic group, whose contributions have helped shape the identity of the United States since the Revolutionary War. According to AARP research, there are 15 million Hispanic adults 50 and older nationwide, a number that is expected to reach 19 million by the end of the decade.

Throughout the month, there are celebrations, events and workshops across the country and online, put on by organizations, local governments and private and public venues, such as museums.

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AARP, for example, will focus its efforts on helping Hispanic adults achieve financial security. In a 2025 survey of adults 50 and older, nearly 1 in 4 respondents said that growing up, they did not learn about money topics such as budgeting, saving or investing. Hispanic and Latino adults were the least likely to have learned these skills.

To learn more about what Hispanic Heritage Month events are near you, and what you can experience online, check out this list.

Museums

events at a museum for hispanic heritage month

The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh will have silkscreen printing, interpretive tours and a dance performance, among other activities, during its Sept. 26, 2026, Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.

Courtesy of Camila Casas/ Andy Warhol Museum

Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh

The Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Andy Warhol Museum features a day of activities on Sept. 26. The event includes one-hour guided tours of the museum in Spanish, a 45-minute dance performance by Flamenco Pittsburgh and silkscreen printing, among other activities. Organizers are focused on providing a safe space, says Gina Winstead, vice president of culture and community at Carnegie Museums, a partner of the museum. The museum wants “to be seen as a refuge for people who sometimes feel like they can’t be their authentic selves in other parts of the city,” says Winstead. The celebration begins at 11 a.m. Admission: Free with museum admission ($25 for adults; $13 for adults 65-plus; $13 for children and teens).

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, Washington, D.C.

Salsa music’s roots began in the Caribbean before the musical style made its way into the clubs of New York City, Los Angeles and other major U.S. cities. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino traces that evolution and expansion in a multimedia exhibit called “¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.” From Sept. 17 to Oct. 15, participate in 45-minute guided bilingual tours of the exhibition, available Thursdays to Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The tours are currently located in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. The exhibit examines salsa’s influence on rock ’n’ roll, disco and house music. Nearly 300 artifacts are on display, including ensembles and shoes worn by Celia Cruz, revered worldwide as the “Queen of Salsa.” Admission: Free.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

On Oct. 11, celebrate Día de Muertos, a day of remembrance for those who have died, at the Met Cloisters. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy bilingual activities, including community storytelling, art making, music and more. Admission: Free with museum admission (pay what you wish for New York state residents; $30 for adults; $22 for 65-plus; $17 for students; free for children 12 and under).

Festivals

Hola Charlotte Festival, Charlotte, North Carolina

The 13th Hola Charlotte Festival is expected to attract roughly 40,000 people to the Oct. 3 event, says Denise Coleman, the chief of staff and community affairs for Norsan Media, a U.S. Hispanic-owned media company. The Latin American cultural village at the festival features exhibits representing 15 Latin American countries. Learn about Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico, exuberant Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico and more. Volunteers dress in traditional clothing, display authentic items and musical instruments and allow festivalgoers to try on traditional attire. Expect to see performances of cumbia, a vibrant, percussion-heavy genre of Latin American music; bachata, a prominent genre from the Dominican Republic; and regional Mexican music styles. The festival, from noon to 7 p.m. in Uptown Charlotte along Tryon Street, also features a performance by Nicaraguan singer Luis Enrique, known as the “Prince of Salsa.” Admission: Free

Celebrando: Music, Culture & Community, San Antonio

Join AARP Texas, the World Heritage Office and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio on Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, for this event. Held at Mission Marquee Plaza, the celebration will feature folklórico and mariachi students as well as Los Texmaniacs, a Texas-Mexican conjunto (where the accordion dominates) band, with singer Lisa Morales and a farmers market. Participants who register through AARP will receive a free bag with fraud prevention resources, among other helpful information. Admission: Free.

The 8th Annual Taste of Latino Festival takes place on Oct. 11, 2026, at Centennial Park in Tampa, Florida.

Courtesy of Taste of Latino Festival

8th Annual Taste of Latino Festival, Tampa, Florida

The Hispanic Cultural Resource Foundation Inc. is hosting the food-centered festival at Centennial Park in Tampa’s Ybor City on Oct. 11 from noon to 6 p.m. Aside from offering food from Puerto Rico and numerous Latin countries, the festival will have tables set up for playing dominoes, a traditional Latin American pastime. Also a highlight: interact with football players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and try on their gear.

The event features a sampling of food contest entries, drink tickets, live music, complimentary dance lessons and an opportunity to watch contests, including an “Empanada Smackdown,” in the VIP area where top regional chefs compete for cash prizes and bragging rights for the best recipes. Admission: Free; VIP tickets: $89.94.

Family Day at Rienzi, Houston

Celebrate the artistic heritage of both Spain and Latin America on Sept. 27 at Rienzi, an outpost of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The event, from 1 to 5 p.m., includes art activities and self-guided tours in English and Spanish. Listen to musical performances from flutist Yansa Samada Valdés, who fuses Latin, jazz, soul and contemporary influences, and Latin Grammy nominee violinist Brenda Rengel. Admission: Free with museum admission ($24 for adults; $20 for adults 65-plus and youth 13 to 18; free for children 12 and younger).

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Fraud Road Show, Nampa, Idaho

Join AARP Idaho, the Idaho Department of Finance and the Idaho Commission on Aging-Adult Protective Services for Fraud Road Show, a free presentation on keeping your money safe. The Sept. 21 event at Nampa Public Library runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT. Gain information on strategies to identify, prevent and report financial fraud and exploitation. Registration is encouraged. Admission: Free.

Financial Access Fair, New York City

Master the tools of economic mobility and prosperity on Oct. 17 at the Financial Access Fair, hosted by the Qaulitas of Life Foundation, which provides financial education to Hispanic communities in the New York area. The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Queens Museum, will include workshops on saving and budgeting, credit and homeownership, as well as networking opportunities and family events. Admission: Free.

Virtual programs

Special Event: Bienestar y Armonía

Senior Planet from AARP, helps older adults harness the power of technology to thrive in the digial world, will host a four-session series designed to help you take charge of your well-being from within. Throughout this journey, you’ll discover how your own body helps create balance and energy, and you’ll develop emotional intelligence tools to navigate this stage of life with greater awareness, resilience and purpose. The sessions, which take place on Tuesdays from Sept. 15 to Oct. 6, at noon ET, are only in Spanish.

Sessions 1 & 2, Mindful Self-Care: Activate Your Well-Being: Discover how your body’s “chemical messengers” influence your mood and energy, and learn simple practices to activate them each day.

Sessions 3 & 4, Emotional Intelligence and Purpose: Learn tools to better understand yourself, manage your emotions, strengthen your resilience and discover what gives meaning to this stage of your life. Registration is required.

Movies for Grownups

Catch virtual film screenings through AARP Movies for Grownups. Ballet Nacional de Cuba: Don Quixote will screen on Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET. On Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. ET, watch Frida. Registration is required for both events. Enjoy free movie screenings every week with AARP Movies for Grownups. No membership required. See upcoming screenings and reserve your spot at aarp.org/freemovies.

Make Traditional Horchata Online

AARP California is hosting a virtual session on the history of horchata, a traditional Mexican drink. The Sept. 17 session, from 7 to 8 p.m. ET, will explore the origins of horchata while teaching participants how to make a traditional Mexican-style batch. AARP membership isn’t required, but registration is needed.

Connect with AARP

There are several places within AARP to connect with or learn more about the Latino community:

Amigas from AARP is a bilingual, closed Facebook group that helps Gen X Latinas connect and build new friendships. Members share experiences and come together for virtual gatherings. Visit Facebook to join.

AARP Latino is a Facebook channel designed to bring together Latinos of all backgrounds through relevant information and meaningful conversations. You can follow the AARP Latino Facebook page.

AARP en español is AARP’s Spanish-language website. There you’ll find trusted information tailored to the needs and interests of the Hispanic community, from health and personal finance to everyday life topics and cultural content. Learn more.

Let’s Talk Dinero is a virtual series that helps Hispanic audiences build financial resilience through practical advice. Visit aarp.org/ltd to watch the latest video episodes.

Salud Cerebral has explainers on dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, head injuries and mental health topics in Spanish. Learn about healthy habits that support memory and mental skills.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Robin L. Flanigan is a contributing writer who covers mental health, education and human interest stories for national publications. She is a former reporter for several daily newspapers, and her work has appeared in People, USA Today and Education Week. She is the author of the children’s book M is for Mindful.

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