Mariachi Campana de Riverside, an ensemble of the Riverside Arts Academy, has won the 2026 Mariachi Nationals championship. The group secured the honor this week at the Mariachi Nationals competition in Anaheim.
The win caps a landmark year for the youth ensemble, which is based in Riverside and represents the city on national stages. Local arts leaders say the title reflects years of investment in youth music education and puts Riverside's mariachi programs in the national spotlight.
Mariachi Campana is led by Alex Treviño II, the Riverside Arts Academy's Director of Programs and Partnerships, along with assistant directors Yamila de la Rosa and Angel Chavez.
"This championship represents far more than a trophy," Treviño said in a statement. "It reflects the countless hours our students have dedicated to their craft, the support of their families, and the belief that music has the power to transform lives. We are incredibly proud of every student who stepped onto that stage and represented Riverside with excellence."
The national title follows a third-place finish earlier this spring at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, the highest placement by a California ensemble at that competition, according to the Riverside Arts Academy.
Adam Karelin-Anderson, the academy's executive and artistic director, said in a statement that the championship shows what is possible when a community invests in its young people.
"This national championship shows what is possible when we truly believe in our community's young people and support them with everything we've got," Karelin-Anderson said in a statement.
Following the win, Mariachi Campana performed in a Command Performance at the OC Fair alongside Embajadores del Mariachi: Sol de México.
More information: Visit riversideartsacademy.com. Riverside Arts Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides accessible music education programs for young people in partnership with community organizations.
Correction- Tues. Aug. 4, 10am
An earlier version of this story, based on information provided in the Riverside Arts Academy's press release, stated that Mariachi Campana was the first ensemble from California to win the Mariachi Nationals championship. The Riverside Arts Academy has since said that claim was inaccurate and should not have been included. The Gazette regrets the error.
