On October 4 and 5, Simón Bolívar Park will once again become the epicenter of salsa with the 26th edition of Salsa al Parque, organized by the District Institute of Arts (Idartes). This year’s festival will bring together legendary artists from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, sharing the stage with national and local orchestras in a celebration that reaffirms Bogotá as the salsa capital.
Among the international guests is La Sonora Ponceña (Puerto Rico), an orchestra founded in 1954 by Enrique “Quique” Lucca and directed for decades by Papo Lucca. With more than 40 albums released, their sound stands out for the richness of its arrangements, the strength of its trumpets, and Papo Lucca’s piano virtuosity, making them a living heritage of salsa worldwide.
From Puerto Rico, Frankie Vázquez, the “Sonero del Barrio,” will get the audience dancing with the hits he has built over his 35-year career. Cuba will be represented with Estrellas de Buena Vista y Más, an ensemble that revives the legacy of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club for new generations, and with Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, one of the leading orchestras of contemporary timba. From Venezuela comes singer and composer Luis Felipe González, known for classics such as La Sirena and Londres.
From the Dominican Republic comes Mickey Taveras, who rose to fame in the 1990s with romantic salsa ballads such as Y qué me pasa and Quiéreme. Venezuela will also be present with Porfi Baloa y sus Adolescentes, the group that revolutionized youth salsa in the same decade with its fresh sound, urban lyrics, and unmistakable style.
With 26 editions to its name, the festival remains a powerful symbol of diversity, inclusion, and cultural heritage. In 2025, it will once again showcase why Bogotá is increasingly recognized as the true salsa capital of Colombia.
The national force on the Salsa al Parque lineup
Colombian talent will also take center stage in this edition. Yuri Buenaventura, one of the world's most influential Colombian salsa artists—who first rose to fame abroad singing in French—will perform his greatest hits. Buenaventura has become one of the genre's most powerful and universal voices, renowned for bringing salsa to symphonic stages and blending Pacific rhythms with Caribbean traditions. He will have the honor of closing the festival.
Edy Martínez & Privilegio Latino will also be part of the national lineup. Martínez, a pianist and composer from Pasto, is regarded as one of Colombia’s living salsa legends. His career includes collaborations with leading international artists and his establishment in New York as one of the most versatile musicians on the Latin scene.
From Cali comes Gustavo García, “El Pantera,” a trombonist and composer who has built a reputation with his melodic and contemporary style. Also from the capital of Valle del Cauca is La Suprema Corte, a group founded in the 1990s that blends hard salsa with modern elements.
The salsa tradition of Medellín will also be represented by Grupo Galé, one of Colombia’s most renowned orchestras, with more than 30 years of experience. You can also enjoy the fresh, urban sound of the new generations with Marea Brava and Sonido 70.
More information about Salsa al Parque at www.idartes.gov.co/es
If you want more information about plans and destinations during your visit, go to www.visitbogota.co and download the free Visit Bogotá app on your smartphone.
Featuring legendary artists from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, this renowned event will take place on October 4 and 5 at Simón Bolívar Park in Bogotá
