The Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS) held its annual Francophone Festival on campus in La Paz this week, featuring theater performances, live music, video screenings, and French food tastings. Rector Dante Salgado González opened the event, which drew students from both the La Paz main campus and the university’s Los Cabos Academic Extension.
Nearly 20 Years of French Culture on Campus
The Francophone Festival has been a tradition at UABCS for close to two decades. Students and faculty from the university’s Modern Languages and Foreign Language Teaching degree programs organized this year’s edition. The festival aims to promote awareness of French-speaking nations worldwide, not just France itself.
Salgado González praised students and teaching staff during his opening remarks. He noted the festival’s steady growth over the years, calling it a celebration of the cultural traditions tied to the French language across multiple continents.
A UABCS faculty member involved in organizing the event described the expanding scope of activities. “It is a festival that has grown over time, incorporating diverse types of activities such as video screenings, plays, musical performances, food tastings, and other activities that celebrate this cultural richness,” she said.
Mexico and France Mark 200 Years of Diplomatic Ties in 2026
This year’s festival carries added significance: 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France. That bicentennial connection gave organizers extra motivation to expand programming beyond the La Paz campus to include students from the Los Cabos extension, located roughly 120 miles south along the Transpeninsular Highway in San José del Cabo.
UABCS, founded in 1976, is the largest public university in Baja California Sur. Its main campus sits on Boulevard Forjadores in La Paz’s Colonia Universitario neighborhood. The university’s cultural programming office regularly hosts public events including concerts, film screenings, and literary readings that are open to the broader community.
The Francophone Festival is part of a global observance tied to International Francophonie Day, celebrated each year on March 20. French-speaking communities in over 80 countries participate in cultural events during the surrounding weeks, according to BCS Noticias.