What to Expect As Mexico City Prepares to Celebrate its 700th Anniversary

Celebrations are gearing up for the 700th anniversary of the founding of Tenochtitlán by the Mexica in 1325, which, after the conquest, became known as Mexico City. Over the past few decades, it’s become common for capitalinos to refer to their city as Mexico-Tenochtitlán, thus making the city’s true foundation date 1325, not 1521, when Spanish rule was imposed.

What to expect 

The celebrations will include cultural events to mark the occasion, including a massive theatrical reenactment in the Zócalo divided into four acts featuring over 800 actors and performers. The events depicted will first center around the divine quest of the Mexica to find the land promised to them by Huitzilopochtli, marked by an eagle devouring a serpent while perched on a cactus. The second act will focus on key moments in Mexica history, including the New Fire ceremony, the reigns of early tlatoani (kings), and major battles.

The third and fourth acts will center on the splendor of Tenochtitlán before Spanish contact, followed by reflections on modern Mexico, voiced by Indigenous women representing figures like La Reina Roja and Tecuichpo.

Videomapping, Sculptures & Dance

From July 11–27, Mexico City´s Zócalo will also host “Memoria Luminosa,” a videomapping projection on the facade of the National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral, that will tell the story of the evolution and struggle of Tenochtitlán into modern Mexico City. Shows at 8 and 9:30 p.m.

The Zocalo will also be adorned with replicas of large-scale Mexica sculptures, including the famous Sun Stone (often wrongly called the Aztec calendar), the massive Coatlicue, mother of Huitzilopochtli and who also gave birth to the moon and stars, and other iconic artifacts like Tlaltecuhtli, an earth deity in Aztec mythology, often depicted as a monstrous figure representing both the earth and the cycle of life and death.

Other highlights include a Nahuatl-language opera titled “Cuauhtemóctzin” at the Zócalo and Bellas Artes, illuminated installations along the Tlaltelolco-Zócalo route, as well as exhibitions at the Museo Yancuic and Paseo de la Reforma.

Why July 26?

According to INAH researcher Lorena Vázquez Vallín, historical sources point to July 26, 1325, as Tenochtitlán’s founding date — coinciding with the year’s second zenithal sun passage over the city. This celestial event held deep ritual significance for Mesoamerican civilizations. The eagle-and-cactus vision, central to Mexica identity, is believed to have occurred on this date, symbolizing divine approval of their new home.

An even deeper past

Though the foundation of Tenochtitlán dates back to 1325, this Mexica capital is the final great power to rule over what today is Mexico City, with other powerful cities ruling over the same area. Some of these include Tlacopan, Texcoco, Azcapotzalco, Tlatelolco, and Cuicuilco, which was built in the 8th century BCE and later destroyed by volcanic eruptions.  

If you decide to go

All events are free, but as one would expect, huge crowds are expected. Staying at a hotel within walking distance of the action is advisable, as public transit will likely become saturated. Confirm schedules via official channels, as details may shift.