Kali Uchis' concert in Mexico canceled after death of 'El Mencho'

Pamela Avila, USA TODAY Mon, February 23, 2026 at 4:14 AM UTC

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Colombian artist Kali Uchis was scheduled to perform in the Mexican state of Jalisco on Sunday, Feb. 22, but her show was canceled following the death of one of the top drug lords in the country.

Mexico's defense ministry announced that drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed in a military operation. A shootout in Taplapa, Jalisco, left him seriously injured, and he died during an air transfer to Mexico City.

As a result, concerts and sporting events in Jalisco and neighboring states were canceled or postponed. Uchis was set to perform at Auditorio Telmex in Zapopan, Mexico, on Feb. 22 as part of the Latin America leg of her The Sincerely, Tour, but the venue announced the show was canceled.

"We inform the public of Guadalajara that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the artist, the promoter and the venue, the Kali Uchis concert scheduled for today will not take place," the statement said.

Kali Uchis concert canceled in Mexico after death of 'El Mencho'

The Feb. 22 concert was canceled and not postponed or rescheduled. The statement included refund information for people who purchased tickets to the show.

The "telepatía" artist, who performed in Monterrey on Feb. 21, has not explicitly addressed the cancellation. As of late Sunday, her upcoming show in Mexico City on Feb. 25 has not been affected.

On her Instagram Story, she wrote, "gracias Monterrey. nos vemos mañana Guadalajara," which translates to, "Thank you Monterrey. I'll see you tomorrow, Guadalajara."

Kali Uchis at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.Shakira, Jesse and Joy, and Bryan Adams to perform in Mexico this week

As of Sunday, Jesse and Joy are still set to perform at Arena Gudalajara on Friday, Feb. 27, and Bryan Adams has a scheduled date of Saturday, Feb. 28. Over at Auditoria Telmex, Air Supply has a scheduled date for Feb. 28 as well.

Music festival PortAmérica Latitudes, which is scheduled to take place in Guadalajara, begins on Saturday, Feb. 28. The lineup includes Lila Downs, Dani Martín, and Arde Bogotá.

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In Mexico City, fans are expecting Shakira to perform a free concert at the city's famed Zócalo main plaza for the first time in 20 years. The show will take place on Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m. local time.

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What's happening in Mexico?

A former police officer, Oseguera was the shadowy leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, an outfit named for the western state that is home to one of Mexico's biggest cities, Guadalajara. Over a relatively short period of time, the cartel transformed into an international criminal enterprise rivaling former allies in the Sinaloa Cartel, the gang of captured kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, now in a U.S. prison.

Oseguera's death notches a major victory for Mexico's war on drug cartels that are responsible for smuggling billions of dollars in cocaine and fentanyl into the U.S. The operation set off a wave of violence, with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on social media that "there is absolute coordination with the governments of all states," adding that "we work every day for peace, security, justice, and the well-being of Mexico."

'El Mencho' killed in Mexico. Who was the notorious cartel leader?

Mexican residents urged to stay home

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro urged residents to stay home until the situation was brought under control, and the U.S. embassy advised its citizens to shelter in place.

Mexican media outlets reported burning vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states across the country, particularly in the north and west.

Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports have been diverted or canceled by major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. The Liga MX Femenil match between Chivas and Club América, scheduled for Feb. 22, and a men's Liga MX match were postponed due to the violence.

Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY; Beth Warren, Courier Journal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kali Uchis concert in Mexico canceled after 'El Mencho' killing

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