photo credit: Shandra Back
La Maquina Musical DJ Miriam Gomez prepares to host on air.

In just two years, an event known as La Onda grew into one of Northern California’s largest Latino music festivals, but organizers abruptly announced in late February the festival has been canceled for 2026. 

The two-day event was planned for May 30th and 31, 2026 at the Napa Valley Expo...one week after the BottleRock Festival. Festival organizers say all ticket buyers will receive full refunds within 30 days, and that they’re still hopeful La Onda could return in the future.

The reason or reasons behind the cancellation is still unclear; organizers provided no official explanation.

And while Latino music lovers in the region say they are disappointed that La Onda has been canceled this year, many say it is important for Latino culture to be celebrated and to remain visible right now.

Miriam Gomez is a DJ at La Maquina Musical, a radio station based in Santa Rosa. She is also the operations manager of Luna Media USA, which runs a second station called La Musikera.

Gomez said she has been to every La Onda since it opened in 2024. It is the biggest Latino music festival in Northern California.

She said the loss of such a large celebration of Latino music and culture this year was sad.

"I want to know why," Gomez said. "Why they cancel? What was the reason? Was it immigration? Was the World Cup? Was it because of sales? Not sure."

La Onda announced last week that it was canceling the festival and refunding tickets. Organizers did not give a reason.

Gomez said there have been many conversations in the community at large about whether they should hold public events that bring large crowds of Latinos together.

"They don't want to have a risky event. because how can you handle that many people?" she said.

Gomez said Luna Media has decided it is worth the risk to remain visible.

"I mean, what can you do? can you just be at home and not doing anything? or you can be here and be and feel like there's a community that is supporting each other," she said.

The company hosts four large free events every year, including El Grito Fest, which attracted thousands of people to downtown Santa Rosa in the fall.

But Gomez said in some cases, partners have been concerned about immigration enforcement and pulled out of events.

She says Luna Media takes steps to keep audiences safe. The company partners with the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and local fire agencies when organizing events.

Gomez said these events matter because they remind the community that they are not alone.

"You're not the only one, you're not the only immigrant," she said. You're not the only one that had to leave everything behind."

Gomez said the community needs to cherish its culture and not be afraid to keep living life.