The Taco Wars festival will return to downtown Shreveport on Saturday, May 2, bringing with it expanded programming, a larger footprint and a full day of food, music and cultural celebration.
Hosted by the Prize Foundation, the free, one-day taco and tequila festival will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. Organizers say this year’s event will feature 13 taquerias from across the region, along with Mexican snack vendors, a mercado shopping area and live music performances in Caddo Common Park.
Mariachi Los Caporales and Quimikoz are scheduled to perform as part of the live entertainment lineup presented by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.
A centerpiece of the festival is the popular salsa tasting competition, where attendees can sample entries from participating vendors and vote for their favorite. Public voting for Best Salsa will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, each taqueria will compete for the Golden Taco award, which will be decided by a panel of professional judges and regional celebrities.
“Taco Wars is a love letter to the Latino community and one of the grandest celebrations of its culture’s food, music and art,” said Gregory Kallenberg. “We are so proud to be able to present this event, and we invite the entire community to one of the most delicious and fun festivals on planet earth.”
Festivalgoers can also visit the Casa de Tequila, a crowd favorite offering curated tequila samples and freshly made margaritas. Beer, water and nonalcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase.
Families can take part in free arts and crafts activities inside the Municipal Auditorium, adding to the event’s family-friendly atmosphere.
Organizers note that Taco Wars also serves as an economic driver for local businesses, with 90% of food sales going directly to participating vendors.
Participating taquerias for 2026 include Bazzar Mexicano, El Novillo Meat Market, La Potranca, La Villa Taqueria, Mi Mercadito, Mi Meza, Pedro’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, Ramirez Mexican Restaurant, Taqueria El Eden, Taqueria Flores, Taqueria La Reyna Del Sur, Taqueria Mi Palmar and Taqueria San Miguel.
More information, including volunteer opportunities, is available at prizefest.com/tacowars.
