The first weekend in May will set the tone for a jam-packed month with concerts, family fun events and comedy shows.
The international K-pop group BTS, a new event, Sol Summit, the El Paso Comic Con, and the Michelada Fest will all take place Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.
Cinco de Mayo events will take place in early May, and then big names like Post Malone and Cazzu will perform later in the month.
And May is also a big month for water fun as the city’s four water parks will open for the summer.
Here is a good overview of all the major events in May.
Elmont concerts
The Elmont is filling up the month of May with nationally and internationally recognized electronic artists at 240 W. Castellano Drive.
Upcoming events:
Tickets for all shows are available at elmontsocial.com.
BTS
The International music group BTS is coming to the Sun Bowl for two nights, May 2-3. Tickets for the El Paso shows are sold out on Ticketmaster.com.
El Paso Comic Con 2026
For three action-packed days, the El Paso Convention Center becomes the ultimate destination for fans of comics, movies, anime, wrestling, gaming, cosplay, and pop culture.
Comic Con 2026 will run from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the El Paso convention center.
Fans can look forward to meeting iconic celebrities like Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, legendary creators to unforgettable panels, photo ops, shopping, and fandom-fuelled energy.
Among the more popular voice actors coming will be Bryce Papenbrook, known for numerous video games, cartoons, and television programs, including Demon Slayer, Sword Art Online, and The Miraculous Ladybug. His photo opportunities will cost $85. Make an appointment online.
Another popular guest will be Dante Basco, a well-known Asian-American icon. One of his well-known roles is “Prince Zuko” in the Nickelodeon hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender. He will have appearances Saturday and Sunday. Autographs will be $60, table selfies will be $50.
Sol Summit
The El Paso Community Foundation’s new two-day music and cultural festival, Sol Summit, will be May 2-3 at San Jacinto Plaza, the heart of Downtown El Paso. Festival gates will open at 2:30 p.m. each day, with programming running until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The festival will be headlined by Bomba Estéreo on Saturday, May 2, and The Flaming Lips on Sunday, May 3.
The Flaming Lips, the acclaimed, long-running band formed in Oklahoma City, bring their singular, decades-spanning take on American psychedelic and alternative rock. Bomba Estéreo, led by Li Saumet, blends Caribbean rhythms with electronic music, drawing from the colors and culture of Colombia and the wider Latin American Caribbean.
Tickets for Sol Summit are available at SolSummitMusic.com, including single-day passes, two-day festival passes, and VIP packages. Tickets are sold on a tiered pricing system and will increase as tiers sell out, so fans are encouraged to purchase early.
Two-day GA passes start at $135, single-day GA passes start at $70, two-day VIP passes start at $225, and single-day VIP passes start at $140. Kids 12 and under receive free general admission access when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
Juanes at Michelada Fest
Colombian musician and singer Juanes will return to El Paso to headline the Michelada Fest 2026, Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, at Ascarate Park.
Juanes will perform on Saturday, May 2. Also performing will be Blessd, R0Z, Da Reyes DLS, Arsenal Effectivo, Gail and Johnny Cage. On Sunday, May 3, the headliner will be Jhayco. Also performing will be DeOrro, 3Ballmty, Marca MP, Paloma Mami, Chuyin, Los Hijos de Garcia and KareBear.
Tickets starting at $126.13 are available at Eventbrite.com.
General admission weekend passes will cover two days of music and access to Sazón Zone with food vendors, bars, art installations and merchandise shops.
VIP tickets will include skip-the-line access, a lounge, upfront viewing at the main stage, VIP premium bars and restrooms, shaded rest areas, and the option to upgrade to bottle service.
Broadway in El Paso presents Clue
The Broadway in El Paso series will present Clue, an evening of murder, blackmail and plenty of laughs, at 8 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 2, and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the Plaza Theatre. Tickets ranging from $45 to $143 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Los Lonely Boys Rockpango Fest 2026
The Grammy-winning Lonely Boys will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Tickets ranging from $46 to $129 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Cinco de Mayo
The Mexican American Cultural Center, 201 W. Franklin Ave., will have a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at 201 W. Franklin Ave. Join GECU as representatives dive into the history of Cinco de Mayo as well as aspects from the Poblano culture specific to the state of where the famous Battle of Puebla. The day will include a folklorico workshop for kids.
Trio Los Panchos
The Trio Los Panchos will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Tickets will range from $93 to $158 plus fees, available at Ticketmaster.com.
Comedian Brad Williams
Comedian Brad Williams is bringing his new Tall Tales Tour to El Paso with a show at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Plaza. Tickets ranging from $35 to $159 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Post Malone
Post Malone will perform Wednesday, May 13, at the Sun Bowl Stadium. Jelly Roll and Carter Faith will join Malone. Other tour stops include Waco and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tickets ranging from $66 to $389 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Cazzu
Argentine rapper and singer Cazzu has added six new cities to her Latinaje Tour, including El Paso.
Due to fan demand, Live Nation announced that the added shows will be in El Paso, Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and Hollywood, Fla. The El Paso concert will be Thursday, May 14, at the El Paso County Coliseum.
Tickets ranging from $52 to $254 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Rock Orchestra by Candlelight
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is an electrifying 90-minute show of 14 classical musicians playing music by iconic rock bands. The performance will be at 8 p.m. Wednesaday, May 20, at the Plaza Theatre. Tickets ranging from $62 to $189 plus fees are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Make plans for Selena & Salsa Market in May
The Selena & Salsa Market, a vibrant, family-friendly event, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the Union Plaza, 117 Anthony St. in Downtown El Paso.
The event will feature live music, Selena-inspired vendors, a salsa-tasting competition, and unique shopping experiences. One of the event’s highlights is theSelena Look-Alike Competition, where fans can showcase their best Selena-inspired style for a chance to win prizes.
Chapoteo, Lost Kingdom, Camp Cohen and Oasis to open in May
The city’s four water parks will open in May. Chapoteo, at 1225 Giles Road, will open on Saturday, May 2. Lost Kingdom, at 6001 Hughey Drive, will open on Saturday, May 9. Camp Cohen, 9700 Gateway Blvd N., and Oasis, at 13501 Jason Crandall Drive, will open on Saturday, May 16.
For park information and fees: https://epwpchapoteo.centeredgeonline.com/retail/items/g/waterparkadmission
The city’s splashpads and Pavo Real outdoor aquatic center will open May 23, as part of Memorial Day weekend.
Wet N’ Wild opens May 2 for 2026 swim season
Wet N’ Wild Waterworld will open for the summer on Saturday, May 2. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From there, the water park will be open weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 22. Pricing at the gate is $44, including tax, for ages 4 and up, $49, including tax, for weekends and holidays. $10, including tax, for toddlers, ages 1 to 3. Babies under 1 year get in free.
Information: wetnwildwaterworld.com
Ascarate Aquatic Center will open Memorial Day weekend 2026
Ascarate Pool, at 6900 Delta Drive, will open for the summer on Sunday, May 24. The pool will be open weekends after that through June 14.
General pool admission will be $3 for adults, 18 and older. Veterans, military, first responders and county employees with ID get a discounted price of $2. Youths 17 and under and seniors 60 and older with ID also pay $2.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: May heats up in El Paso with BTS, Comic Con, festivals
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
