Hispanic Heritage Month 2026

Exhibition on view in the Governor's Reception Room celebrating the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino people throughout the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 Unidos, Somos Mas. Together, We Are More.

Exhibition On View
New York State Capitol
Governor's Reception Room
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

From September 15th to October 15th, we celebrate the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino people throughout the United States.

The 2026 National Hispanic Heritage Month theme “Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More,” honors the diverse stories and communities that contribute to the strength of the nation. These stories have their roots in over 20 countries and territories around the world, including but not limited to Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition features Hispanic New Yorkers whose work in public service, advocacy, the written word, and in the sports and arts communities reminds us that “Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More.”

Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More. Hear their stories.

Casimiro D. Rodriguez Sr.

Western New York native and retired General Motors executive Casimiro D. Rodriguez Sr. helps raise awareness of Buffalo’s Latino community through the arts, education, health, and social equity. In 2011, he founded the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc. to promote the region’s tourism, culture, and Hispanic heritage, and has led the way to create the first Upstate New York Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute in Buffalo.

Julia Alvarez

New York City-born Julia Alvarez is an award-winning author and poet whose groundbreaking novel "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents", published in 1991, was the first major English-language novel by a
Dominican author. Her work has placed the stories of Dominican and Latina immigrants into mainstream literature, championing social, gender, and anti-authoritarian rights.

Carmen Molina-Tamacas

Salvadoran-born Carmen Molina-Tamacas is a Brooklyn-based journalist, anthropologist, and author of 2022’s "SalviYorkers", a chronicle of the century-long history of Salvadoran immigrants in New York. The book focuses on everyday people, their lives, integration, and community identity, expertly filling a gap in the existing written historical record.

Bethaida “Bea” González

Bethaida “Bea” González became Syracuse’s first Hispanic person to hold a citywide position when she was elected to the Syracuse City School Board in 1991. She later became the first Latina to serve as president of the Syracuse Common Council in 2001 and spent 36 years at Syracuse University expanding access for first-generation students.

González is deeply connected to her parents’ legacy as co-founders of La Liga (Spanish Action League) and has been a champion for local constituent services and educational equity for decades.

Luisa Moreno

During the Great Depression, Luisa Moreno, a Guatemalan-born labor and civil rights activist, organized New York City garment workers to fight for industrial labor reform. She later served as vice president of the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America, making her the first Latina elected to an executive national position in a trade union in the United States. In the late 1930s, she helped lead the El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española, the first national Latina/Latino civil rights organization in the United States.

Mirtha Colón

Born in Honduras, Mirtha Colon is a Bronx-based Garifuna activist who has spent decades advancing the rights, health, and visibility of Afro-descendant and Garifuna communities, who are descendants of indigenous Caribbean and African peoples. In 1992, Colón established Hondurans Against AIDS, which led to the founding of Casa Yurumein, an advocacy group focused on inclusive spaces for celebrating and preserving the cultural identity of the Garifuna diaspora living across the Americas.

Honorable Llinét Rosado

In 2023, the Honorable Llinét Rosado made history as the first Dominican woman appointed as an associate justice to the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department. She began her judicial career as a judge for the New York City Civil Court, Bronx County branch. Justice Rosado is a lifelong Bronx community servant and speaks at local schools, serves as a mock trial coach, and works with student interns, ranging from high school to law school.

Margarita Espada

Margarita Espada is the founder of Teatro Yerbabruja on Long Island. Established in 2004 to create spaces for Latinx artists and communities of color, the organization has spent over two decades using the arts to advance positive social change. Espada is also part of Stony Brook University’s Department of Women’s Studies, where she teaches theater and activism. Through this work, Espada has empowered thousands of people to use their artistic creativity to improve society’s social and economic well-being.

Félix “Tito” Trinidad

Legendary professional boxer and multi-division world champion, Félix “Tito” Trinidad, is considered one of the greatest Puerto Rican athletes of all time. His international fame drew immense support from New York’s Puerto Rican community, and his individual achievements became a major source of cultural pride and inspiration for young athletes. In 2014, Trinidad was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Osman Canales

Since arriving in New York from El Salvador at age 10, Osman Canales has dedicated his career to volunteerism, youth mentorship, and civic empowerment for immigrant students and families. In 2023, he founded the Long Island Latino Association (LILA), which works with Hispanic leaders to challenge stereotypes, elevate community voices, and empower Latinos of all ages across Long Island.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026