MND Local: WTA Tennis, an international film fest and more events in Guadalajara

Late September in Guadalajara brings an action-packed calendar. Upcoming events include a World Migrant Day celebration benefiting a local nonprofit organization, an international film festival and the 2026 Guadalajara Open, an important stop on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) professional tour.

Following hard on the heels of the U.S. Open in New York City, Zapopan welcomes a select group of the WTA’s brightest stars to the Guadalajara Open this week.

The annual event, played at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Parque Metropolitano, attracts a diverse group of top female tennis players from around the globe. The field will compete in singles and doubles for a US $1.2 million purse and a top singles prize of US $185,500.

Confirmed players for this year’s event include world number 11 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and world number 14 and defending champion Iva Jovic of the United States.

Kostyuk returns to Mexico as one of the hottest players on the WTA tour during the 2026 season, having reached the semifinals of Wimbledon and Roland Garros, in addition to claiming two titles on clay last spring. She last competed at the Guadalajara Open in 2023, where she reached the second round.

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Latin American tennis will also be well represented, with Colombian veteran Camila Osorio and Mexican No. 1 Renata Zarazúa scheduled to compete.

For details, visit the tournament website.

Savoring the perfect pain au chocolat is about to get a little easier for Francophile Tapatíos. Starting April 13, 2027, the city will have its second direct European flight route, as Aeroméxico launches nonstop service between Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo International Airport (GDL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

The route will run three times per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Guadalajara at 1:55 p.m. and arriving in Paris at 9:25 a.m. the following day. Return flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Paris at 11:40 a.m. and arriving in Guadalajara at 4:10 p.m. the same day.

“Adding Guadalajara–Paris … strengthens our network, offers customers more travel options and further consolidates our position as the leading airline between Mexico and Europe,” Giancarlo Mulinelli, senior vice president of global sales at Aeroméxico, told Aviacionline last week.

Later this month, Guadalajara residents will have the opportunity to celebrate World Migrant Day at a community celebration featuring local food, culture and a social cause.

Hosted by The Rhizome Center, this year’s festival, “Many Journeys. One Community,” is both a fundraiser and an opportunity to raise awareness about the organization’s work. During the event, guests can sample food from 15 migrant kitchens, enjoy live French, Cuban and Syrian music, listen to storytelling, and meet artists sharing their craft and culture.

The Rhizome Center was founded in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term, with a mission to provide direct support to deportees and refugees sent to Mexico.

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Since his return to office, the need has grown. Many deportees arrive with no resources or documentation to regularize their status in Mexico. Filling that void, the organization provides legal aid, crisis assistance, counseling and other services.

Run by executive director and founder Tran Dang, The Rhizome Center derived its name from plant rhizomes — the underground roots that provide essential nutrients — symbolizing humanity’s resilience and interconnectedness across borders.

For more information about The Rhizome Center for Migrants and details on how to support the cause, visit the group’s Instagram account. Donations are accepted via PayPal and Zelle.

Global distributor, producer and streaming service MUBI recently added film festivals to its portfolio and announced a Guadalajara edition from Sept. 18-20. The festival will screen independent feature films and shorts, alongside filmmaker Q&As, workshops, installations and DJ sets.

Anticipated films on the schedule include:

For moviegoers seeking nostalgia, Ridley Scott’s 1991 feminist classic “Thelma & Louise,” starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt, is also on the schedule.

For full program details, visit Mubi Mexico’s website. In addition to Guadalajara, MUBI Fest 2026 made stops in Mexico City, São Paulo, Bogotá and Buenos Aires this year.

MND writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.