Rauw Alejandro Becomes Sugar Skull for ‘Cosa Nuestra’ Show in Mexico: ‘When Two Cultures Become One’

Rauw Alejandro turned his acclaimed Cosa Nuestra Tour into a heartfelt tribute to Mexico and its most famous festivity, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), on Tuesday night when the Puerto Rican star, his dancers and musicians all appeared with their faces painted as Mexican sugar skulls for the first of five shows at the Palacio de los Deportes in the capital city.

In a stunning surprise for the 18,000 attendees who packed the venue, according to Ocesa figures, Rauw, elegantly dressed in a 1960s-inspired outfit, resembled the character El Catrín — the eternal lover of La Catrina, the legendary skull created by Mexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada, who in Mexican tradition is her eternal companion in celebration on life and death.

“I’m singing here in one of my favorite cities,” Rauw said with emotion to the crowd, who erupted in a warm ovation. “Today’s story is a little different, when two cultures become one, when Cosa Nuestra meets Mexico with lots of love and affection, with great respect for everyone.”

The fact that the dancers and musicians accompanying the artist also appeared with their faces painted as Mexican sugar skulls made the experience even more emotional and intimate for his local fans, who, adhering to the singer’s dress code, wore short sequined dresses, feathers, berets, and classic-cut suits.

Día de Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1-2. Over the weekend, the performer had shared a series of snapshots on his Instagram account, where he and his team appeared with their faces painted as a sugar skulls enjoying traditional tacos and tequila in Mexico, where he has 10 fully sold-out shows scheduled.

The Mexican leg of his Cosa Nuestra World Tour began on Nov. 2 in the northern city of Monterrey and continues in Mexico City with five shows, from Nov. 4 to 9. He will also stop in the city of Guadalajara on Nov. 15 and 16.

Rauw Alejandro participated on Monday (Nov. 3) in the Billboard Live Music Summit 2025 in Los Angeles, where he spoke with Billboard’s Leila Cobo and Hans Schafer, senior vp of global touring at Live Nation, about how his partnership with the entertainment giant helped him create a Broadway-inspired show that could “travel the world.”

The Cosa Nuestra tour is a high-concept, 1970s New York-inspired spectacle supporting Rauw’s 2024 album of the same name, which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200. The tour grossed $91.7 million across spring and summer legs in North America and Europe before heading to South America and Mexico. The trek will conclude at the end of this month with a five-date residency at San Juan’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.