Menudo Announces 50th Anniversary Tour, Bringing Latin Pop Hits Back to the Stage

At a moment when Latin music is an influential force in the industry, from streaming to touring, it’s only fitting that the group that helped spark the movement five decades ago returns to the live stage and perform the songs that helped Latin pop go global.

Menudo, a male pop group formed in the late 70s that has featured over 30 members over the years and became a global sensation, is embarking on a six-date tour this fall commemorating the band’s 50 th anniversary.

The Live Nation-promoted tour will feature seven members— René Farrait (1979–1982), Roy Rossello (1983–1986), Raymond Acevedo (1985–1988), Sergio Blass (1986–1990), Ralphy Rodríguez (1987), Rubén Gómez (1987–1990), and Robert Avellanet (1988–1991)—from various eras and kicks off Oct. 10 at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. Other stops include Rosemont Theatre near Chicago, New York’s United Palace Theatre, Teatro Metropólitan in Mexico City and Hard Rock Live Hollywood in Southern Florida before wrapping up where it all started for the group: in Puerto Rico at Coca-Cola Music Hall.

The group served as a launchpad for its members, including Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa, with artists being replaced as they came of age. Menudo rose to fame with hits such as “Claridad” and “Súbete a Mi Moto” as well as crossover hits such as “If You’re Not Here (By My Side)” and “Like A Cannonball.”

As the seven members prepped for the tour, they spoke to Pollstar about being back on the road and pioneering the Latin music movement.

Pollstar: When was the idea of the tour presented to you guys, and how did it become reality?

Raymond Acevedo: It’s been a while. The company that has held the Menudo name for several years has often sought to do this in a way that the fans truly deserve. This group of members was selected through a process of phone calls and conversations, and everything was wonderful. We have an incredible team with media and production, and the show is going to be amazing. It’s been a positive experience.

You all have had careers as individuals. What’s it like for you guys to work again as a group?

René Farrait: Over the years, and I speak for everyone here, we have frequently released solo albums and reunited in other groups. That has been a constant part of our careers. It’s nothing new. Right now, for instance, four of us are in a group together. We’ve always balanced working solo with working in groups.

Robert Avellanet: It’s wonderful that we can be kids again with Menudo, reconnect with our inner child and relive that nostalgia. Not just for us as individuals, but also for the audience, sharing that experience once more on stage with a high-quality, incredible show. It will be an immersive experience for the audience, featuring an amazing video display. We’re going to put on a show unlike anything Menudo has ever had before.

Ralphy Rodríguez: And it is the first time Menudo has worked with Live Nation, which is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies.

There is so much competition in live entertainment and demand from fans that you have to really put on a show. What can you tell me about the team’s vision for the show? How do you balance the nostalgia while delivering something fresh?

Roy Rosselló: I believe that when it comes to Menudo, there is no competition because Menudo fans are so loyal to the music, the dancing, the songs and the positive lyrics. We have spanned generations because there is no other group like Menudo—a group with such beautiful, lovely songs. It is music about peace, love, joy and unity. Of course, the fans are incredibly important—after all, they made Menudo what it is—but we also want to reach the sons and daughters. We want the whole family united.

Rodríguez: Technology is really important. Shows today aren’t like the ones from the ’80s. We have an incredible team. Our production designer worked with Bad Bunny. The entire team, from top to bottom, is A-list. They are the best in the business. We have Live Nation and UTA as our agents. We can’t give away the surprises, but it’s going to be incredible—visually and in terms of sound.

Rubén Gómez: They are going to travel back in time through nostalgia and visuals. They will be able to relive all those moments, spanning all those songs and eras, not just through the dancing and music, but also through what they see on the screens.

Rodríguez: Another thing is that it will be very intentional. Some artists put [visuals] in the background in a general way, but [our show] will be very specific.

It’s incredible to see how far Latin music has come. No one could have imagined such growth, and with Menudo’s legacy, you played a part in it. How does it feel to know you had a hand in the Latin music movement?

Acevedo: It is a source of great pride to represent Menudo and Puerto Rico above all else. The music has been a revelation. We were among the first international artists to come from Puerto Rico; we were one of the biggest acts of our time. Of course, there are artists like Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny, and we’re very proud that they came from Puerto Rico, which is a hotbed of incredible talent. Doing this again and returning to that level has been a wonderful experience. Latin music has always held a special place in the United States, starting with salsa and pop. It is an honor to represent Latin music and to be considered one of the most influential groups in the genre.

I’m sure some fans are bummed that it’s only six dates, but how do you build off this and create some momentum for the Menudo brand and your artistic careers?

Acevedo: We are working with incredible companies. We intend to take this to the whole world. For us, it’s a new opportunity to be in front of an audience, a new opportunity to showcase the talent that came out of Menudo. It’s going to be huge, and God willing, we’ll have the chance to keep going for years as long as we are physically able to do it.

Gómez: There are many countries around the world that will be opening their doors and welcoming those memories and songs, places like the Philippines and all of South America. Right now, we’re focused on this tour in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S.

You guys are looking pretty fit. What can you tell me about the physical preparation for this tour?

Sergio Blass: Well, we try to sleep eight hours to get our beauty sleep. [Laughs]. It requires a lot of sacrifice. It’s very important because we aren’t 15 anymore; we’re over 50. It’s a lot fun and a real challenge for us. Getting back in shape and learning the choreography is good for our health, too. Since we come from different eras, it’s challenging to learn dances we never performed when we were in Menudo. That’s something new for the fans as well. They’ll see members from different eras singing songs that aren’t from their time.

Acevedo: We’ve been focused on working out. The choreography alone is a workout. We’re all in pretty good shape, and by the time the shows arrive, we’ll be in top form.

Farrait: Rehearsing choreography is what has helped most in that regard throughout the years. But little by little we’re putting the pieces together.

Rosselló: [Shoutout to choreographers] Matías [Falcón] and Janisse [Díaz]. They are marvelous people with patience, great respect and joy and love for teaching us.

Rodríguez: But it’s not just dancing. It’s also our voices. We have rehearsed together and sound incredible, truly.

Rosselló: Bring the whole family!

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/16/relive-that-nostalgia-menudo-aims-to-send-fans-back-in-time-with-50th-anniversary-tour-artist-pov/)._