Grupo Duelo Brings Traditional Regional Mexican Music to Latin Music Week: ‘It’s More Alive Than Ever’

Grupo Duelo, one of the most prominent exponents of norteño tejano music, will be part of the Billboard Latin Music Week 2026, representing traditional regional Mexican music. The band will lead the panel “Los No. 1s” on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach, Florida.

“For me and the group, it’s very important to have achieved two No. 1 hits in the same year for the first time, first with ‘Te Cura El Tiempo’ and then with ‘Para Que Ya No Duela,’” says Oscar Iván Treviño, singer and leader of Duelo. “Talking about that and sharing the group Duelo’s story with attendees excites me.”

“It’s also very important for the Latin audience to know that traditional regional Mexican music is more alive than ever, not just what’s trendy,” he adds.

Duelo has been a dominant force on the Billboard charts since 2004, earning 17 chart entries, 12 songs or albums in the top 10, and three albums that reached No. 1. The group’s eighth studio album, Necesito Más De Ti, topped Regional Mexican Albums for two weeks in 2009, while its 52 entries on Regional Mexican Airplay include 15 top 10s and six No. 1 hits — the most recent ones this year “Te Cura El Tiempo” and “Para Que Ya No Duela” from its 2026 album Gravedad.

The band, which emerged in the early ‘90s, represents — along with Intocable and Pesado — the wave that modernized the genre, after it expanded, thanks to icons like Los Tigres del Norte, Los Invasores de Nuevo León and Los Cadetes de Linares.

“Within norteño music, there are many styles. Intocable has theirs, Duelo has ours, and now Grupo Frontera has theirs. But we all respect the traditional music line,” Treviño points out.

2026 has been crucial for Duelo. In addition to the two No. 1 hits on Regional Mexican Airplay, the group signed with Warner Music in February after several years as an independent act under their label La Bonita Records. It also embarked on its first arena tour, across more than 40 cities in the U.S. and Mexico, in partnership with Live Nation.

Ahead of the group’s Saturday (Oct. 10) performance at the Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, and in anticipation of its participation at Latin Music Week, Treviño spoke with Billboard Español. For more details and tickets, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

As we are nearing the year’s end, how would you evaluate 2026 in Duelo’s career?

This has been a year where we’ve been experimenting and taking big leaps. We created the most important album of our career, Gravedad. We’ve built a great team between Warner and my label La Bonita Music, and we’re very happy with the results. We spent many years as independent artists, but the change has been worth it.

Regarding touring, you’ve also partnered with Live Nation. How has the experience been?

It’s been incredible working with such a serious company, with everything under control. This is the first tour we’ve done theaters and arenas in the U.S., and it’s definitely been a great experience, stepping out of our comfort zone. The results have been very positive. In fact, we’re already negotiating to work together again in 2027.

Has being a immigrant helped you connect better with audiences in the U.S.?

In my case, I feel connected to the people from the north [of Mexico,] the border region and rural areas. I’m part of that community and I represent it with my music, which reflects Mexican culture. My parents were migrants; I arrived in the United States very young, but I also crossed illegally. I worked in farming in California and Oklahoma, so I know what it’s like to yearn for a connection to your roots. I remember the days when I carried cassette tapes of my songs to share with artists, dreaming that they would record them.

Does the trust from companies like Warner and Live Nation reflect the importance of norteño music?

Definitely, because traditional Mexican music, which includes norteño, is experiencing a great moment, and that’s magnificent. Seeing kids singing our songs shows how our music continues to transcend generations despite trends.

Who do you consider to be Duelo’s biggest influence?

I admire Intocable a lot. I will always be grateful to Ricky [Muñoz], because he was the first artist to record a song I wrote, “Fuertemente.” That experience taught me a lot about how they make music. Intocable, Grupo Pesado and Salomón Robles are artists who marked an era, breaking barriers by modernizing what legendary norteño artists like Los Invasores de Nuevo León, Los Cadetes de Linares and Los Tigres del Norte had done.

At the same time, Duelo is an influence on newer generations like Grupo Frontera and Los Rojos…

Within norteño music, there are many styles. Intocable has theirs, Duelo has ours, and now Grupo Frontera has theirs. But we all respect the traditional music line. The group Los Rojos is pushing forward strongly, and they’ve already found their style. I’m sure 2027 will be their best year.