Rodrigo Villegas Wins Gaviota de Oro for Third Time at Viña del Mar Festival 2026
Feb. 23, 2026 — Viña del Mar, Chile — Chilean comedian Rodrigo Villegas earned the prestigious Gaviota de Oro award during his third appearance at the Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar, following a stand-up routine filled with nostalgia, revived characters, and self-deprecating humor at the Quinta Vergara.
Villegas received the Gaviota de Plata immediately after his performance on the festival’s second night and later the top Gaviota de Oro, marking his third major success at the event after wins in 2017 and 2023.
Routine Highlights
Villegas opened with a musical tribute to the ThunderCats intro, joking about audience ages and physical ailments like rotator cuff issues. He revived iconic characters from Morandé con Compañía, including El Makina, Mathiu Focker, and the Blondon Boys, blending them with self-parody on his weight loss and crude, physical comedy that ended in simulated exhaustion.
He paid homage to peers, including Stefan Kramer, whom he called “el grande de la comedia en este país,” and Fabrizio Copano, whom he mocked by displaying a Nosferatu-like image while discussing urban genre music, adding to their shared festival history from 2017 and 2023 (The Clinic).
“En el humor siempre hay una víctima, y en este caso la víctima soy yo.”
Villegas told press beforehand (CNN Chile). On competition with Dino Gordillo, he said:
“Me encanta que haya trabajo para mis colegas. La gente puede elegir el que más guste.”
Post-show, he reflected: “Soy una válvula de escape de esta realidad” (Cooperativa).
The audience responded with laughter to the familiar characters, though some social media noted polarization compared to other acts.
Career Background
Villegas, with over a decade in comedy, began in northern Chile cities like Antofagasta and Calama after studying acting. He rose to fame as “El Guatón” in the group Los Cuatro Octavos on Morandé con Compañía, creating enduring characters. After the group’s end, he continued solo, touring with shows like Lúdico and Modo Avión, and succeeding at festivals including Olmué.
