XXIV Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla 2026
Seville's Bi-annual Flamenco Festival
Seville will host the 24th edition of the Flamenco Biennial from Wednesday 9 September to Saturday 3 October 2026. This year’s edition features a program of more than 50 performances, including 22 world premieres, staged across eleven venues throughout the city. These range from intimate recitals in small, limited-capacity spaces to the gala performances in the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza.
This edition marks the centenary of flamenco’s evolution into what became known as Flamenco Opera, commercial flamenco shows performed by large troupes consisting of several dancers, guitarists and singers that were popular mainly between the mid-1920s and the early 1950s.
As in previous editions, this year’s Biennial uses several emblematic venues, including the Lope de Vega Theatre, the Maestranza Theatre, the Royal Alcázar, the Central Theatre, the Royal Artillery Factory (Triana), the Plaza de Toros, the Alameda Theatre, the Church of San Luis de los Franceses, Hotel Triana and the CaixaForum space.
This spectacular festival, which also hosts seminars, exhibitions, presentations and workshops, serves as a showcase for the most celebrated dancers, singers and guitarists - representing both the pure and the new trends within the world of flamenco.
The city comes alive during this festival because flamenco recitals do not just happen in the main venues. Those looking for intimate performances by amateur artistes should head to areas like Santa Cruz, El Arenal, Triana or the spectacular Plaza de España, where impromptu sessions take place in the open air and in many of the city’s bars.
Almost five decades of history
Established in 1980, the Seville Flamenco Biennial is considered the most important event in the flamenco world. It is one of the city’s most important cultural events, after Semana Santa and the April fair. For more than forty years, it has played a central role in promoting, preserving and elevating flamenco, while serving as a model for similar festivals worldwide. Over the last four decades this festival has transformed, evolving from its most traditional roots to include more contemporary expressions of flamenco - with an eye toward the internationalisation of the art. The festival is a meeting point where aficionados can immerse themselves in the world of flamenco, an expressive art form that continues to move and connect with people around the world.
Values and criteria
The festival is based on several values, one of which is to preserve, promote and enrich this predominately Gypsy art as a universal cultural heritage. It also seeks to inspire new generations and ensure that the Biennial remains a beacon of innovation and tradition.
Organised by Seville city hall, this large-scale event is held every two years (even years), which, according to the organisers, is about how long it takes to produce.
The aim is to preserve the rich legacy of this Andalusian tradition and ensure its constant evolution, while spreading its diversity to dyed-in-the-wool fanatics and to novice aficionados all over the globe.
The festival operates under the strictest criteria for artistic selection, as each proposal is evaluated for its quality, originality and contribution to the discourse of flamenco; while keeping a constant dialogue between tradition and innovation.
Beyond its performances, the festival actively supports research, discussion and education related to flamenco. It encourages academic initiatives, professional meetings and spaces for reflection that deepen the understanding of this art form - establishing the Biennial as a hub for flamenco scholarship and thought.
The Flamenco Biennial in Seville serves not only as a significant event, but also as a driving force for city's development. Every action aims to generate a positive and lasting impact on the city's cultural, educational and social fabric.
Since 1980, just about all of the most legendary flamenco artistes have performed at this world-renowned gathering. In its first decade alone, the lineup included many major figures of flamenco, among them Camarón de la Isla, Fosforito, El Chocolate and El Terremoto de Jerez, alongside artists like Paco de Lucía, Manolo Sanlúcar, Cristina Hoyos, Matilde Coral and El Farruco, among many others. Today it continues to attract the more established artistes like Farruquito and his large family, José Merce, Pitingo and Estrella Morente, along with many of today’s young up and coming stars.
Highlights of the 2026 edition
A festival of this size attracts thousands of flamenco aficionados from all over Andalucía and from around the world, and recommendations will depend on personal preferences. Those who prefer the dance should check out the revolutionary dancer from Cádiz, Sara Bara, who returns to the Biennial this year after a 14-year absence. Baras is currently touring Spain with her latest production, Infinita.
Other established dancers performing is the company of David Coria, a young dancer from Seville who, at the age of 18, was selected to join the National Ballet of Spain; Sara Jiménez, a 37-year-old dancer from Granada who, after completing her training in Seville, moved to Madrid and joined the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid; and Israel Galván and his sister Pastora Galván, two of today’s most inspirational dancers.
Fans of flamenco singing have no end of choices this year. The opening show – ‘El mundo por montera’ (10 September) - features some of the genre’s most established singers, including José Mercé, José de la Tomasa and Arcángel, while the dance will be supplied by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía.
One of the ‘must see’ shows for those who enjoy the flamenco deep songs is Xerezanías, a performance that brings together some of Jerez de la Frontera’s most orthodox flamenco singers, such as Luis El Zambo, Dolores Agujetas, Antonio de la Malena and Manuel Valencia.
There are also plenty of options for fans of the flamenco guitar, because this year presents performers to the calibre of José del Tomate (son of Tomatito), Málaga guitarist Juan Requena, Diego del Morao (from the legendary Jerez de la Frontera guitar dynasty Los Moraos), and Dani de Morón, who, as his name suggests, originates from the flamenco guitar enclave of Morón de la Frontera in Seville.
Contemporary music and dance festivals in Andalucia
Festivals in Seville
Flamenco Festivals in Andalucia
Music and dance festivals in Andalucia
