Festivals
Both Bilbao and the rest of the Basque Country, hold important music and film
festivals, making Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastián important venues
in the international cultural circuit.
Music Festivals
· in
Bilbao
· near Bilbao
Film Festivals
· in Bilbao
· near Bilbao
Music festivals in Bilbao
Festival Musika-Música
This festival aims to promote and widen the appeal of classical music. Each
year, a concert marathon showcases a musical era or style through the work
of its most representative composers.
Venue: Palacio Euskalduna
Duration: 2-3 days
Date: March
Ticket sales: At the box office, by telephone 944 310 310, Teleka (BBK) cash
machines or Internet (www.bbk.es, www.euskalduna.net)
+ info:
www.bilbao.net,
www.bizkaia.net,
www.euskalduna.net
or telephone 94 679 04 88 (Fundación Bilbao 700)
Día Europeo de la Música
Since 1982, Bilbao holds the European Day of Music; a celebration of music
appealing to all audiences, and held in different open-air stages throughout
the city.
Venue: Plaza Nueva and other places
Duration: 1 day
Date: 21 de junio
Free entry
+ info:
www.bilbao.net
and telephone 010
Concurso Pop-Rock Villa de Bilbao
This is an international Pop-Rock, Metal and New Music bands’ competition
held since 1988, and has become a reference point for new bands across Europe.
Venue: Bilborock-LaMerced
Duration: 3 months
Date: march-June
Ticket sales: At the box office, and in record shops
+ info:
www.bilbao.net
and telephone 010
Bilbao Tropikal.
Festival Internacional de Músicas del Mundo
World music festival presenting all manners of roots music, from bossa, to
räi, reggae and latin rock.
Venue: Plaza Nueva and Plaza Corazón
de María
Duration: one week
Date: July
Free entry
+ info:
www.bilbao.net
MEM. Festival Internacional
de Música Exmachina
The festival of all things avantgarde (music, ideas, art, dance, cinema, and
performance art). It offers an opportunity for local artists to perform and
exhibit their work next to to major international artists.
Venue: several venues
Duration: one month
Date: November-December
+ info:
www.musicaexmachina.com
^
Music festivals near Bilbao
Festival Internacional de Blues de Getxo
Held in a beautiful coastal spot, the festival has become a true showcase
for the different currents within the world of Blues.
Venue: Puerto Viejo de Algorta (Getxo)
Duration: 3 days
Date: June
Free access to concerts
+ info:
www.getxo.net
(Cultural centre)
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Getxo
The first in the Basque jazz festivals calendar. In addition to the main performances,
it holds a competition to promote new European talent.
Venue: Plaza Bihotz Alai (pay concerts) y
Plaza del Getxo Antzokia (free concerts)
Duration: 5 days
Date: July
Ticket sales: Algorta Cultural centre, by telephone 944 310 310, Teleka (BBK)
cash machines.or Internet (www.bbk.es)
+ info:
www.getxo.net
(Cultural centre) and www.jazzeuskadi.com
Festival Internacional de Folk de Getxo
This folk music festival aims to promote tolerance by bringing together people
from all countries and cultures, and celebrating their individual ways of
life and cultural wealth.
Venue: Las Arenas station square and Calle
Santa Eugenia (Getxo)
Duration: 4 days
Date: Septemeber
Free access to concerts
+ info:
www.getxo.net
(Cultural centre)
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Donostia-San
Sebastián. Jazzaldia
One of the main events on the international jazz calendar. Eight stages present
an eclectic programme with international stars and the best in modern jazz.
Venue: Kursaal, Plaza de la Zurriola and Plaza
de la Trinidad, and others
Duration: 6 days
Date: July
Ticket sales: box office, Kutxa cash machines and Internet (www.jazzaldia.com)
+ info:
www.jazzaldia.com
and www.jazzeuskadi.com
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz
Another important festival, and the only one in Spain member of the International
Jazz Festival Organization, which represents the main festivals in Europe
and North America.
Venue: Campas de Armentia, Polideportivo Mendizorrotza,
Teatro Principal and Hotel NH Canciller Ayala
Duration: 6 days
Date: July
Ticket sales: record shops and Internet (www.jazzvitoria.com)
+ info:
www.jazzvitoria.com
and www.jazzeuskadi.com
Festival Coral Internacional de Tolosa
International choir festival, held in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa since 1969. An annual
exchange of styles, performers, choral literature, and a showcase for Basque
musical and cultural traditions.
Venue: Teatro-Cine Leidor and others (Tolosa,
Gipuzkoa)
Duration: 5 days
Date: october-November
Free access to concerts
+ info:
www.cittolosa.com
^
Film Festivals in Bilbao
FANT Bilbao. Muestra de Cine Fantástico
de Bilbao
Fantasy film festival, with a young following.
Venue: Multicines and Capitol cinemas
Duration: 1 month
Date: April-May
Ticket sales: box office
+ info:
www.zinebi.com/fant
ZINEBI.
Festival de Cine Documental y Cortometraje de Bilbao
One of the main international competitions in the documentary and short film
world, the festival has two mains sections: the main competition, and the
exhibition of award-winning films at other festivals.
Venue: Teatro Arriaga, Guggenheim and Bellas
Artes museums, Bilborock and Multicines
Duration: 5 days
Date: November-December
Ticket sales: box office
+ info:
www.zinebi.com
Festival Internacional de Títeres
de Bilbao
For a few days, the most beautiful stories are told by puppet and shadow theatre
groups. Child oriented festival, with important national and international
companies.
Venue: Teatro Arriaga, Bilborock and Centro
Cultural Barrainkua, among others
Duration: 10 days
Date: November
+ info:
www.pantzerki.com
Zinegoak. Festival Internacional de Cine Gay,
Lésbico y Transexual de Bilbao
Film festival for the gay, lesbian and transexual community.
Venue: Bilborock, Teatro Arriaga and UPV Leioa,
among others
Duration: 4 days
Date: January
Ticket sales: Bilborock, Hegoak, Teleka (BBK) cash machines, Internet (www.zinegoak.com
and www.bbk.es)
+ info: www.zinegoak.com
and www.hegoak.com
Festival BAD-BILBAO Antzerki Dantza
A platform for new trends in the performing arts, with a strong participation
of European and Latinamerican companies.
Venue: Mercado de La Ribera, Teatro Arriaga,
La Fundición and Bilborock, among others
Duration: 10 days
Date: October-November
Ticket sales: box office and by telephone 902 216 902
+ info: www.badbilbao.com
Dantzaldia. Festival Internacional de Danza
Contemporánea de Bilbao
This contemporary dance festival is one of the main cultural events held in
Bilbao, due to the high quality of the participating companies.
Venue: Palacio Euskalduna
Duration: 2 months
Date: October-December
Ticket sales: At the box office, by telephone 944 310 310, Teleka (BBK) cash
machines, or (www.bbk.es)
+ info: www.dantzaldia.com
and www.lafundicion.com
CIBERART. Festival Internacional de Nuevas
Tcnologías, Arte y Comunicación
Biennial festival that showcases the best in art created through modern technology.
Venue: Mercado del Ensanche and Bilbao Arte
Fundazioa
Duration: 7 days
Date: April
Ticket sales: at the box office
+ info: www.ciberart-bilbao.net
^
Film Festivals near Bilbao
Festival Internacional de Cine de Donostia-San Sebastián
This is the major film festival in Spain, and one of the main ones in the
international circuit. Established in 1953, stars like Hitchock, Fellini,
Pollack, Allen or Welles have all attended this major event in our neighbouring
city.
Venue: Kursaal, Teatro Principal, Cines Astoria,
Príncipe y Warner and Velódromo de Anoeta
Duration: 8 days
Date: September
Ticket sales: At the box office, Kutxa cash machines and Internet (www.sansebastianfestival.com
and www.kutxa.es)
+ info: www.sansebastianfestival.com
Semana de Cine Fantástico y de Terror
de Donostia-San Sebastián
One of the few festivals on fantasy and terror film held in Spain. It has
an exhibition and a competition section.
Venue: Teatro Principal and Kursaal (Donostia-San
Sebastián)
Duration: 7 days
Date: October-November
Ticket sales: box office
+ info: www.donostiakultura.com/terror
^
