The Union opens registration for its prestigious competitions canteGuitar, dance, and instrumentation. The legendary 'Lámpara Minera', worth 15.000 euros, once again tops the list of winners at the most influential competition of its kind worldwide.
The festival establishes a €1.000 grant for dance semi-finalists and creates the 'Festivals of the Region of Murcia' Award.
The Union, April 7, 2026
The Foundation Cante The Mining Festival has today announced the official opening of the call for entries for its 2026 edition. The competition, unanimously considered the most high-profile and rigorous in the world, will once again make La Unión the world capital of mining. flamenco between July 29 and August 8.
Awards and Categories: The Grand Final, which will take place on Saturday, August 8, will reveal the names of the new winners who will lift the trophies of the competition:
- Miner's Lamp (Cante): €15.000 (Maximum award).
- Additionally, a prize of €3.000 will be awarded for the best performance of cante in the categories of Cartageneras, Tarantas, Marcianas and others cantes miners.
- On the other hand, within the group of cantes from Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Huelva and others cantederivatives of the Andalusian fandangoThe contestants will be eligible for a prize of €3.000
- On group of cantes lower Andalusians, are established two awards of €2.000; one for tonás, seguirías, soleares, bulerías por soleá, cañas, polos livianas and serranas, as well as for bulerías, cantinas, tangos, tientos, peteneras, farrucas, fandangos personales, and other modalities of cante proposals by the contestants.
- Bordon Minero (Guitar): €6.000 and €2.000 for the runner-up.
- displantation (Dance): €6.000 and €3.000 for the runner-up.
- vein (Instrumentalist flamenco): €6.000 and €2.000 for the runner-up.
- Special Jury Prize for 'Best backing artist': The jury will recognize the best supporting artist with a special mention and prize of €1.000 for the contestants in the following categories: cante, dancer and instrumentalist.
XLVI Flamenco Guitar Competition
Alliance with the legend: Guitar Prize 'Mariano Conde'
The competition insists on its commitment to generational change with the help of Mariano CondeThe world-renowned luthier will offer one of his handmade guitars to the best guitarist in the competition who has between 16 and 30 yearsThis prize, valued at over €4.000, seeks to reward "technical excellence and soul in playing" with a brilliant and professional-sounding instrument.
Boosting talent in the Region of Murcia.
As a necessary tribute to its own identity, the La Unión competition consolidates the Premio 'Festivals of the Region of Murcia'This award is designed to promote the talent of artists born or residing in our community. With this recognition, the 'Cathedral of the Cante' It not only rewards technique, but also projects the relevance of our canteregional, recognizing the value of those who keep alive the purity of the cantes from Levante and the spirit that is born from our own land.
XXXII Dance Competition Flamenco
A real commitment to dance: Direct aid to seminarians
Knowing the Foundation Cante From the Mines, the logistical and economic effort involved for a flamenco dancer to move their troupe flamencoThis year, Each semi-finalist in the Dance category will receive a prize of €1.000 to help defray the expenses of your group (canteguitar and palmas).
The criterion of a sole jury for all phases (preliminary selection, selection tests for Spain, semi-finals and final), guaranteeing maximum objectivity.
A springboard into history
To become established in La Unión is to enter the elite of art jondoThroughout its more than six decades of history, the Old Public Market has been the launching pad for figures who are now universal legends, such as Miguel Poveda, Vicente Amigo, Rocío Márquez or Mayte Martín.
Participate in the contests of Cante The Minas Festival is not just about winning a cash prize; it's about following in the footsteps of the masters who transformed this festival into the prestigious competition. flamenco most prestigious in the world.
registration: Interested artists can register online through the official website until [date]. 1 June (CanteGuitar and Dance) and the July 1th (Instrumentalist).
Official URL: https://festivalcantedelasminas.org/bases-concursos-2026/
