At a time of particular creative effervescence for art jondo, Flamenco London Festival It reaches its 21st edition, reclaiming the flamenco as an artistic expression in constant transformation, capable of preserving its essence while continuing to open itself to new languages. Under the motto Flamenco: Expanding rootsThe festival, running from June 13th to 30th, features a program of thirteen companies, eighty artists, and twenty performances spread across London and, for the first time, Manchester. This edition offers a journey through diverse perspectives on the art form. flamenco Today, from those who explore their most intimate codes in depth to those who broaden their boundaries through new sounds, stage forms and contemporary sensibilities, with figures such as Jesús Carmona, Rocío Molina, the Ballet Flamenco From Andalusia, Gerardo Núñez, Antonio Rey, Eva Yerbabuena, Manuel Liñán, El Perrete or Califato ¾, among many others.
This was announced on Thursday, April 30th, at a press conference by the director of the event. Miguel Marin, who was accompanied by the Secretary General for Cultural Innovation and Museums of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Jose Angel Velez, and many of the participating artists, who have gathered at the Ballet headquarters Flamenco of Andalusia – Cartuja Stadium, Seville – to detail the program for this new edition. Among those attending this event were guitarist Gerardo Núñez, flamenco dancer Jesús Carmona, and the director of the Ballet Flamenco from Andalusia, Patricia Guerrero, El Farru, Álvaro Martinete, El Perrete, Eduardo Leal, Amparo Lagares...
In a very dynamic and entertaining presentation that began with the extraordinary appearance of percussionist Chupete playing the castanets with unparalleled virtuosityThe interventions alternated with brushstrokes of dance from the Ballet painting Flamenco From Andalusia, in whose rehearsal room we were preparing to make the press conference an immersive experience. They played several pieces from their latest work. Flamenco Equity shares those that were interspersed in the meeting and left no one indifferent.
As Miguel Marín pointed out during his speech, the program “brings together artists who are related to the flamenco in different ways: some delve deeper into its fundamental structures, revealing new layers within the tradition, while others expand its boundaries through new dramaturgies, musical influences, and contemporary perspectives.”
In this sense, he added, “this dual movement is embodied throughout the festival. Choreographers such as Jesús Carmona and Rafaela Carrasco revisit the language of flamenco with precision and depth, while artists like Rocío Molina push their expressive boundaries further, opening up new territories. At the same time, the Ballet Flamenco From Andalusia, under the direction of Patricia Guerrero, it represents the strength of tradition as a living and evolving energy. And the music also demonstratespeña a central role in this expansion. The guitar, with figures like Gerardo Núñez and Antonio Rey, continues to bridge the gap between legacy and innovation, while the gala dedicated to Sabicas highlights the enduring influence of those who forged the global journey of flamenco".
In London, Marín commented, “a city defined by openness and cultural exchange, the flamenco find a space to grow, transform, and connect with new audiences. Here it is revealed not as a fixed form, but as an expanding field, rooted in its origins and constantly projecting outwards.”
For his part, José Ángel Vélez referred to the participation of the Ballet in this edition Flamenco from Andalusia, “without a doubt, one of the best ambassadors of flamencoand its presence on top-level international stages, such as Flamenco Festival Londres, now in its twenty-first edition, represents a new opportunity to continue promoting art jondo".
This year the program expands to Manchester, broadening the festival's reach. As a result, the shows will extend beyond the usual venues. Sadler's Wells Theater in London, a leading theater for dance in Europe, and the epicenter of the Festival, as well as al Sadler's Wells East, Lilian Baylis Studio and Jazz Caféall in the capital on the Thames. In Manchester, the scheduled shows will take place in The Quays Theatre and the Lyric theaterBoth are located in Lowry. In the case of London, the Festival venues also include the National Gallery, in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes of the city and following in the footsteps of Flamenco New York Festival, which in its latest edition has held shows and performances at the Metropolitan Museum and the Guggenheim.
And indeed, throughout its more than two decades of history, Flamenco Festival London has established itself as a key platform for positioning the flamenco at the heart of London's cultural sceneboosting the international profile of its artists and contributing to their recognition in some of the most prestigious awards in the performing arts. In recent years, figures linked to the festival have received important distinctions, such as the flamenco dancer. Eva Yerbabuena, awarded the 2025 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for a performance presented in this same setting, or Sara Baraswho received this same recognition in 2020. Likewise, artists such as Manuel Linan They have been nominated for Olivier Awards for their recent creations presented in London, reflecting the festival's sustained impact on the British performing arts scene. This is in addition to other accolades, such as the recent nominations for the UK National Dance Awards for creators like Liñán and Sara Baras, which demonstrate the current level of excellence and visibility the festival is experiencing. flamenco contemporary, largely driven by international platforms such as Flamenco London Festival.
"In a very dynamic and entertaining presentation that began with the extraordinary appearance of the percussionist Chupete playing the castanets with unparalleled virtuosity, the interventions were alternated with glimpses of dance from the Ballet's tableau Flamenco from Andalusia, in whose rehearsal room we were to make the press conference an immersive experience. They were several pieces from his latest work.Flamenco "Heritage" were interspersed throughout the event and left no one indifferent.
Innovation in the universe of jondo
That journey through the expanding roots of flamenco, because of the different ways of understanding it and the different ways of inhabiting this universe that the poster for the 21st edition captures Flamenco Festival London is reflected in the different proposals that each of the companies will present as they take to the stages of London and Manchester from June 13th.
Among those who expand the boundaries of the universe jondo The flamenco dancer and choreographer is located Raphael CarrascoTrue to his research trajectory in the flamenco contemporary, will be presented on June 18 at Sadler's Wells Theatre Creaviva, a piece that delves into the mystery of artistic creation through the flamencoLive music and poetry. The work brings together six performers who bring to life the nine muses of Greek mythology in a proposal structured as a suite of independent pieces, united by a common conceptual axis: inspiration as an intimate, ever-changing force in constant search of form. With dramaturgy by Álvaro TatoCarrasco proposes a dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity that reflects on the creative process as an essential human experience, traversed by solitude, the emergence of ideas and their transformation into scenic material.
In the realm of proposals that expand the boundaries of flamenco current and in a special look dedicated in this edition to cante from Extremadura, the flamenco singer Francisco Escudero 'El Perrete' will present Guide light On June 20th at the Lilian Baylis Studio. In this show, which comes to London in collaboration with the Badajoz Provincial Council, the artist proposes an intimate journey through his creative universe, in constant dialogue with the great masters who have shaped his career. From the deepest roots of flamenco to a sensibility open to new sounds, his cante Intense and nuanced, he transforms each performance into a living reflection of his artistic evolution. Accompanied by guitar, percussion, and keyboard, El Perrete crafts a sound that honors the essence of flamenco while projecting it into the future with its own unique personality. Winner of the National Art Prize Flamenco from Córdoba and recognized in competitions such as the Festival of Cante From the Mines, its presence confirms the moment of renewal that the cante on the contemporary scene.
He will also be present for his performance in London. Rocío MolinaAwarded the Silver Lion for Dance at the Venice Biennale (2022), the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts (2022), the National Dance Award (2010) and the UK National Dance Award (2019 and 2016), among other accolades, the choreographer and dancer will return to London on June 24 to perform at Sadler's Wells. Heating, a piece that takes to the extreme his renowned ability to explore the expressive limits of flamencoConceived as a perpetual process, the work revolves around the idea of a “warm-up” that never ends: a state of physical and emotional ferment where the body, permeated by sweat, breath, and vital pulse, becomes a conduit for profound, primal forces. In this circular journey that oscillates between pleasure and exhaustion, intimacy and celebration, Molina constructs a constantly transforming stage experience, where each gesture seems to usher in a new beginning and where movement asserts itself as an act of resistance, joy, and liberation.
Among the proposals that engage with the new forms of flamenco contemporary, the Andalusian collective Caliphate 3/4 They will perform a concert on June 27th at the Jazz Café. Formed in 2018 between Seville and Malaga, the group has established itself as one of the most unique voices on the current scene thanks to a sound that defies categorization, where the flamenco It blends funk, hip hop, dub, and other urban and electronic influences. Its music celebrates a diverse and popular Andalusia, constructing a unique sonic landscape where tradition and modernity don't clash, but rather intertwine in a radically contemporary language.
The roots of flamenco They also expand thanks to the flamenco dancer Maria Moreno, which will present Magnificat, a piece developed within the framework of the In Progress artistic residency programs, promoted by Flamenco Festival and the Torrox Town Hall (Málaga). On June 28, this creation, which delves into the flamenco as a territory of celebration, encounter, and shared emotion. Inspired by the biblical scene of the Visitation, the piece does not seek to narrate but rather to explore what happens when two bodies meet, imbued with an irrepressible joy: a vital impulse that manifests as celebration, as communion, and as energy that flows from one to the other. Through her language, deeply rooted in tradition yet open to contemporary codes, Moreno transforms the stage into a space of collective revelation, where joy is embodied and expands.
The same venue, Sadler's Wells East, will host the event on June 29th. Rayuela, by the flamenco dancer, choreographer and director Flowers FrameInspired by both the children's game and the famous novel by Julio CortazarThe proposal offers a theatrical reflection on creative freedom, identity, and the search for meaning, coinciding with the artist's 25th anniversary. Flores shares the stage with the brothers. david lakes y Alfredo Lagos, cante and the guitar, respectively, to build a hybrid and dynamic language. Rayuela It is thus presented as an invitation to explore, from multiple perspectives, the open paths of flamenco figure.
«Under the motto'Flamenco'Roots in Expansion', the festival celebrates from June 13 to 30 with a program featuring thirteen companies, eighty artists, and twenty performances spread between London and, for the first time, Manchester. This edition proposes a journey through different ways of understanding the flamenco current, from those who explore their most intimate codes in depth to those who broaden their boundaries through new sounds, stage forms and contemporary sensibilities»
Flamenco and Baroque music at the National Gallery
As a unique offering within the program, and as a result of the collaboration with the Cervantes Institute in London, the National Gallery will host on June 15 Lost paradiseA creation that unites flamenco and Baroque music in an exceptional dialogue with the visual arts. Conceived by the viola da gamba player fahmi alqhai and the bailaora Patricia guerrero (director of the Ballet) Flamenco (from Andalusia), the piece has been designed to interact directly with the work of Francisco de ZurbaránThis coincides with the exhibition that the London art gallery is dedicating to the Golden Age master. In this encounter between disciplines and eras, the language of flamenco And the Baroque sounds intertwine to create a unique stage experience, where the expressive intensity of both worlds is projected onto the museum space, expanding the festival's usual boundaries. The performance will be preceded by an introductory talk by academic Alicia Navarro.
Tradition as a living territory
Alongside the proposals more open to experimentation, the 21st edition of Flamenco Festival London also includes the proposals of those artists who continue to explore the flamenco From its most essential codes, delving into its structure and revealing new resonances within the tradition. The first of these names is that of the dancer Jesus Carmona, which will present UnYdos in two performances on June 16 and 17 at Sadler's Wells Theatre. The piece is structured as a journey towards the essence of flamenco, without a complex narrative development, but as a celebration of its most direct, honest and expansive form through dance.
Conceived from the aesthetics of the traditional recital, the show opens up to a contemporary stage vision that allows Carmona to engage with the codes of flamenco from their own artistic identity. On stage, some of their palos The most representative styles, such as alegrías, taranto, and soleá, are featured in a performance that alternates moments of rhythmic intensity with others of greater introspection and intimacy, reinforcing the connection between performers and audience. Accompanied by guitar, cante and a cast of guest artists, UnYdos It is presented as a pure flamenco experience, where tradition is shown alive through the present stage performance.
On June 19 and 20, Sadler's Wells Theatre will host three performances of the Flamenco Gala, one of the central axes of Flamenco London Festival, with a cast that brings together some of the most relevant figures of flamenco current. The flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena will contribute its renowned expressive depth and emotional intensity, while Manuel Linan It reinforces a contemporary and bold perspective that has contributed to expanding the languages of flamenco Scenic. For its part, The Farru It represents the weight of lineage and the continuity of a fundamental artistic lineage, while Juan Thomas de la Molia It brings the freshness and precision of a new generation that is already making its way with its own personality.
In the section of cante as a space for the transmission and reaffirmation of flamenco tradition, and also in that space dedicated to cante Extremaduran supported by the Badajoz Provincial Council, Esther Merino She will present on June 20th at the Lilian Baylis Studio a proposal that vindicates the female voice in the flamenco from maturity, expressive power and deep knowledge of tradition: In the land of men. Prominent performer of the canteExtremadurans, combining festive and traditional styles with palos In more profound styles like the seguiriya or the soleá, Merino will perform alone on stage facing a male cast, articulating different forms of interpretation in a stark black and white format, where the voice takes center stage. The performance thus proposes a reflection on the place of women in the flamenco contemporary, from a solid, personal interpretation and with great artistic personality.
The flamenco guitar, the quintessential instrument of this art form, will also be featured at this year's festival. On June 25, Sadler's Wells Theatre will host The night of the guitar: a concert with Gerardo Núñez, Antonio Rey, Álvaro Martinete and Olga Pericet. An evening dedicated to flamenco guitar that pays tribute to the legacy of the legendary You knowA key figure in the internationalization of the instrument and its evolution on stage. The event will bring together three leading guitarists (the virtuoso Gerardo Núñez, the two-time Latin Grammy winner Antonio Rey, and the young talent Álvaro Martinete) who engage with tradition from different perspectives. They will be joined by flamenco dancer Olga Pericet, who will evoke the figure of the iconic Carmen amayaA longtime collaborator of Sabicas, adding a theatrical dimension to the tribute. The result is a generational encounter that celebrates the guitar as a space of memory, freedom, and continuous evolution within the flamenco.
And returning to flamenco dance, one of the fundamental expressive axes of this art, the festival will welcome the Ballet Flamenco AndalusiaOn June 26 and 27 at Sadler's Wells Theatre, the Ballet will present Blessed land, a creation directed and choreographed by Patricia Guerrero that celebrates the diversity and richness of flamenco Andalusian through a large stage format.
The work proposes a journey through different cultural landscapes of Andalusia, exploring how each territory has shaped styles, canteand its own dances, in a constant dialogue between tradition and contemporary style. With a suite structure that links different pieces, Blessed land It moves between the old and the new, relating musical and choreographic languages that coexist without hierarchy, from more archaic modes to contemporary sensibilities. On stage, fifteen dancers accompanied by canteGuitar and percussion shape a proposal that focuses on the new generation of performers, showcasing a flamenco an evolving art that is sustained by tradition without giving up formal experimentation or creative freedom.
Beyond the stage: encounter, participation and flamenco live
Beyond the main stages, Flamenco Festival London expands its program with a series of parallel activities co-produced with Finaledesigned to bring the flamenco to new audiences through a more direct and participatory experience. Among these, proposals such as the following stand out: Spree from June 20th on The Peacock and the Late Night Tablao June 27th at The Angelic (now George IV), with the participation of the flamenco singer Miguel Lavi alongside local artists.
The program is rounded out with a series of workshops taking place at Sadler's Wells Theatre and Sadler's Wells East, offering the public the opportunity to delve into the practice of flamencoThese include a workshop for beginners led by a local artist (June 27), as well as sessions led by the flamenco dancer Maria Moreno (June 27) and the flamenco dancer Robert Jaen (June 28), thus consolidating a space for meeting and learning around the flamenco alive.
Manchester, satellite venue for this edition
As a novelty, Flamenco This year's Festival Londres will have a satellite venue in Manchester. There, the choreographer and flamenco dancer will perform. Olga Pericet, winner of the 2018 National Dance Prize, will open the program on June 13 and 14, offering two performances of Sound danceThe stage of The Quays Theatre will witness a performance conceived as a concert space in which dance becomes a living medium of dialogue and transformation: three bodies (hers alongside the guitar of Jose Manuel Leon and the cante de Mercedes CortésThey construct an intimate encounter where movement, sound, and emotion intertwine in constant mutation. Far from a closed form, the piece is conceived as an “open study” that adapts to each context, exploring new expressive possibilities from its flamenco roots.
The city's program is completed with the performance, on June 30 at the Lyric Theatre, of Ballet Flamenco Andalusia, which will also put on stage Blessed land.
Flamenco Festival returns to the UK capital
Flamenco London Festival is one of the largest platforms for the flamenco in the world. In addition to hosting the most representative and established artists of this art, the Festival has regularly presented emerging talent and new generations of dance, guitar and cante, offering a space for their foray into the international scene.
To date, Flamenco The Festival has offered 1.436 performances and presented 190 companies in 182 venues around the world, alongside all the biggest names in the flamenco of the last almost 25 years: figures at the peak of their careers such as Sara Baras, María Pagés, Eva Yerbabuena, Carmen Linares, Estrella Morente, Tomatito, Manuela Carrasco, Miguel Poveda, Israel Galván, Mercedes Ruiz, Carmen Cortés, María Terremoto, Rocío Molina, Olga Pericet, Manuel Liñán, Rocío Márquez, Rosalía or Rafaela Carrasco; and geniuses who are no longer with us, such as Paco de Lucía or Enrique Morente.
The importance of flamenco, and specifically of Flamenco The Festival, as one of the largest showcases of Spanish performing arts outside our borders, is evident with its more than 40 editions already held in London and New York, and having taken the flamenco up to 101 cities around the world, and therefore, 1,6 million people.
Only in London, Flamenco The festival has already surpassed 300.000 spectators and 300 performances., led by some of those very relevant figures and young promises of the flamenco current, thus marking itself as a consolidated event in the British capital and in its theatre season, and a space for the discovery of the paths that the flamenco begins to build in search of new horizons.
Flamenco The London 2026 Festival is primarily supported by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Andalusian Regional Government's Department of Culture and Sport. It also receives support from the Cervantes Institute, the Badajoz Provincial Council, and the Spanish Embassy in London.
This edition is presented in collaboration with Sadler's Wells Theatre, National Gallery, Como NO!, Jazz Café and Lowry; the latter for the Manchester extension. ♦
