31st Los Silos International Storytelling Festival Returns to Tenerife on December 4

The 31st Los Silos International Storytelling Festival is set to transform northern Tenerife once again. During the official launch, organizers confirmed the event begins on December 4. The festival continues its mission to bring world-class culture to areas outside major urban centers, a strategy praised by island Minister of Culture José Carlos Acha for its international impact.

Mayor Carmen Luz Baso highlighted how the festival has made oral tradition a vital part of the local identity. This year’s lineup features a global array of talent, including Equatoguinean writer and activist Trifonia Melibea Obono, who will deliver the opening address. Other featured guests include storytellers and creators from Costa Rica, Colombia, Portugal, and across Spain.

The festival’s educational outreach begins early with school visits starting November 10. This year’s program is notably diverse, blending storytelling with gastronomy, origami, and letter-writing. Additionally, a new partnership with the Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival (Ficmec) will introduce a short story competition and animated film screenings.

A highlight of this year’s event is the tribute to the town’s old municipal washhouses. By using this space as a stage, the festival aims to honor the history of the local washerwomen and bring visibility to their often-overlooked work.

The festival will take place across the entire municipality—from quiet alleyways and balconies to the coast and mountains. As festival director Ernesto Rodríguez Abad explains, the goal is to provide a thoughtful, slow-paced experience that stands in contrast to the frantic speed of modern life.