Canary Islands’ Encuentros en el Mar Festival Returns with Free Cultural Program

The 22nd Encuentros en el Mar Festival returns from May to July with a traveling schedule across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and Lanzarote. Supported by the Government of the Canary Islands and local partners, the festival continues its mission of using culture to foster social connection and critical thinking. True to its goal of making the arts accessible to everyone, all events remain free to the public.

This year’s theme, "transculturalities," highlights the festival’s commitment to social impact. The 2026 Star Award will be presented to the Isla Baja Regional Occupational Center in Tenerife, honoring their use of music as a tool for inclusion for people with functional diversity. In Gran Canaria, the festival will explore late 20th-century Spanish musical identity through a documentary series featuring insights from artists like Carlos Tarque and music journalist Fernando Navarro.

Education also plays a key role, notably through the "Eating with Your Eyes" workshop, which teaches hospitality and tourism students how to blend cinematic storytelling with culinary arts. The musical lineup is equally diverse, ranging from singer-songwriter Elena Saavedra and pop-rock act Sra. Flow to the soulful, roots-rock sounds of the Canadian band Bywater Call. Gran Canaria will also host a dedicated metal day featuring performances by Kadavar and H.E.A.T.

The festival’s visual arts program includes nature photography and collage work by El Niño Sombra. The event concludes in July with "Idols," a musical production that uses K-pop aesthetics to explore themes of female empowerment and cultural identity. Since its inception in 2003, the festival has remained dedicated to using contemporary art to reflect on the unique social and geographical landscape of the Canary Islands.