Mar Abierto Festival Marks 20th Anniversary With Major Cultural Series
The Mar Abierto Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a series of performances by renowned artists like Luz Casal and Sílvia Pérez Cruz, supported by a strategic public-private partnership to boost Canary Islands tourism and culture.
The Mar Abierto Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary, cementing its place as a key cultural event in the Canary Islands. This year’s program highlights the festival’s dedication to singer-songwriter music, blending international talent with strong institutional backing. Running throughout 2026, the series features 11 artists across 20 performances, serving as a major boost for both local tourism and the islands' cultural scene.
This weekend’s highlight is a sold-out performance by Luz Casal at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Galician singer will present her latest album, Me voy a permitir, this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the show have been snapped up months in advance, reflecting the artist’s enduring popularity in Spain.
The festival continues in the coming weeks with performances by Sílvia Pérez Cruz. Currently on a global tour that includes stops across Europe and Latin America, she will perform at the Palacio de Formación y Congresos in Fuerteventura on June 26, followed by a show at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus on June 27.
The festival’s success is built on a public-private partnership involving several government bodies. The Government of the Canary Islands, the Canary Institute of Cultural Development, the Cabildos of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, and the municipal governments of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and La Laguna all provide support. This collaboration highlights how local authorities view live music as a vital tool for bringing communities together and promoting the archipelago to the world.