Taganana Festival Returns to Promote Culture and Sustainability in the Canary Islands

The seventh Taganana Festival returns this weekend, cementing its reputation as a key event for bringing culture to the Canary Islands beyond the main cities. Held between San Andrés and Taganana, the festival aims to do more than just entertain; it focuses on supporting the local economy and protecting the environment of the Anaga Massif, a protected Biosphere Reserve.

This year’s program features 27 performances designed to celebrate the connection between art and the local landscape. The festivities begin in San Andrés with a focus on performing arts, featuring humor and physical theater from Clownbaret and Fer Catastrofer. On Saturday, the event moves to Taganana, offering a variety of performances including storytelling by Antonio Conejo and traveling theater by La Piedra Teatro.

Music is also a major highlight, with performances by Aníbal & Lajalada, Cameroonian artists Lornoar and Michel Mbarga, and DJ Víctor Carballeira. The festival is also proud to host Sara Socas, demonstrating its commitment to bringing high-profile national talent to rural areas that are often overlooked by major tours.

Beyond the stage, the festival supports the local community through the "El Mortero de Anaga" market and various discussion forums, including a roundtable on female entrepreneurship and a "Meet & Impact" session focused on sustainability. The event also emphasizes social and environmental responsibility, offering African percussion workshops, forest conservation projects, marine biodiversity education with the Canarina Foundation, and mental health awareness initiatives with AFES.

Festival director Mary Carnero notes that while the event has grown, its core goal remains the same: to build a genuine connection between visitors and the local community. The full schedule, including information on school programs and how to register for limited-capacity activities, is available on the festival’s official website.