Tenerife Hosts Eighth Tricontinental Craft Fair Celebrating Global Artisan Traditions

The eighth Tricontinental Craft Fair is currently underway at the Tenerife Exhibition Centre, running until November 2nd. More than just a marketplace, the event has become a vital hub for preserving traditional skills, bringing together over 200 master artisans from three continents to share their expertise.

This year’s guest country is Mexico, which has heavily influenced the fair’s cultural and educational schedule. Through "Micro-Experiences for Adults," visitors can learn ancestral techniques firsthand. Highlights include workshops on working with izote fiber led by Joana Núñez and Filomena Flores, and classes on the intricate art of alebrijes with master artisan Jesús Hernández Torres. The program also features experts from across Ibero-America, such as Costa Rican artisan Lourdes Fraser, who explores the symbolism of masks, and Peruvian artisan Carlos Flores, who teaches the structure of Andean textiles.

Music also plays a central role in the fair’s cultural mission. A recent tribute to Juan Gabriel by Rafa Rodríguez drew a sold-out crowd, highlighting the deep artistic and emotional connections between the Canary Islands and Latin America. Efraín Medina, the Island Councilor for Employment and Education, noted that the fair’s success comes from its focus on the human effort behind every piece—a vital counterpoint to the uniformity of mass-produced goods.

The fair is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free, and upcoming events include a Day of the Dead commemoration this Saturday and a Venezuelan gaita recital on Sunday, further cementing Tenerife’s role as a bridge for folk arts across three continents.