From August 19 to 22, 2026, Avilés will host the 45th Avilés International Folk Festival — Música y Danza Popular, an international festival of folk music and dance.
This year, the festival features groups from Indonesia, Colombia, Armenia, Guinea-Bissau, and Spain. Over four days, performances will be held both on the streets and squares of the historic center of Avilés and on the stage of the Auditorio de la Casa Municipal de Cultura de Avilés.
The main feature of the festival is that for the first two days, it literally takes to the streets: participants parade through the center and perform in open spaces. On August 21 and 22, the program moves to the city cultural center, where the ceremonial opening and closing gala concerts will take place.
📅 August 19–22, 2026
📍 Avilés, Asturias
🌍 Indonesia · Colombia · Armenia · Guinea-Bissau · Spain
🌎 International Folklore in the Center of Avilés
The Avilés International Folk Festival brings together traditional music, folk dance, and culture from different countries.
The festival is held for the 45th time, and its program is designed so that participants can be seen not only during official concerts. Dancers and musicians appear directly in the urban space: in squares, streets, and during parades through the center of Avilés.
Especially busy will be August 19 and 20, when a significant part of the events takes place outdoors.
📅 Program of the Avilés International Folk Festival 2026
Wednesday, August 19
The first day will begin with the official presentation of the festival participants.
12:30 — parade to the Ayuntamiento de Avilés building.
13:00 — official meeting of the festival participants at the Avilés City Hall with the mayor of the city.
18:45 — large parade through the center of Avilés.
19:00 — raising the flags of the participating countries at Plaza de Domingo Álvarez Acebal.
20:00 — Misa de las Naciones, “Mass of Nations,” at the Santo Tomás de Canterbury church.
Thus, on the very first evening, representatives of all five countries will parade through the city center, after which a symbolic ceremony of raising the national flags will take place.
Thursday, August 20
On Thursday, the festival will completely move to the streets and squares of Avilés.
12:00–13:30 — performances by participating groups on the streets and squares of the city.
19:00–21:30 — evening series of performances by participants on the streets and squares of Avilés.
This is perhaps the most convenient day for those who want to get acquainted with the festival without being tied to a single concert hall: folk music and dances will be heard directly in the city center.
Friday, August 21
19:00 — Gala Inaugural, the ceremonial opening gala concert of the festival.
📍 Auditorio de la Casa Municipal de Cultura de Avilés.
Despite the name “opening gala,” the festival events have already been ongoing for the third day by this point. The first two days are primarily dedicated to the street program, while the concert part begins on August 21 in the auditorium of the city cultural center.
Saturday, August 22
19:00 — Gala Clausura, the final gala concert of the festival.
📍 Auditorio de la Casa Municipal de Cultura de Avilés.
The final evening will conclude the four-day international program.
💃 Which countries are participating in 2026
The official poster of the XLV Avilés International Folk Festival lists five countries:
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇨🇴 Colombia
🇦🇲 Armenia
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau
🇪🇸 Spain
This lineup turns the festival into a small cultural world tour: in one city, European, Latin American, African, and Asian traditions come together. The list of countries is directly indicated on the official festival poster.
🏛 Folklore among the historic streets of Avilés
A unique charm of the festival lies in its urban format.
On August 19 and 20, the stages effectively become part of Avilés: parades pass through the center, and performances by groups are distributed across the streets and squares.
Particularly interesting is the evening of August 19: after a daytime visit to the Ayuntamiento at 18:45, a parade begins in the center, at 19:00 the flags of the participating countries will be raised at Plaza de Domingo Álvarez Acebal, and at 20:00 the program will continue at the church of Santo Tomás de Canterbury.
For the audience, this is an opportunity to see traditional costumes, music, and dances from different countries not in an isolated concert space, but against the backdrop of the old town.
📌 In brief
What: XLV Avilés International Folk Festival — Música y Danza Popular
When: August 19–22, 2026
Where: Avilés, Asturias
Participants: Indonesia, Colombia, Armenia, Guinea-Bissau, and Spain
August 19–20: parades and performances in the streets and squares
August 21, 19:00: opening gala concert
August 22, 19:00: closing gala concert
Venue for gala concerts: Auditorio de la Casa Municipal de Cultura de Avilés.
If you are in Avilés on these days, especially pay attention to August 19 and 20: this is when the international festival comes out of the concert hall and onto the streets of the city.
