Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) is joining the celebration of the 30th edition of the EUROPALIA Festival, dedicated to Spain as Guest of Honour Country. This ambitious multidisciplinary festival will take place from October 8, 2025, to February 1, 2026 across more than 70 venues in 12 Belgian cities, with Brussels as the epicenter.

AC/E is actively involved in the festival's full program — which anticipates over 200 activities — with a special focus on the outstanding music and performing arts lineup conceived by the project's artistic director, Maral Kekejian.

This ambitious participation is possible thanks to the coordination between EUROPALIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (AECID), the Ministry of Culture, and AC/E itself.

Music: Tradition and Avant-Garde on Stage

The music program combines legendary figures with the most innovative proposals in flamenco and sound experimentation:

Inaugural Performance at Bozar, Brussels: Rocío Márquez and Pedro Rojas merge flamenco and multi-instrumentalism in a cutting-edge take on tradition.

Refree & Niño de Elche: Present their most recent and unique collaboration project for the first time.

Refree (Solo): The reference point for musical experimentation presents his latest album in one of the country’s most prestigious venues.

Silvia Pérez Cruz: One of the artists who has most revitalized Spanish popular song, she has created a retrospective proposal specifically for the Festival.

Cuarteto Quiroga: Proposes a musical journey through Goya's era (with works by Boccherini, Haydn, Boccherini, Almeida Mota, and Beethoven).

Francisco López: A fundamental figure in Spanish sound art, he has produced an immersive, unprecedented performance inspired by Goya's Black Paintings.

Lole Montoya: The flamenco legend performs for the first time in Belgium with her style that engages with the history of cante from a contemporary perspective.

Performing Arts: Experimentation and Residency

The performing arts program highlights the vitality of contemporary Spanish creation, combining dance, performance, and theatre:

La Tristura: Will present Future lovers unplugged, one of the few works the company has not presented in Belgium.

Alberto Cortés: Will undertake a residency and present his work One night at the golden bar (with confirmed venues in Ghent and Brussels).

Candela Capitán: Premieres her unreleased work Solas (Alone), featuring five performers, five computers, and a web platform.

Yinka Esi Graves: Presents The disappearing act, her first solo production.

Las Huecas (Júlia Barbany, Núria Corominas, Esmeralda Colette and Andrea Pellejero): Presents the surreal comedy On Fiendship.

Federico Vladimir and Pablo Lilienfield: Stage the show Dragón descansa en lecho marino (Dragon rests on a marine bed), a composition featuring six synchronized swimmers.

La Ribot: Returns with Juana ficción (Fictional Joanna), revisiting the figure of Joanna of Castile in collaboration with Juan Loriente and original music by Iñaki Estrada.

Other Formats: Flamenco in Cultural Immersion

Festival 5 días. Flamenco, antes y después del flamenco (5 Days Festival. Flamenco, Before and After Flamenco): Under the conceptual direction of Pedro G. Romero, this cultural immersion experience will offer shows, conferences, workshops, and public space actions, featuring both established figures and new voices of contemporary flamenco in Brussels.

AC/E’s involvement in EUROPALIA 2025 ensures a broad and diverse representation of contemporary Spanish talent at one of Europe's most prestigious cultural events.

> SEE PROGRAMME