The Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Festival 2026 celebrates its 65th edition from 1 to 5 September 2026 in Mairena del Alcor. Declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in Andalusia, it brings together five days of cante, dance, guitar, talks and training activities at several venues across this town in Seville province.
The 2026 edition is dedicated to singer Diego Clavel and culminates on Saturday 5 September with a major gala at the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium. The line-up includes José Mercé, La Macanita, Juan de Mairena, Rocío Luna and Farruquito, together with top-level guitarists and accompanying artists.
This guide brings together the full programme, official ticket prices and sales points, the festival venues and the most practical ways to reach Mairena del Alcor from Seville.
Quick answer: the Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Festival 2026 takes place from 1 to 5 September in Mairena del Alcor. The main gala is on Saturday 5 at 22:00 at the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium, with José Mercé, La Macanita, Juan de Mairena, Rocío Luna and Farruquito. Tickets start at €10 and are sold through the official channels of the Town Council and Giglon.
| Edition | LXV, 65th edition |
| Dates | 1–5 September 2026 |
| Town | Mairena del Alcor, Seville |
| Honouree | Diego Clavel |
| Main gala | Saturday 5 September, 22:00 |
| Gala venue | Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium |
| Price | From €10; gala from €15 |
| Sales | Mairena del Alcor Town Council, Giglon and in-person sales |
The festival was founded in 1962 and has become one of the historic fixtures of the Andalusian flamenco calendar. Its connection with Antonio Mairena and the singing tradition of Los Alcores gives it an identity especially closely linked to cante, although today’s programme also makes room for dance, guitar, training and outreach.
Palace House of the Dukes of Arcos.
The opening night places the honouree at the heart of the edition and combines reflection with cante. Diego Clavel has a long history with the event: he won the Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Competition in 1970.
Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre, 21:30. The Andalusian Flamenco Ballet presents Flamenco Patrimonio, a show centred on the roots, transmission and evolution of flamenco.
The day is split between the Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre and the Palace House of the Dukes of Arcos.
Diego del Morao’s recital is one of the highlights for guitar enthusiasts: he belongs to one of Jerez’s great guitar dynasties and his style combines tradition, personality and a thoroughly contemporary sound.
In 2026 the competitive contest is exceptionally transformed into “The competition turned into a festival”, a gathering of winners from previous years dedicated to Aurora Vargas.
From 22:00, Remedios Reyes with Julio Romero; Ana La Yiya with Antonio García; Caracolillo de Cádiz with Nono Reyes; Manuel Cástulo with Manolo Herrera; and Rubio de Pruna with Marcos de Silva will perform. The night also includes dance by María Távora and her company, palmas by Cepa Núñez and Manuel Vinaza, and presentation by Juan Garrido.
Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium, 22:00.
The big night of the LXV edition brings together a line-up designed to combine different generations and flamenco languages.
Farruquito will be accompanied by Ismael de la Rosa “Bola”, Manuel de la Nina and Mari Vizárraga on cante, Manuel Valencia on guitar and Paco Vega on percussion.
For anyone travelling from Seville specifically for this date, the gala is the central event of the festival. José Mercé and La Macanita represent two essential ways of understanding contemporary cante, while Rocío Luna brings the voice of a younger generation. Farruquito’s dance adds a major stage dimension to a night that, despite the festival’s historic name, is not limited to the traditional cante-and-guitar recital.
Official sales are through the channels announced by the organisers: the Mairena del Alcor Town Council website, the Giglon platform and in-person sales at the Villa del Conocimiento y las Artes.
| Flamenkada | €10 |
| Flamenkada + Festival | €20 |
| Flamenco Patrimonio | €10 |
| Festival Gala, unnumbered seating | €15 |
| Festival Gala, numbered seating | €20 |
| Flamenkada + Flamenco Patrimonio + Gala | €25 |
In-person sales are announced at the Villa del Conocimiento y las Artes, from 9:00 to 14:00. As with any festival with limited capacity, we recommend checking availability through the official channel before travelling, especially for Saturday’s gala.
We do not recommend buying tickets through intermediaries not identified by the organisers. If a session appears sold out on the official ticketing platform, it is also worth checking the Town Council’s latest information in case of returns, reopened allocations or specific box-office instructions.
The Antonio Mairena Festival is not held at a single venue. The programme uses several cultural spaces in Mairena del Alcor:
It is one of the week’s historic settings and hosts talks, meetings and recitals. The courtyard atmosphere creates a more intimate format, particularly suited to cante and guitar.
It hosts the theatre-format productions, such as the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet show, as well as training activities.
It is the largest venue and the setting for the main gala on Saturday 5. It is located in the Camino de Alconchel area of Mairena del Alcor.
Before setting off, check the exact venue for each activity: not every day of the festival takes place at the Manuel Mairena Auditorium.
Mairena del Alcor lies east of Seville, in the Los Alcores area. Visitors staying in the city have two main options: car and intercity bus.
This is the most flexible option, especially for the evening gala. The journey is around 25–30 kilometres depending on your starting point and usually takes about half an hour in normal conditions, using the routes towards Alcalá de Guadaíra and Mairena del Alcor.
If you are attending the 22:00 gala, we recommend leaving enough time to find parking and reach the venue before the start. An event of this size may cause concentrated traffic on the roads closest to the auditorium.
Mairena del Alcor is part of the metropolitan network of the Seville Area Transport Consortium. Intercity services run between Seville and the town, but timetables vary by weekday, weekend and season.
For an evening performance, the key point is not only the outward journey but the last service back to Seville. The gala starts at 22:00 and may run late, so it is essential to check the current official timetable before buying your ticket if you depend on public transport.
If there is no suitable return service, the alternatives are your own vehicle, taxi or ride-hailing service. For groups of two to four people, sharing the journey can be particularly practical.
If you are staying several days in Seville, you can combine this trip with the regular programme of flamenco tablaos in Seville. The experience is different: the Antonio Mairena Festival is an annual event rooted in the local area and singing tradition, while tablaos allow you to book shows throughout the year.
The importance of the festival does not depend only on its age. Mairena del Alcor holds a unique place in flamenco history because of Antonio Mairena, the role of local aficionados and an approach to cante that influenced the research, interpretation and appreciation of certain styles for decades.
Over time, the festival has broadened its language without losing those roots. In 2026, a talk on Diego Clavel, the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet, a masterclass, a meeting with Romerito de Jerez, Diego del Morao’s guitar, a night dedicated to former competition winners and a gala with leading figures in cante and dance all coexist.
That combination explains its appeal to different audiences. The aficionado can find artists and formats deeply tied to tradition; newcomers to flamenco have a varied programme; and visitors staying in Seville have, just a short distance away, an event with an identity very different from the capital’s major theatres.
The LXV edition takes place from 1 to 5 September 2026 in Mairena del Alcor, Seville province.
The main gala will take place on Saturday 5 September at 22:00 at the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium.
The line-up includes José Mercé, La Macanita, Juan de Mairena and Rocío Luna on cante, and Farruquito on dance, together with their respective guitarists and accompanying artists.
Prices start at €10. The Festival Gala costs €15 for unnumbered seating and €20 for numbered seating, according to the official information published.
The organisers announce sales through Mairena del Alcor Town Council, the Giglon platform and in person at the Villa del Conocimiento y las Artes.
The 65th edition is dedicated to singer Diego Clavel, winner of the Antonio Mairena Competition in 1970.
Yes. There are metropolitan transport connections between Seville and Mairena del Alcor. For evening activities, it is essential to check the last return service before travelling.
No. The town is approximately 25–30 kilometres from Seville and the journey by car usually takes around half an hour in normal conditions.
In many cities, flamenco tablaos sell out easily, especially on weekends and during peak season. That’s why, if your dates are set, the most important thing is to book online.
Direct recommendation: book online through our website to guarantee your seat and arrive with everything confirmed. If you already have your destination, go straight to your city to see available options and clear recommendations.
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