Mairena del Alcor once again becomes one of the centres of Andalusian flamenco with the celebration of the 65th Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Festival, which will take place from 1 to 5 September 2026. This edition brings together singing, guitar, dance, talks, a masterclass, the historic National Cante Jondo Competition and a major final gala headlined by figures such as José Mercé, La Macanita and Farruquito.
The 2026 festival is dedicated to Diego Clavel and maintains the spirit that has defined this event from its beginnings: championing cante, preserving flamenco memory and bringing together different generations of artists in Mairena del Alcor, a town closely linked to the figure of Antonio Mairena.
The programme is spread across the Casa Palacio de los Duques de Arcos, the Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre and the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium. In addition, on 28 August the Flamenkedadais held as a prelude, a flamenco-fusion event aimed at younger audiences.
The programme and sales conditions may change. We recommend checking the official information before travelling.
The 2026 edition combines recitals, reflection, training, dance and competition. The main programme runs from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 September, while the Flamenkedada on 28 August acts as a prologue to the festival.
The Casa Palacio de los Duques de Arcos hosts the first day. At 9:00 pm the institutional opening ceremony is scheduled. Afterwards, at 9:15 pm, Pedro Lóphe gives the talk Diego Clavel: ethics and aesthetics, linked to the dedication of this edition.
The evening concludes at 10:30 pm with a flamenco recital by Rubito de Pará, accompanied on guitar by Antonio Carrión. The events announced for this first evening are free until capacity is reached.
The Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre hosts at 9:30 pm the show Flamenco Patrimonio, by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía. It is one of the main stage events of the week and requires a paid ticket.
The day begins at 11:00 am at the Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre with a flamenco dance masterclass by Alejandro Rodríguez. The organisers announced free registration with limited places.
In the evening, activity returns to the Casa Palacio de los Duques de Arcos. At 9:00 pm the event Romerito de Jerez, almost a century of flamenco testimonywill take place, with Romerito de Jerez and Juan Garrido. At 10:30 pm, Diego del Morao will give a flamenco guitar recital.
Friday 4 brings one of the most distinctive nights of this edition: the 64th Antonio Mairena National Cante Jondo Competition, scheduled for 10:00 pm at the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium.
This edition is dedicated to Aurora Vargas and is presented under the concept The competition turned into a festival. The announced line-up includes Remedios Reyes, with Julio Romero on guitar; Ana La Yiya, with Antonio García; Caracolillo de Cádiz, with Nono Reyes; Manuel Cástulo, with Manolo Herrera; and Rubio de Pruna, accompanied by Marcos de Silva.
The evening also features dance by María Távora and her company, palmas by Cepa Núñez and Manuel Vinaza, and presentation by Juan Garrido.
The National Competition is a fundamental part of Mairena del Alcor’s flamenco identity and complements the festival programme with an event specifically focused on cante.
On Saturday 5 September, at 10:00 pm, the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium hosts the Grand Gala of the 65th Festival. It is the central night and features the broadest line-up of the edition.
On vocals will be José Mercé, La Macanita, Juan de Mairena and Rocío Luna. Guitarists will include Antonio Higuero, Manuel Valencia and Francisco Gómez.
The dance spotlight will be on Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya “Farruquito”, accompanied by singers Ismael de la Rosa “El Bola”, Manuel de la Nina and Mari Vizárraga; Manuel Valencia on guitar and Paco Vega on percussion.
The gala will be presented by Manuel Martín Martín. Given the importance of the artists and the festival-closing nature of the event, this is the day for which checking ticket availability in advance is especially advisable.
Information published by official bodies sets prices from 10 euros. For the Festival Gala, both unnumbered and numbered ticket options have been announced, while some events on the first days are free until capacity is reached.
Published prices for the 2026 edition include:
The organisers channel sales through the official festival website, the Giglon platform and in-person sales points announced by Mairena del Alcor Town Council. At the time of checking the programme, the show Flamenco Patrimonio appears on the official website as available only at the box office.
As availability can change quickly in the final days, it is advisable to check the official channel before attending and not assume tickets will be available at the door.
Although the official dates of the 65th Festival are 1 to 5 September, the project programme includes the Flamenkedadaa few days earlier, scheduled for 28 August at the Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium.
The initiative broadens the festival’s traditional framework towards flamenco fusion and seeks to connect especially with younger audiences. The 2026 edition announces Gonzalo Alhambra and Cristian de Moret and tickets start at 10 euros.
For anyone who wants to experience Mairena’s flamenco atmosphere before the main programme, this event serves as a genuine informal opening to the week.
The festival is not concentrated in a single venue. This distribution makes it possible to combine heritage, theatre and larger open-air or auditorium formats.
Casa Palacio de los Duques de Arcos. It is one of Mairena del Alcor’s key historic spaces and hosts the opening, talks, meetings and more intimate recitals.
Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre. It hosts the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía show and the dance masterclass.
Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium. It is the venue for the highest-capacity nights, including the National Competition and the final Gala.
If you plan to attend several activities during the week, it is advisable to check each day’s venue in advance, as times and locations change from one day to the next.
The festival dates back to 1962. According to the history published by the organisers, it began as a charity event promoted by Antonio Mairena in collaboration with the local parish priest and soon also received support from the Town Council.
Since then, Mairena del Alcor has become associated with one of flamenco’s longest-running events. The festival does more than programme performances: its structure combines cante, research and outreach, recognition of veteran figures, new generations, guitar, dance and the National Competition.
Antonio Mairena’s figure is inseparable from this identity. The singer from Mairena was one of the great reference points of 20th-century cante and in 1962 received the Third Golden Key of Cante. His artistic influence and his work recovering and organising repertoires shaped much of the flamenco debate of his era.
The festival retains that connection with memory, but each edition incorporates contemporary artists and formats. The 2026 presence of José Mercé, La Macanita, Rocío Luna, Diego del Morao, Farruquito and the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía shows precisely this dialogue between tradition, established artists and newer generations.
Mairena del Alcor is in the province of Seville, and the festival coincides with an especially intense period for flamenco in the area. For visitors spending several days in Seville, Mairena’s programme can become an evening excursion combined with other flamenco shows and experiences in the capital.
The key is not to treat every day in the same way. Recitals at the Casa Palacio offer a different atmosphere from the National Competition or the final Gala, while Seville maintains a daily tablao programme that can complete the trip on nights when you do not attend the festival or when a particular performance is sold out.
At Tablaos Flamencos you can browse and compare available shows in Seville to organise the rest of your stay.
The 65th Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Festival takes place from 1 to 5 September 2026 in Mairena del Alcor, Seville. The Flamenkedada is scheduled beforehand, on 28 August, as a prelude to the festival.
The 5 September gala brings together singers José Mercé, La Macanita, Juan de Mairena and Rocío Luna. Farruquito leads the dance, accompanied by his company, while Antonio Higuero, Manuel Valencia and Francisco Gómez also take part on guitar.
There are free activities and paid performances. Published prices start at 10 euros. For the Gala, €15 unnumbered and €20 numbered ticket options have been announced, as well as combined passes. Check the current price and any booking fees on the official sales channel before purchasing.
The organisers direct visitors to the official website, the Giglon platform and in-person sales points announced by Mairena del Alcor Town Council. Some activities may have specific sales conditions or free admission until capacity is reached.
The programme uses several venues in Mairena del Alcor: Casa Palacio de los Duques de Arcos, Calixto Sánchez Municipal Theatre and Manuel Mairena Municipal Auditorium. It is important to check the specific venue for each activity.
The 65th edition is dedicated to singer Diego Clavel. In addition, the National Competition on 4 September pays tribute to Aurora Vargas.
The Antonio Mairena Cante Jondo Festival reaches its 65th edition with a programme that refuses to reduce flamenco to a single formula. There is concert cante, solo guitar, dance, institutional creation, training, oral memory, competition and a gala featuring major names.
For anyone looking for one of Andalusia’s great flamenco events in September, Mairena del Alcor offers five especially intense days from 1 to 5 September 2026. The combination of historic venues, established artists and continuity with a tradition begun in 1962 explains why the festival remains a reference point in Spain’s flamenco calendar.
To prepare this guide, we cross-checked information published by the Festival organisers, Mairena del Alcor Town Council, the Andalusian Cultural Agenda and Seville Province Tourism.
Information reviewed on 31 August 2026. The programme, prices, schedules and access conditions may be changed by the organisers.
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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