July 29 to August 8 Cante de las Minas flamenco festival in La Unión 2026

The programme for the 2023 edition of the Cante de las Minas

The Cante de Las Minas Flamenco Festival, which has been awarded International Tourist Interest status, is held annually in late July and early August in the town of La Unión, celebrating the tradition of flamenco which grew up in the mining community of the Sierra Minera within both La Unión and Cartagena.

The festival has two separate sections which are of interest to the general public: the gala nights, in which invited artists from the international flamenco circuit perform, and the competition to find the best up-and-coming artists in the disciplines of “cante” (song), dance, guitar and percussion. The competition is highly renowned within the flamenco world, and prize winners receive a boost to their career as well as substantial remuneration by winning at La Unión, helping to attract the best new artists to this festival.

Music is just part of the cultural offering and attendees can also enjoy a comprehensive programme of exhibitions, talks and workshops, as well as post-performance music in some of the bars and, of course, food. All of the talks are in Spanish and can be found on the full programme.

The main square in front of the former marketplace, which is known as the “Catedral del Cante”, is filled with tapas bars and displays, making it a busy, buzzing area during the festival. On the main festival nights there will be performances in the Plaza Joaquin Costa in front of the former marketplace from 20.00 onwards, bringing flamenco out into the streets where it was formerly performed.

The first two nights of the festival are free to attend, the first featuring local musical and flamenco performers and the second the competition winners from a previous year. Tickets for the rest of the galas are on sale online here.

The last four nights are dedicated to the competition to find the best emerging flamenco singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists, the first three being semi-finals after the heats which have been held previously, and the last the final.

It should be stressed that on these four nights the performers are competing, not entertaining, so the focus is on pure flamenco. This can be hard on the ears of expats and is a million miles away from the “flamenco” served up in tourist bars! It can be a deeply moving and passionate form of music and during the competitions is as pure and true to the traditional flamenco as it gets.

First held in 1961, the festival has been awarded "Intangible Cultural Heritage" status by UNESCO.

Click for venue: Catedral del Cante, the former public marketplace.

Program Cante de Las Minas 2026:

Wednesday July 29

19.00: Opening of the sculpture exhibition “En lo Hondo” by Lola Arcas in the Casa del Piñón.

20.00: A musical mining Mass in the church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario with music from Paco severo and guitarist Antonio Muñoz Fernández.

21.00: The Avenida del Flamenco opens in Plaza Joaquín Costa.

22.00: A tribute to miner Luis Conesa Hernández with the Agrupación Musical La Unión and Coral Argentum, as well as flamenco by Encarnación Fernández and guitarist Antonio Muñoz Fernández. In addition, students from the oficial dance school of the festival. Venue: Antiguo Mercado Público. Admission free of charge.

This is followed by a “Madrugá Flamenca” with dancer Macarena Mulero, vocalists David Contreras ‘El Cardueli’ and Agustín Garnés and guitarist Antonio Muñoz Fernández. Venue: Café-Cantante / Avda. del Flamenco.

Thursday July 30

12.00: Opening of the photography exhibition “Cartagografías del Eco” by José Carlos Ñíguez at the Museo Minero de La Unión.

22.00: Official opening speech by Fernando López Miras, president of the regional government. This is followed in the Antiguo Mercado Público by the Gala for the winners of the festival in 2025, with performances by Juan Diego Celdrán and Tomás Parra, Gregorio Moya, Salomé Ramírez, José Carlos Esteban-Hanza and Virginia Espallardo ‘La Vichy’.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at the Café-Cantante / Avda. del Flamenco.

Friday July 31

23.00: Gala flamenca with Arcángel and Pula Comité at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at the Café del 33.

Saturday August 1

23.00: Gala flamenca with “Cuerpos Minerales”, starring Lucía ‘LA PIÑONA’ and Fuensanta ‘LA MONETA’ at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at La Fragua Tapas.

Sunday August 2

23.00: Gala flamenca with the Ballet Español de la Comunidad de Madrid performing “Viaje al Amor Brujo” at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at Escuelas Graduadas.

Monday August 3

23.00: Gala flamenca with Yerai Cortés at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at El Almacén Lounge Bar.

Tuesday August 4

23.00: Gala flamenca with ISRAEL FERNÁNDEZ performing “Recital y Cante” at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at the Café-Cantante / Avda. del Flamenco.

Wednesday August 5

22.00: The first semi-final of the competitions for vocalists, guitarists and instrumentalists at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at Escuelas Graduadas.

Thursday August 6

22.00: The second semi-final of the competitions for vocalists, guitarists and instrumentalists at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at Restaurante El Vinagrero.

Friday August 7

22.00: The third semi-final of the competitions for vocalists, guitarists and instrumentalists at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at Pizzería Strómboli.

Saturday August 8

17.00: Final of the Pascual García-Mateos “trovos” competition in the Casa del Piñón.

22.00: Grand final of the competitions for vocalists, guitarists and instrumentalists at the Antiguo Mercado Público.

There is then another “Madrugá Flamenca” at the Café-Cantante / Avda. del Flamenco.

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.