Discover Spain’s Vibrant Food and Music Festival Scene

Exploring the Connection Between Spain’s Food Culture and Music Festivals Spain is an unbeatable destination for culture and music lovers. From traditional to contemporary music, from flamenco to rap, and from jazz to pop, Spain’s music festivals offer a huge variety of styles and themes. The perfect excuse to visit Spain, to enjoy its lively atmosphere, to meet its people and discover its gastronomy. Spain’s gastronomy is much more than just tapas, paella and sangria, the most famous examples of our cuisine. In Spain you can enjoy a huge variety of flavours and dishes. From fish and seafood in coastal areas, to the delicious stews and meat dishes of the inland regions. And if you have a sweet tooth, there’s nothing better than savouring a tasty dessert or the typical cakes and pastries of each area. Here’s a tour of the main music festivals in Spain, where you can enjoy your favourite music and a unique food experience. L’ALFÀS DEL PI (VALENCIA REGION) L’Alfàs del Pi, a charming town in Alicante with a mild climate all year round, hosts one of the most important film festivals on Spain’s cultural calendar in July. A festival committed to promoting European cinema, it awards the Faro de Plata (Silver Lighthouse) to the best film in competition. It also hosts a parallel short film competition, along with a wide range of cultural activities and shows. At the festival, you will have the opportunity to sample one of the most famous dishes of the Valencia Region: rice a banda. This delicious dish is traditionally prepared by fishermen, who cook rice with fish stock and serve it with alioli sauce. ISLA BONITA LOVE FESTIVAL (CANARY ISLANDS) Isla Bonita Love Festival is held in July on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands, and is committed to promoting freedom, equality, and respect for diversity. This festival invites the public to enjoy a whole week of culture and music, culminating in a spectacular closing concert featuring renowned artists from both the Spanish and international music scenes. In La Palma, you will find a wide variety of culinary suggestions, from traditional recipes to the most innovative creations of modern cuisine. One of the most authentic dishes in the Canary Islands is papas arrugadas: small potatoes boiled in seawater or with a lot of salt, served with a spicy sauce called mojo. FESTIVAL DE SAN SEBASTIÁN (BASQUE COUNTRY) In September, San Sebastián becomes the world capital of cinema, with the presence of the most renowned actors and directors on the international scene. The San Sebastián Festival is one of the most prestigious in the world, a status reflected by the glamour of its red carpet. At the festival, you can enjoy a range of films, from the most commercial to the most alternative, as well as parallel sections and awards that bring together the best of world cinema. And when it comes to gastronomy, San Sebastián is one of the cities with the most Michelin stars in the world. This is the best place to discover the famous pintxos (miniature haute cuisine), fish and seafood dishes, and the traditional Basque dessert, the Basque cheesecake. FESTIVAL DE CINE DE SITGES (CATALONIA) Sitges hosts the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in October, a must for lovers of fantasy and horror films. This festival is known for its creativity and the participation of big names in the film industry. The festival is a unique opportunity to discover the most innovative and creative films, while also enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of Sitges, a beautiful coastal town near Barcelona. In Sitges, you can savour the famous xató, a local salad made with endive, cod, tuna, anchovies, and olives, dressed with a special sauce made from almonds, hazelnuts, garlic, and dried red peppers. MAD COOL FESTIVAL (MADRID) Madrid is the perfect destination for music lovers, with a wide range of festivals throughout the year. One of the most popular is Mad Cool Festival, held in July, which features a diverse lineup of international and Spanish artists. The festival is a celebration of music, art, and gastronomy, with a wide variety of food trucks and stalls offering everything from traditional Spanish tapas to international cuisine. While in Madrid, don’t miss the opportunity to try the famous cocido madrileño, a hearty stew made with chickpeas, vegetables, and a variety of meats. It’s the perfect dish to fuel you for a day of dancing and enjoying the festival. PRIMAVERA SOUND (BARCELONA) Primavera Sound is one of the most important music festivals in Europe, held in Barcelona in June. With a lineup that includes a mix of established artists and emerging talent, the festival attracts music lovers from all over the world. Barcelona is also a foodie’s paradise, with a rich culinary scene that includes everything from traditional Catalan dishes to modern fusion cuisine. While at Primavera Sound, be sure to try some of the city’s famous seafood dishes, like suquet de peix, a fish and seafood stew, or fideuà, a dish similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice. FESTIVAL DE CANTE DE LAS MINAS (MURCIA) The Festival de Cante de las Minas, held in La Unión in August, is one of the most prestigious flamenco festivals in the world. The festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the mining region, with performances by some of the best flamenco singers, dancers, and guitarists. While in Murcia, be sure to try some of the region’s delicious tapas, like zarangollo, a dish made with eggs, onions, and courgettes, or pastel de carne, a meat pie made with puff pastry. And don’t forget to sample the local wine, like Jumilla or Bullas, to complete your culinary experience. SONAR FESTIVAL (BARCELONA) Sonar Festival, held in Barcelona in June, is a celebration of electronic music and digital art. With a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene, the festival attracts music and art lovers from all over the world. Barcelona is also a city with a rich culinary scene, and you’ll find everything from traditional Catalan dishes to modern fusion cuisine. While at Sonar Festival, be sure to try some of the city’s famous seafood dishes, like calçots, a type of green onion that is grilled and served with romesco sauce, or esqueixada, a salad made with salted cod, tomatoes, and onions. FESTIVAL DE JAZZ DE VITORIA-GASTEIZ (BASQUE COUNTRY) The Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz, held in July, is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe. With a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in the jazz world, the festival attracts music lovers from all over the world. While in Vitoria-Gasteiz, be sure to try some of the region’s famous pintxos, or small tapas-style dishes, like txangurro, a dish made with spider crab, or bacalao a la vizcaína, a dish made with salted cod and a tomato and red pepper sauce. And don’t forget to sample some of the local wines, like Rioja or Txakoli, to complete your culinary experience. FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA CINE Y TELEVISIÓN FIMUCITÉ (CANARY ISLANDS) FIMUCITÉ, held in Tenerife in September, is a festival dedicated to the music of film and television. With a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in the film music world, the festival attracts music and film lovers from all over the world. While in Tenerife, be sure to try some of the local dishes, like conejo en salmorejo, a rabbit stew made with a marinade of garlic, paprika, and wine, or gofio, a type of flour made from roasted grains that is used in a variety of dishes. And don’t forget to sample some of the local wines, like Malvasía or Listán, to complete your culinary experience. FESTIVAL DE LA LUZ (GALICIA) The Festival de la Luz, held in Boimorto in September, is a charity music festival that takes place in the hometown of the famous Spanish singer Luz Casal. With a lineup that includes a mix of established artists and emerging talent, the festival attracts music lovers from all over Spain. While in Galicia, be sure to try some of the region’s famous seafood dishes, like pulpo a la gallega, a dish made with octopus, potatoes, and paprika, or percebes, a type of barnacle that is considered a delicacy. And don’t forget to sample some of the local wines, like Albariño or Ribeiro, to complete your culinary experience. FESTIVAL DE JAZZ DE SAN SEBASTIÁN (BASQUE COUNTRY) The Festival de Jazz de San Sebastián, held in July, is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe. With a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in the jazz world, the festival attracts music lovers from all over the world. While in San Sebastián, be sure to try some of the region’s famous pintxos, or small tapas-style dishes, like txangurro, a dish made with spider crab, or bacalao a la vizcaína, a dish made with salted cod and a tomato and red pepper sauce. And don’t forget to sample some of the local wines, like Rioja or Txakoli, to complete your culinary experience. FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA Y ARTES ESCÉNICAS DE LA GRANJA (CASTILE AND LEÓN) The Festival de Música y Artes Escénicas de La Granja, held in July, is a celebration of music and performing arts. With a lineup that includes a mix of established artists and emerging talent, the festival attracts music and art lovers from all over Spain. While in La Granja, be sure to try some of the local dishes, like judiones de La Granja, a bean stew made with pork, or cochinillo asado, a dish made with roast suckling pig. And don’t forget to sample some of the local wines, like Ribera del Duero or Rueda, to complete your culinary experience.