FLAMENCO FESTIVAL LONDON REACHES ITS 21ST EDITION

From 13 to 30 June, a total of 13 companies will present 20 performances in venues such as the iconic Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Sadler’s Wells East, Lilian Baylis Studio, Jazz Café and the National Gallery in London; and, for the first time, at Lowry (Manchester).

The programme brings together artists who approach this art form from a wide range of perspectives, including names such as Jesús Carmona, Rocío Molina, the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, Gerardo Núñez, Antonio Rey, Eva Yerbabuena, Manuel Liñán, El Perrete and Califato ¾, among many others.

At a moment of particular creative effervescence for flamenco, Flamenco Festival London reaches its 21st edition, reaffirming flamenco as an artistic expression in constant transformation, capable of preserving its essence while continuing to open itself to new languages. Under the theme ‘Flamenco: Expanding Roots’, the festival will take place from 13 to 30 June, featuring a programme of 13 companies, 80 artists and 20 performances across London and, for the first time, Manchester. This edition offers a journey through different ways of understanding contemporary flamenco, from those who delve deeply into its most intimate codes to those who expand its boundaries through new sounds, stage forms and contemporary sensibilities, with figures such as Jesús Carmona, Rocío Molina, the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, Gerardo Núñez, Antonio Rey, Eva Yerbabuena, Manuel Liñán, El Perrete and Califato ¾, among many others.

This was announced at a press conference by the festival’s director, Miguel Marín, who was joined by José Ángel Vélez, Secretary General for Cultural Innovation and Museums of the Regional Government of Andalusia, along with many of the participating artists, who gathered at the headquarters of the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía to present the programme for this new edition.

As Miguel Marín noted during his speech, the programme “brings together artists who engage with flamenco in different ways: some explore its fundamental structures, revealing new layers within tradition, while others expand its boundaries through new dramaturgies, musical influences and contemporary perspectives”.

In this sense, he added, “this dual movement runs throughout the festival. Choreographers such as Jesús Carmona and Rafaela Carrasco revisit the language of flamenco with precision and depth, while artists such as Rocío Molina push its expressive limits further, opening up new territories. At the same time, the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, under the direction of Patricia Guerrero, represents the strength of tradition as a living, evolving force. Music also plays a central role in this expansion. The guitar, with figures such as Gerardo Núñez and Antonio Rey, continues to build bridges between legacy and innovation, while the gala dedicated to Sabicas highlights the enduring influence of those who shaped flamenco’s global journey.”

In London, he added, “a city defined by openness and cultural exchange, flamenco finds a space to grow, transform and connect with new audiences. Here it reveals itself not as a fixed form, but as an expanding field, rooted in its origins and constantly projecting outwards.”

For his part, José Ángel Vélez referred to the participation of the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía in this edition, “undoubtedly one of the finest ambassadors of flamenco, whose presence on leading international stages such as Flamenco Festival London, now in its twenty-first edition, represents a new opportunity to continue promoting flamenco worldwide.”

This year, the programme expands to Manchester, broadening the festival’s reach. Performances will take place at the regular Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, a leading venue for dance in Europe and the heart of the festival, as well as at Sadler’s Wells East, Lilian Baylis Studio and Jazz Café, all in the capital; while in Manchester, performances will be held at The Quays Theatre and the Lyric Theatre, both located at Lowry. In London, the National Gallery also joins the festival venues, in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes, following in the footsteps of Flamenco Festival New York, which in its latest edition staged performances at the Metropolitan Museum and the Guggenheim.

Over more than two decades, Flamenco Festival London has established itself as a key platform for placing flamenco at the heart of the city’s cultural scene, promoting the international projection of its artists and contributing to their recognition at some of the most prestigious performing arts awards. In recent years, artists associated with the festival have received major accolades, such as dancer Eva Yerbabuena, who was awarded the Olivier Award 2025 for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for a production presented within the festival, or Sara Baras, who received the same award in 2020. Likewise, artists such as Manuel Liñán have been nominated for Olivier Awards for their recent works presented in London, reflecting the festival’s sustained impact on the British performing arts circuit. These achievements are complemented by other recognitions, such as recent nominations for the UK National Dance Awards for creators including Liñán and Sara Baras, highlighting the current moment of excellence and visibility for contemporary flamenco, largely driven by international platforms such as Flamenco Festival London.