Flamenco Festival USA 2025 pays tribute to Granada and Federico García Lorca with an unforgettable edition

From March 5 to 15, 2025, Flamenco Festival USA returns to stages across the United States with one of its most special and ambitious editions to date. For the first time, the festival pays tribute to the city of Granada and its most renowned poet, Federico García Lorca, celebrating his deep influence on flamenco and his historic journey to New York nearly a century ago.

Over ten days, more than 70 artists and 12 companies will present 26 performances across 15 premier theaters in New York, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco, offering American audiences a journey through the diverse expressions of contemporary flamenco, from its most traditional roots to its most cutting-edge interpretations.

Flamenco stars such as Manuel Liñán, Patricia Guerrero, Eva Yerbabuena, Sara Jiménez, Alfonso Losa, Marina Heredia, Kiki Morente, El Turry, Juan Habichuela Nieto, Carlos de Jacoba, La Plazuela, and Zen del Sur will cross the Atlantic to lead this new edition of one of the most important cultural events in the U.S. dedicated to Spanish culture and flamenco. Year after year, Flamenco Festival USA continues to captivate audiences with unforgettable performances that become part of its history.

Recognized by The New York Times as «one of the city’s premier dance events,» Flamenco Festival New York 2025 aims to surpass 18,000 attendees. Audiences will experience 12 acclaimed companies in 26 performances across 15 venues in New York, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco, including some of the most prestigious cultural institutions, such as New York City Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Kauffman Music Center/Merkin Concert Hall.

The 2025 edition was officially launched on February 11 at Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, in an event featuring the festival’s director, Miguel Marín, who emphasized:

“Granada is a true melting pot of flamenco talent, constantly renewing itself while staying true to its essence. This edition celebrates that richness, showcasing the evolution of flamenco through the work of exceptional artists who carry this tradition into the future.”

Miguel Marín, director de Flamenco Festival

New York: The Heart of the Program

The official opening of Flamenco Festival New York 2025 will be led by Kiki Morente and Carlos de Jacoba with «Lorquianos,» a moving musical tribute to the iconic poet Federico García Lorca, held at Elebash Recital Hall. Before the concert, audiences will be invited to attend the panel discussion «Federico García Lorca, Flamenco, and the Harlem Renaissance,» featuring leading experts Sybil Cooksey, K. Meira Goldberg, José Javier León, and Noël Valis.

Another key stage of the festival will be the legendary New York City Center, which will host:

🔹 «Alter Ego» (March 6) – A powerful choreographic duel between Alfonso Losa and Patricia Guerrero, exploring identity and transformation through movement.

🔹 «Muerta de Amor» (March 7) – Manuel Liñán delivers a bold ode to copla and freedom of expression with a vibrant and provocative performance.

🔹 «Yerbagüena (Oscuro Brillante)» (March 8 & 9) – Eva Yerbabuena leads audiences on a mesmerizing journey between light and shadow, pushing the boundaries of contemporary flamenco. This groundbreaking production was recently nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award following its acclaimed presentation at Flamenco Festival London 2024.

Must-See Shows and Activities across New York!

The program of Flamenco Festival New York 2025 extends across some of the city’s most iconic stages, offering unforgettable performances beyond the main theater venues:

🔹 Roulette Intermedium will host El Turry (March 7) with his deeply moving journey «La Búsqueda del Duende», an exploration of flamenco’s most mysterious and emotional force.

🔹 Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater presents two exceptional nights: Juan Habichuela Nieto (March 8) with «8 Abrazos para Lorca,» a poetic flamenco tribute to the legendary poet, and Sara Jiménez (March 13) with «Variación a Tempo,» an innovative and avant-garde dance piece that challenges the boundaries of rhythm and time.

🔹 Jazz at Lincoln Center will offer a world-class fusion of sounds on March 12 with Carlos de Jacoba and Zaccai Curtis, uniting flamenco and jazz in «Flamenco Meets Jazz.»

🔹 Merkin Concert Hall (Kaufman Music Center) will vibrate with the extraordinary voice of Marina Heredia (March 14) in «De lo Jondo a Lorca,» an intimate and powerful tribute to Lorca’s poetic legacy.

🔹 Le Poisson Rouge will host the festival’s grand finale on March 15 with La Plazuela, the breakout duo revolutionizing experimental flamenco, and their electrifying show «Roneo Funk Club.»

Additionally, Flamenco Festival will present the New York debut of the acclaimed company Zen del Sur with «Órbita» (March 11, NYU King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center), a groundbreaking performance that merges circus arts, contemporary dance, and flamenco into a dazzling spectacle.

Flamenco Beyond the Stage: Outreach Activities 

In addition to its extraordinary performances, Flamenco Festival USA 2025 presents a diverse program of cultural and educational activities that expand the festival’s impact beyond the theater and into the heart of New York City:

  • Panel Discussion «Federico García Lorca, Flamenco, and the Harlem Renaissance» March 5 – CUNY Graduate Center: A conversation exploring the influence of Harlem’s African American culture on Lorca’s work, his concept of duende, and his deep ties to flamenco and New York City.
  • Film Screenings at Instituto Cervantes:
    • «Cante Jondo: Granada 1922» (March 7), followed by a Q&A with Eva Yerbabuena.
    • «Sacromonte, los sabios de la tribu» (March 13), featuring a discussion with Marina Heredia.
  • Cajoneada Flamenca, March 9 – Bronx Music Hall: A participatory flamenco percussion event led by Carlos López and Noemí Pareja from Zen del Sur, bringing the pulse of flamenco rhythm to the Bronx in a communal celebration of sound and movement.

These parallel activities enrich the festival experience, connecting audiences with the cultural, historical, and artistic legacy of flamenco while highlighting its enduring ties to Granada, Lorca, and New York City.

Miami: Flamenco Shines on the Atlantic Coast

Miami once again becomes a key stage for Flamenco Festival USA, welcoming some of the most acclaimed performances of this edition at the Adrienne Arsht Center:

  • «Muerta de Amor» (March 5), by Manuel Liñán, a bold and passionate tribute to copla and freedom of expression.
  • «Yerbagüena (Oscuro Brillante)» (March 6), by the Eva Yerbabuena Company, a journey through light and shadow that pushes the boundaries of contemporary flamenco.
  • «Alter Ego» (March 9), featuring Patricia Guerrero and Alfonso Losa, an award-winning exploration of identity through dance.

The festival’s grand finale in Miami will take place on March 13 at the Miami Beach Bandshell, with La Plazuela bringing their groundbreaking blend of flamenco and electronic music to one of the city’s most iconic open-air stages.

Chicago and San Francisco: New Encounters with Flamenco’s Avant-Garde

With the goal of expanding flamenco’s presence across the U.S. year after year, this edition of Flamenco Festival USA also arrives in Chicago, with Instituto Cervantes hosting five unique performances:

  • «Órbita» (March 7 and 8), by Zen del Sur, a multidisciplinary show fusing flamenco, circus arts, and contemporary dance.
  • «8 Abrazos para Lorca» (March 9), with Juan Habichuela Nieto, a deeply emotional tribute to Lorca through flamenco guitar.
  • «Variación a Tempo» (March 14 and 15), with Sara Jiménez, an innovative dance work exploring the nature of time through flamenco.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts will welcome Kiki Morente and Carlos de Jacoba on March 7 with «Lorquianos», continuing their heartfelt tribute to Federico García Lorca in the very city that inspired some of the poet’s most iconic verses.

Flamenco Festival and the Ongoing Global Expansion of Flamenco

Flamenco Festival has become the world’s leading international platform for flamenco, with 1,353 performances, 169 companies, and presence in 101 cities and 161 venues across the globe. Over nearly 25 years, the festival has hosted the greatest names in flamenco, including Sara Baras, Miguel Poveda, Eva Yerbabuena, Estrella Morente, Manuel Liñán, Israel Galván, Rocío Molina, Rosalía, and legendary icons such as Paco de Lucía and Enrique Morente. Year after year, Flamenco Festival continues to write new chapters in the global history of flamenco.

For all these reasons, Flamenco Festival stands today as one of the most influential platforms for the promotion of flamenco and Spanish performing arts worldwide, firmly established as a landmark event within the cultural calendar of the United States.

Flamenco Festival New York 2025 is made possible thanks to the support of INAEM, Spanish Ministry of Culture, Provincial Council of Granada, City Council of Granada, Instituto Cervantes, Acción Cultural Española through its PICE Program for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Jerome L. Greene Foundation, Marta Heflin Foundation, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Consulate General of Spain in New York, and the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center.

Additional institutional partners of Flamenco Festival New York 2025 include New York City Center, Adrienne Arsht Center, World Music Institute, Kaufman Music Center, Le Poisson Rouge, Instituto Cervantes New York, Instituto Cervantes Chicago, Joe’s Pub, Roulette, Teatro Repertorio Español, Dizzy’s Club, Bronx Music Hall, Rhythm Foundation, FUNDarte, The Flamenco Society, The Brook Center, Miami Beach Bandshell, Robert Browning Associates, and Lotus Music and Dance.