Culture
4238 newsCoverage includes books, cinema, museums, festivals, artists and cultural debates, with regional context from across Spain.
Flamenco women rewrite the canon while paying their own way
Women artists are putting research onstage, but many still pay for their own projects. The Netherlands hosts the only significant flamenco festival led by a woman.
Banderas leaves Sohrlin as Sánchez takes control
Antonio Banderas left Sohrlin Andalucía after differences with producer Domingo Sánchez over its direction. Sánchez and Merlín will keep the venue running as Banderas looks for a larger space for the Teatro del Soho CaixaBank.
Vaquerizo takes the Cabaret stage despite lasting vision problems
Mario Vaquerizo says the vision loss from a fall still complicates daily life. He has joined Cabaret in Madrid as its master of ceremonies and says the role has silenced critics who questioned his place in musical theatre.
Samsung Brings Five The Frame Looks to Madrid Runway
Inés Martín Alcalde presented five Samsung designs in Madrid as The Frame marked its tenth anniversary. Valero Rioja’s photographs of the city appeared on screens around the venue.
Paris Dealers Open Their Homes to Antiques Buyers
Some Paris dealers receive clients at home, where the antiques for sale share space with the objects they keep. The setup has also given several dealers more freedom to travel.
Premio Planeta draws record 1,424 entries for 75th edition
Felipe VI and Letizia presided over the 75th Premio Planeta ceremony in Barcelona. The winner receives €1 million, and this year’s contest drew a record 1,424 entries from around the world.
Olivia Wilde stages a marital reckoning over dinner
Olivia Wilde’s La invitación brings two troubled couples together for dinner in a San Francisco apartment. The adaptation of Cesc Gay’s Sentimental finds its sharpest stretch in the final half-hour.
Cabrils installation turns plant signals into sound and scent
At Cabrils’ Hotel d’Entitats, Yolanda Uriz’s installation turns plant reactions and soil vibrations into sound and aromas. Visitors can experience it today and tomorrow.
Letizia chooses a customised Sybilla gown for Planeta awards
Queen Letizia wore a customised black Sybilla gown with PDPAOLA earrings at the 75th Premios Planeta in Barcelona. The winner received €1 million from a record field of 1,424 manuscripts.
Nacho Duato Joins Madrid Protest Against Batsheva Dance
Nacho Duato joined a large pro-Palestinian protest outside Madrid’s Teatros del Canal as Batsheva Dance performed there. Israel covers around 30% of the company’s production budget and pays international tour travel costs.
Protesters Rally Outside Madrid’s Teatros del Canal
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Teatros del Canal on 15 October 2026, before Batsheva Dance performed Sadeh21. The first show was sold out; dancer and choreographer Nacho Duato joined the protest.
Letizia wears Sybilla’s gala gown in a shorter midi cut
At the Premio Planeta dinner in Barcelona, Queen Letizia wore a midi version of a black Sybilla gown. She paired it with familiar jewellery, including a diamond bracelet she owned before marrying Felipe VI.
Cartagena’s book fair brings young readers back to paper
Hundreds of primary pupils took part in a book challenge at Cartagena’s fair. Local booksellers say interest in reading is growing among children and teenagers, with paper books still holding their ground.
Lucas Paulano to debut Eurovision Junior song on La 1
Lucas Paulano will sing his Eurovision Junior entry live on La 1 for the first time on Thursday. Antonio José and Rodrigo Cuevas are also booked for Manu Sánchez’s programme.
Orquesta y Coro RTVE to premiere Tabuenca’s Rémanence
Orquesta y Coro RTVE will premiere Luis Tabuenca’s Rémanence at Madrid’s Teatro Monumental on 16 October. Grieg’s programme turns to Norway’s history and legends.
RTVE names 18 acts for Benidorm Fest 2027
RTVE has named 18 acts for Benidorm Fest 2027, including Vicco and Ladilla Rusa. More than 1,000 applications were submitted; the semi-finals are set for 26 and 28 January.
Granada prepares a citywide funeral for Lorca
Granada’s Réquiem por Lorca runs from Thursday to Sunday, marking the 90th anniversary of the poet’s killing and remembering victims of Francoist repression. Eleven performances will take place across the city.
Cartagena’s Book Fair Opens at Plaza Juan XXIII
The 33rd Feria del Libro runs from 14 to 18 October, with 32 stalls and a programme featuring Sergio del Molino. School visits and children’s events are also scheduled.
Spanish royals will preside over Planeta Prize’s 75th gala
King Felipe and Queen Letizia are due at the Barcelona ceremony on Thursday. The contest drew a record 1,424 manuscripts; nine finalists remain after one entry was removed for prior publication.
Portillo Wins Spain’s 2026 Performing Arts Prize for Young Audiences
José Antonio Portillo Vesga has won Spain’s 2026 National Performing Arts for Children and Young People Prize, worth €30,000. The jury singled out Museo del Tiempo, where visitors bury objects and log their locations on a map using QR codes.
The Prado puts Ricardo de Madrazo in the spotlight
The Prado has opened the first exhibition devoted entirely to Ricardo de Madrazo. It brings 29 sketchbooks and rarely seen works into public view, with material supplied by his descendants.
The Javis kept Carlos González apart on set
Carlos González says the Javis kept him apart from others on set to help him find his character’s loneliness. The cast describes directors who adapt their approach to each actor while keeping clear authority.
RTVE Play brings two new shows to EN PLAY
‘Close Friends’ features candidates for the next Benidorm Fest. ‘Memes y dramas’ arrives on 22 October as EN PLAY’s second season expands its youth programming.
Vari Caramés Takes Spain’s 2026 Photography Prize
Vari Caramés has received Spain’s 2026 National Photography Prize, worth €30,000. The jury praised his use of blur and the role his work has played in Galician culture since the 1980s.
Prado puts Ricardo de Madrazo in view
The Prado’s first exhibition devoted to Ricardo de Madrazo brings together 29 sketchbooks spanning 1867 to 1917. The show follows his travels and his work as a copyist, while documenting his place in the Madrazo family.
Estopa bring their first demo back with La Maketa
La Maketa arrives on 20 November, restoring Estopa material from before the band’s breakthrough. The double album pairs new versions of seven demo songs and three tracks absent from the original with home and studio recordings; four stadium dates follow in June and July 2027.
La 1 leads Spain’s TV ratings with National Day parade
RTVE says the parade averaged 2,722,000 viewers and a 50.5% share, while the wider special averaged 2,254,000 with a 47.5% share. La 1 led the day with 15.2%.
Barcelona hotel gives a writer’s pen name architectural form
At Sir Victor, curved limestone and a library connect the hotel to Caterina Albert i Paradís, who wrote under the name Víctor Català.
Philip Hoare reads William Blake through the whale
In Barcelona, Hoare traces Blake’s sea creatures through Melville and T. E. Lawrence. His 520-page book takes an associative route that can leave readers searching for the thread.
Palacio confirms his alternativa at Las Ventas
A charity corrida in tribute to Ceuta filled Las Ventas. Aarón Palacio confirmed his alternativa to a strong ovation, while Morante de la Puebla and Héctor Gutiérrez had uneven afternoons.
Mixtur 2026 takes contemporary music across Barcelona
Mixtur runs from 15 to 25 October across 11 Barcelona venues. Its 15th edition includes 24 concerts, sound installations and family events, with most performances free.
The Devils returns with its missing footage restored
Ken Russell’s The Devils returns in a director-approved 4K restoration. The missing crucifix sequence and censored ending will screen in the United States on 16 October 2026, followed by UK and Ireland cinemas on 30 October.
Mari Carmen García Vela returns to Informe Semanal
After 29 years away, Mari Carmen García Vela returned to Informe Semanal for a one-off edition marking TVE’s 70th anniversary and the programmes that shaped Spanish television.
Sandra Barneda y Pascalle Paerel se casan en Candeleda
Sandra Barneda and Pascalle Paerel married in Candeleda on 10 October 2026. The civil ceremony brought relatives and close friends from Spain and the Netherlands to a place tied to Barneda's home and literary work.
Injury turns Las Ventas solo into a rules dispute
A 20-centimetre cornada ended Álvaro Serrano's solo appearance at Las Ventas. Both sobresalientes entered the programme, raising a rules question that Madrid's administration has not publicly clarified.
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