Bilbao basque FEST showcases Basque culture in its very different formats: traditional and modern dance, humour, theatre, a historical tour and more. The companies Salbatzaile and Aukeran will put on captivating dance exhibitions in the space formed by the emblematic Isozaki Towers.
Laughter is guaranteed in the stand-up performances forming part of “Humor and Basque”, as well as in the walks along the estuary with the two friends Mirentxu and Begotxu, who will share their particular reflections on the UEFA Women’s Champions League final to be held in Bilbao next May.
Visiting the city with the help of these “Hosts of Bilbao” is a unique experience. These entertaining guides will tell you about the history of the city through a daily tour of the Old Town and Arenal.
Bilbao basque FEST is the perfect plan for families with children. Circus workshops, theatre sessions and magic shows will be on offer in Doña Casilda Park and the Ensanche Building. This year, one of the most popular Basque characters, Gargantúa, will be back again. He will be waiting for the boys and girls on the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, with his napkin on and his cutlery ready to go.
Ripa Pier became a stage for Bilbao basque FEST for the first time last year and it is expanding its street theatre lineup this year with “Yijaaa!!!”, “Soy la bomba” and “Jacuzzi”.
Museums and Exhibitions
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
27, 28, 29, 30 March (10:00 – 20:00)
31 March (10:00 – 15:00)
Temporary exhibition: Begoña María Azkue Legacy. William Bouguereau: Normandy Peasant Girls at Prayer (c. 1870).
Temporary exhibition: Nicolás de Lekuona Donation.
Temporary exhibition: Nestor Basterretxea. Design and architecture.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBAO
25 March – 7 April (10:00 – 20:00)
Permanent collection. Masterpieces from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection.
AZKUNZA ZENTROA
27 – 31 March (11:00 – 20:00)
The Bilbao Society and Contemporary Culture Centre, a place to experience culture as a practice, as a process and as a space for experiences. Exhibition hall.
ATHLETIC CLUB MUSEUM
27 – 31 March (10:00 – 20:00)
A unique venue that shares the philosophy and history of this unique team in the world.
ITSASMUSEUM
27 March – 7 April (11:00 – 19:00)
Temporary exhibition: Selma Huxley: Discovering the Basques in 16th-century Terra Nova. (On 30 and 31 March there will be a guided tour + workshop for children)
Temporary exhibition: Nuevo Anchustegui, “Gure Señoriti”.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
27 – 31 March (10:00 – 14:00/16:00 – 19:30)
Temporary exhibition “The museum piece by piece: Pot from the necropolis of Santimamiñe”.
EUSKARAREN ETXEA
27 March (10:00 – 19:00)
28 & 29 March (10:00 – 14:00)
30 March (10:00 – 14:00/16:00 – 19:00)
Basque interpretation centre.
MUSEUM OF SACRED ART
27 & 30 March (10:30 – 13:30/16:00 – 19:00)
28, 29 & 31 March (10:30 – 13:00)
Representative pieces of Biscay sacred art from the 12th to the 21st centuries.
PABELLÓN 6
29 & 30 March (From 19:30)
31 March (Double session, 12:00/19:00)
A leading multidisciplinary venue in the world of the performing arts. 11th Short Play Days (Every weekend you can see 4 different plays, 3 in Spanish and 1 in Basque).
SALA ONDARE
27 & 30 March (10:00 – 14:00/17:00 – 20:30)
“Clemente & Jesús Arraiz” Exhibition: Revisiting of the work of the painter Clemente Arraiz (Vitoria, 1873-1956) and his son Jesús Arraiz (Vitoria, 1898-Bilbao, 1980) through an exhibition that brings together the leading works by these two artists. Free entry.
SALA REKALDE
27 & 30 March (10:00 – 14:00/17:00 – 20:30)
28, 29, 31 March and 1 April (10:00 – 14:00)
A place where you can explore the understanding, reception and dissemination of the different contemporary artistic practices.
“Variétés” exhibition, the latest project by the artist Eduardo Sourrouille (Basauri, 1970).
ACTIVITIES:
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26 & 27 March (10:30 – 11:45
Workshop for children aged 3 to 8 years old involving a tour of the Eduardo Sourrouille exhibition and a closer look at the creative processes through the body and narration. -
26 & 27 March (17:30 – 19:00
LOTURAK is a workshop for families with children aged 4 to 11 years old. Analysis of the exhibition “Varietés” by Eduardo Sourrouille and an interactive plastic arts activity.