The Madrid City Council has presented the 42nd edition of the Veranos de la Villa festival. This major cultural event, a favorite pastime for many Madrileños, will run from July 7 to August 29 and bring 72 artistic performances to 14 districts across the city. The main venues for the activities will be the central courtyard of the Conde Duque Cultural Center and the Cloister of the San Isidro Institute.
The opening will take place on July 7 at the Matadero Madrid venue with a party hosted by the radio station LOS40 Classic. But summer is long, and concerts will take up a large part of the cultural calendar. There will be zarzuela, as well as the James Bond soundtrack performed by the Madrid Municipal Symphonic Band, along with tributes to legendary artists such as Antonio Vega, Miles Davis, Phil Collins, Édith Piaf, and Billie Holiday, alongside recitals by soloists such as Diana Navarro, Alain Pérez, and Lila Downs. Finally, the RTVE Orchestra and Choir will close the festival on August 29 at Enrique Tierno Galván Park with a symphonic tribute to the Swedish group ABBA.
In the realm of dance, the festival will present the world premiere of the work ‘Concertdanza, ‘ directed by Joaquín De Luz and featuring Vasko Vassilev. The lineup will include performances by the London City Ballet and Indian dancer Malavika Sarukkai.
Flamenco will feature top-tier figures on the national scene such as Farruquito, Jesús Carmona, Dani de Morón, and Kiki Morente. Meanwhile, the performing arts will be represented through theatrical productions based on works by Agatha Christie and various contemporary comedies.
Baroque art and popular culture at the Veranos de la Villa
The exhibition program will present two contrasting approaches in the halls of Conde Duque. The first space will host the exhibition “Art and Mercy,” featuring works from the Spanish Baroque period by artists such as Murillo, Pedro Roldán, and Juan de Valdés Leal, originally created for the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad in Seville.
At the same time, the exhibition Yo fui a EGB will offer a nostalgic journey through school culture and everyday objects from the late 20th century. The seventh art will return to Bombilla Park with regular summer film screenings, joined by inclusive screenings organized in collaboration with the Professional Association of Occupational Therapists.
There will also be no shortage of Veranos de la Villa classics, such as the Cine Caliente film series—featuring films with live commentary by distinguished guests—and the surprise concert at Conde Duque, where the artist remains a secret until the very last moment, scheduled for July 15.
Madrid-based illustrator Fernando Vicente has designed this year’s official poster, which depicts the classical statues of Cibeles and Neptune holding musical instruments. Tickets for the events at Conde Duque are already on sale through the City Council’s official channels, while tickets for the shows scheduled at the Instituto San Isidro will be available to the public starting July 16.
