This summer, Madrid adds a new must-see event for lovers of the “art jondo”: Villanos del Flamenco, the series that ’s here to shake up the scene from its very roots and prove that flamenco can also be uncomfortable, restless, and thoroughly contemporary.
From June 20 to July 12, 2026, the UMusic Hotel Teatro Albéniz will serve as the hub for a program that blends legendary names, established talent, and fresh perspectives over just twenty nights that promise to leave a lasting impression.
A series that looks to the future
Here, flamenco is not seen as a postcard or a tourist attraction, but as a living art form in constant transformation, capable of engaging in dialogue with jazz, copla, reggae, or singer-songwriter music without losing even a shred of its identity.
Far from presenting a generic marathon of concerts, the series is designed almost like a series of independent chapters, each with its own universe: from Arcángel’s freest style of singing to dialogues with Miles Davis, including a tribute to Paco de Lucía, Jesús Carmona’s wild dance, and the final homage to Bob Marley. This structure allows the audience to choose their own itinerary: they can attend a single, specific night or put together a small, personalized season pass by following a theme (singer, dancer, fusions) over the course of the weeks.
Los Villanos: a lineup full of big names
The list of artists appearing at Villanos del Flamenco speaks for itself as to why this series has generated so much anticipation. Arcángel kicks things off on June 20 with *Hereje*, a show in which he reinterprets songs by artists such as Andrés Calamaro, Leiva, and Rozalén through the language of flamenco, demonstrating that it’s possible to remain true to one’s roots while reimagining contemporary pop and rock. Next up are Alfonso Losa and Paula Comitre with *Alter Ego*, a duet dance piece that explores identity, reflections, and dualities through the body, footwork, and gesture; and Tomatito, one of the great masters of flamenco guitar, with a concert centered on his most recognizable repertoire.
In July, Jesús Carmona arrives with *Baile de Bestias*, a physically and emotionally extremeproduction that has established him as one of the most powerful dancers of his generation. Chano Domínguez, Antonio Serrano, and the El Negrón Trio present *New Sketches of Spain*, a tribute to the centennial of Miles Davis that reinterprets that legendary fusion of jazz and Spanish sounds from today’s perspective. There’s also a performance of *Paco de Lucía: Music for Big Band*, directed by Alex Conde, which transposes the guitarist’s universe to a large-scale ensemble, and *Magnificat*, María Moreno’s production, which delves into the spiritual, the liturgical, and the intimate through dance.
The final stretch is reserved for remembrance and collective celebration: a tribute to Antonio Canales, a key figure in modern flamenco, and *La última folclórica*, Laura Gallego’s show that champions the copla as a living heritage, not as a relic. The closing event, on July 12, features *El Mundo Flamenco Saluda a Bob Marley*, a celebration in which Josemi Carmona, Israel Suárez “Piraña,” Alex Conde, Alana Sinkey, and Payoh Soul Rebel blend flamenco rhythms with Jamaican roots, proving that *duende* and groove can go hand in hand.
