Festival Flamenco de Nîmes

The Nîmes Flamenco Festival, a European benchmark for contemporary flamenco

Created in 1991 by the Théâtre de Nîmes at the initiative of Pepe Linares, Eddie Pons and Bernard Souroque, the Nîmes Flamenco Festival has established itself over more than three decades as one of the most important flamenco festivals in Europe, outside of Spain. The first edition took the form of a "Flamenco Night" centred around a unique flamenco guitar competition. From 1992, the event extended over a week, then officially became "Festival Flamenco" in 2004.

A programme led by the Théâtre de Nîmes

The festival is organised by the Théâtre de Nîmes, a national interest theatre, which provides its artistic direction. The programme is mainly presented at the Salle Bernadette Lafont (1 place de la Calade) and the Salle de l'Odéon (7 rue Pierre Semard), as well as in several cultural venues in the city: Carré d'Art, Sémaphore, Musée des Beaux-Arts and Musée de la Romanité.

Dance, music, contemporary creation

The Nîmes Flamenco Festival honours contemporary creation while remaining faithful to tradition. Over the editions, the greatest flamenco artists have performed in Nîmes: Israel Galván, Rocío Molina, Eva Yerbabuena, Miguel Poveda, Tomatito, Estrella Morente, Rafaela Carrasco, Estévez/Paños and many others. The festival hosts dance performances, singing (cante) and guitar recitals, as well as multidisciplinary creations.

The Festival Off, complementary and popular

Alongside the main programme, the Festival Off offers nearly fifty events throughout the city: peñas, festive evenings, baile and cante workshops, exhibitions, conferences. This Off programme, generally free or at reduced prices, helps to keep flamenco alive in all districts of Nîmes during the festival.

A strong Nîmes identity

The influence of the Nîmes Flamenco Festival is part of a long history of friendship between the city of Gard and Hispano-Andalusian culture, already marked by the Feria de Nîmes. Each year, the festival contributes to the tourist and cultural attractiveness of the city and the Gard department, in the Occitanie region.