Festival Flamenco de Nîmes
International Flamenco Festival in Nîmes (Gard)
About Festival Flamenco de Nîmes
The Nîmes Flamenco Festival is a major international event dedicated to flamenco, organised annually in January by the Théâtre de Nîmes. Since its creation in 1991, it has brought together the greatest figures of the Spanish and international flamenco scene, in the city nicknamed the "European capital of flamenco".
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.
Festival Flamenco de Nîmes — edition 2026
The 36th edition of the Festival Flamenco de Nîmes took place from January 13 to 18, 2026, at the Théâtre de Nîmes, with a complementary Festival Off from January 9 to 18. A compact and intense edition, with two shows scheduled each evening, highlighting contemporary creation and great flamenco figures: Rafaela Carrasco, Miguel Poveda, Tomatito, María Moreno, Estévez/Paños, María del Mar Suárez "La Chachi" and many others.
Festival Flamenco de Nîmes — 36th Edition (January 13-18, 2026)
The 36th edition of the Festival Flamenco de Nîmes took place from January 13 to 18, 2026, with a renewed format: gone is the organization over two weekends, replaced by a single, denser week, with two shows scheduled each evening at the Théâtre de Nîmes. The Festival Off, extended from January 9 to 18, presented nearly fifty events throughout the city.
A Resolutely Contemporary Edition
This 36th edition gave pride of place to contemporary creation, through unprecedented shows such as "Humo" by Rafaela Carrasco (a preview creation evoking tobacco factory workers), "La Confluencia" by the Estévez/Paños duo, or the unique proposals by María del Mar Suárez "La Chachi".
Venues Involved
In addition to the Salle Bernadette Lafont and the Salle de l'Odéon, several Nîmes cultural venues hosted the program: Carré d'Art, Sémaphore, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée de la Romanité, for concerts, conferences, and exhibitions.
Programme Festival Flamenco de Nîmes 2026
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
- Dance — Rafaela Carrasco — "Humo" (preview creation)
- Music — Ángeles Toledano (cante)
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- Music — Alberto García & Juan Manuel Cortés
- Dance — Rafaela Carrasco
Thursday, January 15, 2026
- Music — Tomatito 5tet (flamenco guitar)
- Dance — Paula Comitre, Florencia Oz & Carmen Angulo
Friday, January 16, 2026
- Music — Joselito Acedo & José Acedo
- Dance — María Moreno
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Music — La CarmenCycletta, José Sanchez & Alberto García
- Cante — Miguel Poveda (one of the greatest current voices of flamenco)
- Dance — María del Mar Suárez "La Chachi"
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Dance — Estévez/Paños y Cía — "La Confluencia" (festival closing, 9 PM at Théâtre de Nîmes)
- Music — Ana Pérez & José Sanchez, Sandra Carrasco & David de Arahal
Festival Off (January 9-18, 2026)
Nearly 50 events throughout the city: peñas, festive evenings, baile and cante workshops, exhibitions, conferences, in several Nîmes venues.
Highlights Festival Flamenco de Nîmes 2026
- 36th edition of the Festival Flamenco de Nîmes, organized by the Théâtre de Nîmes
- New format: a compact week with two shows per evening
- Headliners: Miguel Poveda, Tomatito 5tet, Rafaela Carrasco, Estévez/Paños y Cía
- Preview creation: "Humo" by Rafaela Carrasco
- Festival Off from January 9 to 18 with about fifty free or low-cost events
- Nîmes recognized as "European capital of flamenco"
Prices Festival Flamenco de Nîmes 2026
Practical information — Festival Flamenco de Nîmes
Main venues
- Salle Bernadette Lafont — 1 place de la Calade, 30020 Nîmes cedex 1
- Salle de l'Odéon — 7 rue Pierre Semard, 30000 Nîmes
- Decentralised programme: Carré d'Art, Sémaphore, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée de la Romanité
Access
Nîmes is easily accessible by train (SNCF Nîmes-Pont-du-Gard or Nîmes-Centre stations, a few minutes' walk from the main venues) and by the A9 motorway. Paid parking in the city centre.
Ticketing
Book online at billetterie.theatredenimes.com, by phone at 04 66 36 65 10, or at the Théâtre de Nîmes box office (Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm).
Contact
Théâtre de Nîmes — 04 66 36 65 00 — [email protected] — theatredenimes.com/festival-flamenco
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Where does it take place — Festival Flamenco de Nîmes
Théâtre de Nîmes
1 place de la Calade, 30020 Nîmes cedex 1, 30000 Nîmes