The Flamenco Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with its biggest-ever programme of dance and music across two weeks this summer, from 27 May – 8 June 2025 at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Lilian Baylis Studio in Islington and Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford as well as an extended programme of events at King’s Place, the Jazz Cafe and Acosta Dance Centre. Highlights include the UK premieres of shows from ‘the queen of flamenco’ Sara Baras, new work from Manuel Liñán, and performances by Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, plus a range of music events and artists continuing to evolve the art form.
Flamenco Festival is dedicated to showcasing and promoting Spanish culture worldwide. Under the direction of Miguel Marín, the festival’s annual international events serve as a platform for presenting today’s foremost flamenco luminaries — from internationally acclaimed artists and venerable icons of traditional flamenco to the most cutting-edge and promising young talents in dance, music, and song. Established in 2001, Flamenco Festival has evolved into the premier global platform for flamenco, captivating over 1.6 million people annually. Across 112 cities, it has featured 170 companies in 1350 performances, elevating flamenco to a vital part of prestigious theatres worldwide, including NY City Center, Carnegie Hall, London Sadler’s Wells, Arsht Center in Miami, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, and more.
In 2012, Flamenco Festival launched the ‘In Progress’ residency program in New York, later extending to Miami and London. Evolving further in 2022, the program takes on a new dimension with groundbreaking ‘glo-cal’ creative labs in Torrox (Málaga). This initiative aims to expand the creative horizons of flamenco, encouraging experimentation and self-discovery, embracing the arts as a powerful catalyst for both individual and social transformation.
At Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras celebrates its 25th anniversary with a tribute to the flamenco guitar virtuoso, Paco de Lucía. Vuela (meaning “fly”) is performed by Olivier Award-winner Sara Baras together with 12 exceptional musicians and dancers. It takes audiences on a choreographic journey of 15 unique pieces across four acts, each revolving around a different word: Wood, Sea, Death and Fly. Sara Baras is celebrated for her lightning-fast footwork, intricate hand, arm and body movements, as well as her captivating stage presence and choreography. Opening the 20th Flamenco Festival, Vuela is a UK Premiere (27 May – 1 June).
Andalusian dancer and choreographer Manuel Liñán debuts his latest work with 12 performers on stage, including musicians and flamenco dancers. Muerta de Amor (UK Premiere, 2 June) embraces desire and fantasy while showcasing Liñán’s trademark subversive brilliance. Liñán is a Flamenco Festival regular, and most recently presented his creation Amor Amado Amén as part of the Festival in 2023. In 2024, Liñán’s ¡VIVA! returned for performances at The Peacock Theatre.
Bailaora and choreographer Mercedes Ruiz and composer and guitarist Santiago Lara present the UK premiere of Romancero del Baile Flamenco (3 June) – an authentic and elegant flamenco journey. Established artists in the current flamenco scene, they have created 12 shows over 20 years working together, which has led them to step into some of the most important theatres in the world: Theatre de la Ville (Paris), Auditorio Parco de la Música (Rome), Teatro La Fenice (Venice), International House of Music (Moscow), Sadler’s Wells, and Teatro Gran Via (Madrid).
Farruquito debuted with his grandfather – the renowned Farruco – in 1987. Now he is joined on stage by his son, El Moreno, to share in the family legacy with the UK Premiere of this endearing and captivating performance Con-Cierto Flamenco (4 June). Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya, known artistically as Farruquito, is a dancer characterised by strength, passion and a refined technique, and he is considered one of the greatest exponents of current flamenco and opened the very first Flamenco Festival in London twenty years ago.
Based on the play by Federico García Lorca, Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía’s Pineda: Romance popular en tres estampas (UK Premiere, 6-7 June) is a narrative flamenco ballet that follows the tragic and true tale of Mariana Pineda. Mariana Pineda explores a conflict of fate, freedom and womanhood, recounting her short and turbulent life. A beautiful young widow and mother, Mariana falls in love with the revolutionary Don Pedro de Sotomayor. As the law closes in around her, she must make the impossible choice of betraying her lover or saving her life. Returning to Sadler’s Wells, Granada-born Patricia Guerrero, whose duet with Alfonso Losa for the 2024 festival was a sensation, directs the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía for the first time, presenting this story in three acts and bringing new vibrancy to the heroine’s tale.
At Sadler’s Wells East
Estévez and Paños, joined by Alberto Sellés, Jorge Morera, and Manuel Montes, draws inspiration from the classical flamenco dance form, the bodily expression of a cantaor (flamenco singer) transformed into movement, and the historic dialogues between artists for the UK premiere of Retablo experimental sobre el baile flamenco at Sadler’s Wells East (8 June). They celebrate the union of tradition and vanguard, the orthodox and the experimental, the interplay of cante (song) and baile (dance), and the convergence of body and soul, past and present. This performance is a vibrant tribute to the ever-evolving art of flamenco.
At Lillian Baylis Studio
Paula Comitre, Florencia Oz and Carmen Angulo present: First Work in Progress / Reflexiones sobre las Parcas (31 May). Conceived as a collective creative force, this work in progress is an evocative and captivating collaboration between these three dancers, each dancer bringing their individual vision to different sections of the performance.The show delves into the symbolic power of the feminine triad—an ancient and universal theme that appears across cultures and mythologies. Through the archetypes of the Triple Goddess, the Three Fates, and the Three Graces, the work reflects on the cycles of life. This performance invites you into an intimate, transformative experience, where the ancient and modern, the light and dark, the known and unknown, converge in a celebration of womanhood.
Fearless flamenco musician Rosario La Tremendita pushes the boundaries of the genre with Matancera (31 May) – a groundbreaking show that reimagines the ancient rituals of the matanza—a communal event deeply rooted in Spanish tradition—through the lens of contemporary flamenco. With her signature blend of raw emotion, cutting-edge soundscapes, and poetic lyricism, she invites audiences to explore themes of transformation, irony, community, and shared human passions. Matancera is a visceral journey that mixes traditional flamenco with experimental elements, bridging past and present. Accompanied by a stellar ensemble of musicians, La Tremendita’s powerful voice and magnetic stage presence promise an unforgettable evening of artistry and soul.
One of the most powerful voices in contemporary flamenco, Argentina has performed at some of the most renowned flamenco festivals and in iconic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The singer from Huelva possesses an extensive repertoire incorporating other musical genres such as Cuban son, salsa, Portuguese fado, or Argentine tango. In Flamenco by Cantaora (5 June), accompanied by flamenco guitar, Argentina delves into the roots of flamenco and presents a broad spectrum of songs. Some of these songs are rarely heard, such as the cartagenera, granaína, or petenera This performance will also feature the trademark of her homeland: the fandangos from Huelva and will be full of colour, power, emotion, and dynamism.
Queralt Lahoz’s en acoústico (5 June) is a delicate yet profound exploration of identity, love, and transformation. The young Catalan artist with Andalusian roots, will deliver an intimate acoustic performance of her hits and introduce us to songs from her second album, set to be released in early April. This special show strips down the powerful sounds of Lahoz’s music to their raw essence, offering a fresh and personal interpretation of the album’s deeply emotional themes. Queralt Lahoz’s captivating voice and masterful acoustic arrangements, infused with flamenco’s rich heritage and contemporary influences, create an atmosphere that is both introspective and electrifying.
Inspired by her female ancestors, Lela Soto presents her debut album El fuego que llevo dentro (6 June). This performance is a powerful tribute to the ancestral flamenco legacy passed down through generations of her iconic family, including legends such as Manuel Soto Sordera, Vicente Soto Sordera, Sorderita, Ray Heredia, La Pompi, El Gloria, and María Bala. In this deeply personal project, Lela Soto carries forward her family’s rich heritage, blending it with her own unique voice and vision while ensuring flamenco’s vibrant evolution. The show highlights the profound influence of the women in her family, whose teachings have shaped her artistry, even though their contributions have often remained outside the limelight.
A rising star in the flamenco music scene, Ángeles Toledano (6 June) brings her powerful voice and fearless artistry to London, presenting a show that combines tradition with innovation. In her latest album Sangre Sucia, Toledano explores the duality of heritage and modernity, weaving deep-rooted flamenco cante (song) with contemporary influences. The performance is an emotional journey through strength, vulnerability, and resilience, capturing the essence of flamenco in its purest and most daring form. In this concert, the singer will present some of her new songs in a duo format, alongside her usual flamenco repertoire, bringing her wonderful perspective to each of the different styles of singing. Benito Bernal, who accompanies her on guitar, is one of the remarkable names when we talk about the future of flamenco guitar.
At Kings Place
La Guitarra Flamenca is three amazing events presented by Flamenco Festival in partnership with International Guitar Foundation (IGF) in Hall Two at Kings Place,
First there is Alejandro Hurtado, one of the most outstanding flamenco guitarists of our time, with guest dancer Inma Solomón Hurtado, currently first dancer of Ballet Nacional de España (29 May); then master of deep, soulful flamenco, Manuel Valencia, one of the most compelling guitarists of his generation performs with vocalist and dancer El Choro (30 May) and the third events features Álvaro Martinete with guest dancer Claudia La Debla (8 June). A rising force in the world of flamenco, Álvaro Martinete blends tradition and innovation with a masterful touch.
At the Jazz Cafe in partnership with Como No
Internationally renowned, GRAMMY award-winning, all-female Flamenco quartet Las Migas (31 May) one of Spain’s most talked about emerging duos La Plazuela (7 June) make their London debuts London Shows As Part Of Flamenco Festival London in co-promotion with
Como No. Las Migas will present songs from their latest album Rumberas that sees the band continue to explore the international reach of their music, combining deep tradition with fresh influences. La Plazuela have quickly gained recognition for an innovative sound blending the pair’s Andalusian roots of flamenco with funk, pop and electronic music. The dynamic duo released their debut album Roneo Funk Club in 2023 which garnered millions of streams and spawned hit singles ‘El lao de la pena’ and ‘Péiname, Juana’.
At Acosta Dance Centre
In partnership with the Flamenco Festival, the Acosta Dance Centre is thrilled to co-host a series of dance workshops and intensives that explore the rhythm and passion of flamenco. Join Manuel Liñán, Alberto Selles, Juan Tomás de la Molía, and José Agudo to experience an extraordinary journey through the art of flamenco with exclusive workshops led by the most renowned bailaores.
