The Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada turns 75 in 2026. Founded in 1951, it remains one of Spain's oldest major performing arts festivals and the only one that stages orchestral concerts inside the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra and ballet in the open-air Generalife Theatre.
The main programme runs from 11 June to 12 July 2026, with the FEX extension (Festival EXtensión) starting two days earlier on 9 June — 60 free and low-cost events spread across Granada's streets, squares, and outlying municipalities.
The venues
Five stages, each with its own character:
The Palace of Charles V is a 16th-century Renaissance courtyard inside the Alhambra complex. Circular interior, stone tiers, sharp acoustics. This is where symphonic concerts and major orchestral programmes sit. Walking up at night, hearing music drift out through the entrance arch, is the experience the festival sells.
The Generalife Theatre is the open-air stage in the Generalife gardens above the Alhambra, with cypress hedges framing the seating and the lights of Granada below. Ballet and flamenco perform here. Arrive before sunset.
The Corral del Carbón is a 14th-century Moorish caravanserai in the city centre — one of the oldest Islamic buildings in Granada. The courtyard hosts chamber performances and smaller concerts at a more intimate scale.
Palacio de los Córdova and the Crucero del Hospital Real round out the programme with additional concerts, including daytime matinees.
2026 programme highlights
The opening night on 11 June at 22:30 features Ludovico Einaudi at the Palace of Charles V. The Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino performs the following night (12 June, 22:00). Later in the festival, Sir András Schiff plays on 4 July, Lucía Lacarra Ballet on 5 July, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande on 6 July.
Flamenco artists include Eva Yerbabuena and Manuel Liñán. Singer Israel Fernández is also on the programme.
In total: 41 official performances, 60 free FEX events, 57 Manuel de Falla masterclass courses, and a six-film cinema series.
Tickets and prices
Prices run from free (FEX events) to €108 for premium seats at major performances. Most concerts fall in the €25–€100 range. Tickets are sold through granadafestival.janto.es. For Einaudi, Schiff, and opening week performances, buy as early as possible — these sell out months in advance.
The FEX programme is the practical entry point if budget is a concern. Sixty events, many completely free, across the month. Workshops, street concerts, and smaller performances happen in squares and municipal venues outside the Alhambra.
Getting to venues
The Alhambra complex (Palace of Charles V and Generalife) is accessible via the Alhambra shuttle buses from the city centre. Book the shuttle in advance on concert nights — evening departures fill quickly. Central venues like the Corral del Carbón are walkable from most of the city centre.
Parking near the Alhambra is limited. The shuttle is the default for evening concerts.
What to expect
The festival audience mixes Spanish and international visitors. Smart casual works for most performances; formal attire fits the opening-week premieres and major classical nights. Evenings in late June and July at altitude are warmer than Seville or Córdoba but cool once the sun drops — bring a layer for the Generalife's open-air stage.
The 75th edition marks a milestone. The full confirmed programme is at granadafestival.org/en/programa.
