Palencia's City Council has announced an exciting lineup for its 'Cultural Autumn' program, featuring approximately thirty performances suitable for all audiences. The events will take place from October to December at the Teatro Principal in the capital.
According to Francisco Fernández, the councilor for Cultural Identity, Tourism, and Festivals, this edition includes established events such as the XXIV International Guitar Festival 'Diapasión', the Christmas Children's Theater Festival, the XIII Jazz Palencia Festival, and concerts by the Municipal Music Band. Additionally, there will be new features such as the 'International Theater' cycle, showcasing companies from Germany, Argentina, and Mexico. They will present works like “Feliz Día”, “Dysphoria”, “El invencible verano de Liliana”, and “Teatro Delusio”.
Another highlight is the 'Mérida to Palencia' cycle, where attendees can enjoy performances that previously featured at the Mérida Festival 2025 on December 17 and 18. Notably, Rafael Álvarez, known as El Brujo, will present “Iconos o la exploración del destino”, a humorous monologue reflecting on the fate of Greek tragedy. The cycle will conclude with “Jasón y las furias”, a contemporary take on a classic story, promising a magnificent staging and strong performances.
In a special initiative, one of the sessions will be adapted for students aged 9 to 13, as part of the middle and upper levels of Primary Education. This edition will include notable works such as “La Desconquista”, “Largo viaje hacia la noche”, “Nadia”, “La Barraca”, “Leonora”, “Panorama desde el puente”, “Malquerida”, “Flamenc Oh”, and “Agua Sucia”.
Christmas Children's Theater Festival
During the Christmas holidays, from December 27 to 30 at 19:00, a special program for children will be held as part of the Christmas Children's Theater Festival. It will kick off on December 27 with “Camuñas”, a puppet show about bravery and facing one's fears, based on a story by Margarita del Mazo. The festival will continue with “Jirafa” on December 28, a visually original piece by Thomas Noone Dance that combines puppetry, dance, and immersive video projections. On December 29, “Rossini en la Cocina” by La Tartana Teatro will entertain audiences with a humorous exploration of Rossini's life and passions through puppetry and music. Finally, on December 30, Festuc Teatre will present “El viaje de Nuru”, a touching adventure about personal growth and embracing differences.
Music and Dance
The Municipal Music Band will perform on October 25 and December 20, featuring a Christmas Extraordinary Concert at 12:30. November will see the return of the XIII International Jazz Palencia Festival, with performances by Kurt Elling with The Yellowjackets, Michel Camilo, Billy Cobham, and the duo Cucurucho Valdés and Javier Colina. The festival will primarily take place at the Principal and Ortega theaters and will also include a family concert and the IX International 'Ramos Ópticos' Award for the best jazz-related story.
The series of major concerts will commence on November 7 at 20:30 in the Teatro Principal, featuring Antonio Serrano & Kaele Jiménez Cuarteto with their 'Jazz CaLó' project, which blends jazz and flamenco. A family concert titled 'De Cine' will take place on November 8, connecting swing music with film themes for children. Additionally, the XXIV International Guitar Festival 'Diapasión' will occur on November 27, 28, and 29, showcasing top artists for guitar enthusiasts.
Dance will also be featured, with María Pagés' company presenting “El Paraíso de los negros” on October 29, a performance that was postponed earlier this year due to the dancer's health issues. The Smile Dance School will present “Urban Symphony” on November 20.
Audience Engagement and Accessibility
Continuing its commitment to audience engagement, the program will offer sessions and meetings with directors and playwrights, as well as film screenings. Registrations for various activities can be made at the theater box office or through the website, with submissions to be delivered in person or via email to cultura[at]aytopalencia.es. Additionally, the plays “Panorama desde el puente” by Arthur Miller and “Malquerida” featuring Aitana Sánchez-Gijón will be adapted for deaf and blind audiences.
There are also two open scholarships for creative residency research, which have been in development and will now come to fruition. One is an artistic research residency at Lecrác with the company La Tozuda, presenting “Agua sucia”, and the other is a technical creative residency focused on lighting design for the Smile School.
Ticket Sales
Advance ticket sales will take place on October 9, 10, and 11, as well as every non-holiday Monday and performance day, from 9:00 to 14:00 and 18:30 to 21:00, at the Teatro Principal box office and on the website www.teatroprincipaldepalencia.es. A maximum of four tickets per person per performance will be allowed. Discounts are available for young people under 25, unemployed individuals, large families, and seniors over 65, who can present their respective cards at the box office.
For more information, the program can be downloaded from the official website.
