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Bilbao, 25 May 2026
Leixuri Arrizabalaga, Provincial Councillor for Basque Language, Culture and Sport, and Iñigo Iturrate, General Director of Euskalduna Bilbao, have presented the Conference and Music Centre’s special programme for Aste Nagusia. Under the banner “Euskalduna Nagusia”, the programme brings together a selection of theatre, music and comedy performances with the aim of offering a complete cultural experience throughout Bilbao’s main festival celebrations.
The star attraction of this year’s edition will be the immersive musical Cabaret, presented by LETSGO, which will completely transform Euskalduna Bilbao’s Auditorium. From 19 August to 6 September, audiences will be able to step into the world of the legendary Kit Kat Klub through a 360-degree experience where music, provocation and emotion know no limits. Here, the rules disappear, the stage takes over every corner of the venue, and the audience becomes part of the show itself. Lights, live music, desire, decadence and a vibrant atmosphere will bring the most intense and seductive side of Berlin to Euskalduna Bilbao’s main stage.
The programme also features major stage productions capable of moving audiences through very different artistic languages. Zarzuela returns to Euskalduna Nagusia with El caserío, coinciding with the centenary of Jesús Guridi’s emblematic work. This large-scale production combines tradition and modernity through an ambitious staging.
A particularly noteworthy contribution comes from Bilbao-born painter and contemporary artist Ignacio Goitia, whose visually striking set design offers a fresh perspective on one of the essential works of the Basque lyrical repertoire. Live music, choir, orchestra and a large cast complete a production designed to be enjoyed on a grand scale.
Theatre also plays a prominent role, with productions such as Menú Cerrado, an intelligent and emotional comedy starring Nacho López, Raúl Fernández de Pablo and Carlos Santos; Operación Maletero – Kastañuela Western, a wildly entertaining adventure set in 1980s Bilbao that will bring together Gurutze Beitia, Ylenia Baglietto and Maribel Salas on stage for the first time, forming a true dream team of Basque comedy; and El amor no se reproduce en cautividad, a contemporary stage production starring Gemma Martínez and Gorka Mínguez that reflects on relationships, desire and the contradictions of love from an intimate and contemporary perspective.
The programme will also feature the Barre Nagusia label, an initiative focused on intimate formats that will once again fill Euskalduna Bilbao with stand-up comedy and humorous performances. Included in this section is Z.U.K.U.A., the Basque-language show starring Maria Cruickshank and Ugaitz Alegria, which combines humour, identity and reflection through a contemporary and accessible approach. Alongside it, Marika de Gernika, Mitxel Santamarina’s Spanish-language monologue, blends humour, music and emotion to explore themes such as identity and diversity with irony, freshness and warmth.
Throughout Aste Nagusia, Euskalduna Bilbao will continue its commitment to creating spaces for socialising and enjoyment, with Euskalduna Klub serving as a meeting point where visitors can share in the festive atmosphere in a relaxed setting.
The programme is completed by free guided tours every Saturday, an initiative open to all audiences that offers a different perspective on the building’s spaces, history and curiosities.
With this programme, Euskalduna Bilbao further strengthens its position as a cultural landmark during Aste Nagusia, offering a combination of major productions, local identity, proximity and high-quality cultural experiences.
