I am pleased to present my selection of the best Basque culture activities to offer in May 2025 in the three most important cities in the Spanish Basque Country and its surrounding areas.

This May 5th marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Mathausen concentration camp (Austria). Some 200 Basques were interned in concentration camps during the Third Reich, half of whom died there. Three days later, on May 8th, World War II ended in Europe. That very same day, a Belgian Nazi landed a German bomber on La Concha Beach in San Sebastian. Seventy-five years separate us, this May 9th, from the Schuman Declaration. In it, Germany and France proposed that coal and steel production be combined under a single joint administration. It was the seed of the current European Union. Europe Day is currently celebrated.

On May 9th, all Castilian and Spanish speakers are celebrating the 420th anniversary of the world’s first publication in 1605 of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra‘s text: “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha.” The three countries with the most speakers are Mexico, Colombia, and Spain. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom are the countries with the most Spanish speakers, even though this language is not an official language. The western part of the current Basque province of Álava, whose capital is Vitoria-Gasteiz, was one of the lands where Castilian Romance originated. Along with the Merindades of Old Castile, a social network developed among the Autrigones, Berones, Caristios, Astures, Cantabrians, Celts, and Vascones, who were influenced by Romance Latin. Later, Arabic and other Romance languages ​​from northern Spain and Europe (French, Germanic, etc.) joined the scene. The story is fascinating! If you’re interested, contact me and I’ll tell you about it on the spot. The tour can be in English, Italian, or Spanish; but you won’t leave without knowing how to say in Spanish: “I was where the language of Cervantes was born!”

If you visit the Basque Country, I can also tell you about the life and work of the founder of the Jesuits, the Basque Ignatius Loyola. In April 1535, 490 years ago, Loyola returned to his homeland, the Basque Country. In May, among other things, Saint Ignatius helped end a conflict between the Convent of the Conception and the parish of Azpeitia. I can also show you the place where Andrés, a friend of the Basque Juan Sebastian Elcano, received the certificate of surrender of the ship Victoria 510 years ago. With it, he made the first voyage around the world between 1519 and 1522.

More recently, we are celebrating the 135th anniversary of the inauguration of the Arriaga Theater in Bilbao. The capital of the Basque province of Biscay has dedicated this theater to the “Spanish Mozart,” the Bilbao composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga. And if you’re interested in rugby, in 2025 we’ll celebrate 60 years since a Basque team won the French Rugby Championship. We have many more Basque sports you probably don’t know about, such as jai alai, rock-lifting, wood-chopping, etc. We also celebrated the 45th anniversary of Vitoria-Gasteiz being designated the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. Come and meet us!

I’ll be waiting for you in the Basque Country. You’ll be able to participate in the activities that Basque culture offers in May 2025, and, with me, on the tours of your interest that we’ll create together.

Basque culture proposals in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Álava

  • A story of Judith and Holofernes. Exhibition of Peeter Sion (Antwerp, Belgium, 1624 – 1695), Flemish Baroque painter. Museum of Fine Arts of Alava. From February 20th to September 14th.
  • Exhibition of Inés Medina (Cáceres, 1950). Analytical plastic research by the artist in the USA and the Basque Country. ARTIUM – Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country. From February 28th to June 1st.
  • Asins, Oteiza, and Palazuelo. Giving Shape to the Transcendent. Three pioneering figures challenging the principle of abstraction through diverse and sometimes converging formal choices. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country – Artium Museoa. Opening March 28th, closing date not yet set.
  • Polar. An ecological comedy in three acts. Cristina Gallego, Secun de la Rosa, Natalia Hernández, and Chema Adeva. Félix Petite Theater (Ibaiondo Civic Center). May 2nd.
  • Euskadiko Orkestra (Basque Country Orchestra): Schubert / Strauss. Jesús Guridi Conservatory. May 5th.
  • ICOFF – 3rd International Short Film Festival of the Basque Country Capital: Vitoria-Gasteiz. Europa Palace. May 6th-11th.
  • Adapta! Concert by the Vitoria-Gasteiz Municipal Band and virtuoso trumpeter Rubén Simeó. Europa Conference Center. May 7th.
  • Enjoy. TEDxVitoriaGasteiz. 20 speakers will discuss feminism, technology, misinformation, polarization, science, history, education… and practical workshops. Europa Palace. May 10th.
  • Klaustro Sounds. Bea Asurmendi. New album: Asteartea. He sings in Basque, English and Spanish. Montehermoso Cultural Center. May 18th.
  • Maika Makovsky: Bunker Rococo. New album recorded at The Playpen (Bristol) and produced by Ali Chant. Strings and wind instruments, synthesizers, and electric guitars with classical instruments. Félix Petite Theater (Ibaiondo Civic Center). May 24th.
  • Klaustro Sounds. Javi Free. New sound adventure: Kyoko, the first chapter of the Human Futility Vs. Cyberlife trilogy. An acoustic universe of intelligent keyboards and lysergic environments. Montehermoso Cultural Center. May 25th.
  • Eddi Circa concert. Latest album: “In the Forest, a Clearing.” Félix Petite Theater (Ibaiondo Civic Center). May 28th.

Basque culture activities in Bilbao and Biscay in May 2025

  • Tarsila do Amaral. Painting modern Brazil. A central figure of Brazilian modernism, she paints an “authentic”, multicultural & multiracial Brazil. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. From February 21st to June 1st.
  • Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest. 150 works of graphic design from the 15th century to the present day. In collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. From February 28th to June 1st.
  • in situ: Refik Anadol. Exhibition of the immersive, architectural & multisensory work of Turkish video artist Refik Anadol. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. From March 7th to October 19th.
  • Mari-Eli. Zarzuela by the Basque composer Jesús Guridi. Bilbao Choral Society. Zarzuela with catchy melodies & comic passages. Arriaga Theatre. April 30th and May 1st.
  • “The Body After All.” Concert by Valeria Castro. An essential voice in contemporary music. Euskalduna Palace. May 3rd.
  • From Piquer to Navarro. Concert by Diana Navarro in tribute to the great artist Concha Piquer, the first Spanish artist to perform on Broadway, and to the copla genre. Arriaga Theater. May 13th.
  • ‘The World Upside Down’. ‘Alone in the Face of Danger’ Tour. Symphonic Concert by the renowned group Celtas Cortos. Euskalduna Palace. May 15th.
  • The soul in a tango. Interpretations of great Argentine composers for a musical journey through quintessential Buenos Aires. San Juan Bautista Choir, soprano Naroa Intxausti, Buenos Aires bandoneonist Edgardo Otero, Alos Quintet, and pianist Itxaso Sáinz de la Maza. Arriaga Theater. May 15th.
  • ‘Más D Ana’, tour 2025. Concert by singer Ana Belén. Euskalduna Palace. May 16th.
  • Masterpieces by Graham alongside imaginative pieces by leading contemporary artists. Martha Graham Dance Company. The oldest dance company in the United States. Arriaga Theater. May 23rd and 24th.
  • Michael’s Legacy. Jackson Dance Company. The best musical show about the King of Pop, featuring the best Michael Jackson impersonator. Campos Eliseos Theater. May 30th and 31st.

Basque culture events in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa in May 2025

  • Harri, Lurra, Huts (Stone, Earth, Void). Chillida’s exhibition from the perspective of earth and stone. Chillidaleku Museum. From February 6th to May 26th.
  • Cristobal Balenciaga: Technique, Material, and Form. An exhibition offering an in-depth and educational look at the couturier’s work, influence, and legacy. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 7th to January 11th, 2026.
  • An Eve and an Adam. Granhøj Dans. A performance created in collaboration with the dancers. A work that displays bodily nudity on stage as a counterpoint. Concept and choreography: Palle Granhøj. Dancers: Sofia Pintzou, Mikolaj Karczewski. National Endowment for the Arts of Denmark, and others. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. May 2nd and 3rd.
  • “Grandes Clásicos 2.0” by Paco Montalvo, the world’s foremost exponent of flamenco violin. A grand spectacle of dance, guitar, bass, and double bass playing; clapping, choirs, and percussion. Kursaal Auditorium, May 4th.
  • 28th International Dance Day Gala. Dancers Ion Agirretxe, Cristina Casa, Alejandro Polo, & Gaizka Morales (members of the Spanish National Dance Company), Mikel Arana, Uikan Dantza, & the Mariemma Royal Professional Dance Conservatory. International pianist Alberto Sagardia & dancer Gorka Durán as a new artist. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. May 4th.
  • Nothing is what it seems. Dakris, The Invisible Magician. Teleportation, disappearances, mentalism, illusions with audience objects. Victoria Eugenia Theater. May 8th-11th.
  • Ballet Soiree. Malandain Ballet Biarritz & Chopin-Saint-Saëns. A show where dance merges with death. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. May 16th-18th.
  • Alex Ubago. Galerna 2025 Tour. One of the most famous and popular Basque musicians and singer-songwriters. Victoria Eugenia Theater. May 22nd.
  • International classics with the Orfeón Donostiarra (choral group) and the Santa Cecilia Classical Orchestra. Kursaal Auditorium. May 25th.
  • Ruper Ordorika, bakarka (solo). Voice and guitar. Chillida-Leku Museum, Hernani. May 25th.
  • Lur oihartzunak (Echoes of the Earth). Piano concert by Iñar Sastre and the Basque singer, musician, and flute player Mixel Etxekopar. San Telmo Museum. May 30th.

The best events featured in this Basque culture agenda for May 2025 have been carefully selected by me for my guests to the Basque Country. I also have the pleasure of designing their own daily adventures in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Rioja, Vitoria-Gasteiz, or any town, city, valley, coast, museum, restaurant, etc. Contact me, and together we’ll explore the Basque Country tailored to your needs.

April 1, 2025