February is the month when love is expressed with the greatest intention. That same spirit permeates the culture life of the Basque Country in February 2026 and the carefully curated selection of experiences I’m sharing with you. Beyond the myth of Valentine’s Day, any day this month is perfect for reaffirming meaningful connections. Doing so through a cultural trip to the Basque Country is a choice that is as emotional as it is wise.

These cultural, traditional, and leisure activities reflect many of the most authentic passions of our Basque society: ancient and contemporary at once, deeply rooted and constantly evolving.

Cinema, travel, and a cultural vocation. Film lovers celebrate World Cinema Day in February, an expression of the universal love for the seventh art and for the great stories that invite us to travel, imagine, and feel. It’s no coincidence that this same month pays tribute to tour guides internationally, nor that the World Tourism Organization is headquartered in Madrid, just 300 kilometers from the Basque Country. Everything is connected by a single vocation: a love for people, places, and meaningful travel.

Travel in comfort through the Basque Country. The journey between Madrid and the Basque Country is especially comfortable in a Mercedes-Benz, a historic symbol of innovation and industrial excellence, with one of its main production plants located in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From there, the Basque landscapes are explored serenely through private and personalized tours, designed in collaboration with you, where emotion accompanies comfort. Today, these journeys also benefit from universal technologies born of human passion, such as the telephone and the World Wide Web, seamlessly integrated into the experience.

Hotel Carlton Bilbao: history, style, and emotion. For lifestyle enthusiasts, the Carlton Bilbao Hotel is an outstanding choice. Celebrating its centenary, it continues to offer a privileged location, high standards of comfort, a fascinating history, and inspiring architecture. Within its walls, one can sense the influence of figures such as King Alfonso XIII, Federico García Lorca, Ava Gardner, and Albert Einstein. Like them, you are invited to explore Bilbao’s cultural transformation. It will be a pleasure to accompany you as your host in the city and its surroundings.

San Sebastian: A City Marked by Affection. San Sebastian is also celebrating the centenary of Queen María Cristina‘s appointment as honorary mayor. Her connection to the city remains alive in its most emblematic hotel, an elegant bridge, a street, and historic urban landmarks. A driving force behind the construction of Miramar Palace and the old Casino, her legacy shaped the city’s cosmopolitan character. After the casinos closed in 1926, San Sebastian shifted its tourism model towards the British and North American markets, a vision that continues today with contemporary cultural offerings.

Music, Emotions, and February. Love creates lasting bonds between people and cities, just as music does. In February, San Sebastian invites you to share a cello and piano concert commemorating the birth and death anniversaries of the composer, musicologist, and organist Aita Donostia. In Basque, aita means “father,” and Donostia is the Basque name for the city.

Basque Cultural Traditions in February. The Basque people experience their traditions as a profound expression of identity and love for the land, harmony, and community. February is home to some of the most cherished:

  • Choirs on the Eve of Saint Agatha‘s Day. Choirs fill the streets in honor of the saint, calling to Mother Earth to the rhythm of the makilas (walking sticks). The ground resonates, nature awakens from winter and prepares for spring: fertility, harvests, and life.
  • Basque Carnivals. As authentic as those of Venice or Rio de Janeiro, yet profoundly different. Immersive experiences in exceptional natural settings, from the joaldunak (bell-ringers) of Ituren and Zubieta with the constant clanging of their cowbells, to the performances in Lantz and Alsasua, or the mythical figures of the Aratustes in Mundaka.

Must-See Basque Culture Events in February 2026

Among the month’s cultural offerings, three events stand out:

  • “Ars ex industria” at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, an exhibition reflecting the cultural value of Basque industrial heritage and the legacy of those who championed it.
  • “Roots of the Caucasus” by the Georgian National Ensemble of Dance and Song – Erisioni, a performance that invites you to discover cultural connections with Basque traditions.
  • The Umbra Light Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where the darkest nights are illuminated with artistic light and sound installations.

May love accompany you on this journey and in each of these carefully selected Basque culture experiences for those seeking depth, beauty, and authenticity.

Curated Basque culture experiences in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Álava – February 2026

  • Exhibition “Isaak Díez (1891-1962)”. Life and work of an artist from Álava. Painting, sculpture, illustration, film, etc.; and art in his political activism in the Basque Nationalist Party. Álava Museum of Fine Arts. From September 24th, 2020 to April 12th, 2026.
  • Exhibitions: The Queens of Álava. 25 photographs and a short film (9 minutes) by Martín Barandalla about a pair of golden eagles in Álava. Ataria – Salburua Wetlands Interpretation Center. Suggestion: visit the wetland. From January 15th to March 1st.
  • Somnium. Music inspired by nature and the planet. Vitoria-Gasteiz Municipal Band. Europa Conference Center. February 4.
  • “Light that Unites” 5th Edition Umbra Light Festival. Vitoria-Gasteiz transforms into an open-air museum of light and creativity. Light as a universal language. February 6th-8th.
  • Karin Hellqvist. Concert by the Swedish violinist of chamber and avant-garde music. A blend of electronics and various sound objects. Jesús Guridi Conservatory of Music Theatre. February 14th.
  • Deafness. A voice that anticipates the flamenco of tomorrow. Flamenco singer Lela Soto. Jesús Ibáñez de Matauco Theatre (Hegoalde Civic Centre). February 14th.
  • Sound of Cinema. A sonic journey through some of the most emblematic melodies in film. Félix Petite Theatre (Ibaiondo Civic Centre). Vitoria-Gasteiz Municipal Band and actress Josune Velez de Mendizabal. February 15th.
  • Mossaïque. Music by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, etc. Malandain Ballet Company of Biarritz. Félix Petite Theatre (Ibaiondo Civic Centre). February 27th.
  • A Night of Zarzuela (Be Quiet, My Heart). Repertoire of zarzuela, copla, song, and revue numbers. Félix Petite Theatre (Ibaiondo Civic Centre). February 28th.
  • Symphonic Variations by César Franck and Symphony No. 4 by Anton Bruckner. Concert by Marta Zabaleta, Basque pianist, and the Euskadiko Orkestra – Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Aula Magna / Jesús Guridi Conservatory of Music. February 28th.
  • Esperanza Fernández. Flamenco singer with a genuine flamenco heritage. Chaparro de Córdoba, guitar + 2 palmas (handclapping). Jesús Ibáñez de Matauco Theatre (Hegoalde Civic Centre). February 28th. February.

Curated Basque culture experiences in Bilbao and Biscay – February 2026

  • Georg Baselitz. Painting Exhibition 2014-2025, from ages 77 to 87. Leading painter of contemporary European art. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From October 8th, 2025 to March 1st.
  • Exhibition “Maria Helena Vieira da Silva. Anatomy of Space” Creates architectural spaces that blur the boundaries between real and imagined urban landscapes. Venues: Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. October 16th, 2025 to February 20th.
  • A Look at the World of Puppetry. Exhibition organized by the Tolosa International Puppet Center. Rialia – Museum of Basque Industry. November 20th, 2025 to February 22nd.
  • “Ars ex Industria” Exhibition – Art as a Mirror of Basque Industrial Culture and Heritage. Group exhibition of contemporary art. 40th anniversary of the Basque Association of Industrial Heritage and Public Works. Bilbao Maritime Museum (Itsasmuseum). December 2nd, 2025 to April 26th.
  • Earth Arts. Art committed to sustainability. The use of new, locally sourced, compostable, or recycled materials, and an innovative approach to exhibition logistics. They pave the way for a circular economy in art. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. December 5th, 2025 – May 3rd.
  • El Consorcio (members of the group Mocedades) in concert. Greatest hits of Mocedades and their own compositions. Basque vocal group awarded a Latin Grammy in 2016. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. February 19th.
  • Performance: Roots of the Caucasus. Georgian National Ensemble of Dance and Song – Erisioni. The most representative of Georgia’s cultural heritage. Arriaga Theatre. February 19th.
  • The Nutcracker. Viktor Ishchuk’s Kyiv Ballet. Soloists from the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theatre. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. February 21st.
  • Forgotten Sounds. Galician multi-instrumentalist Abraham Cupeiro recovers and uses ancient instruments, such as the Celtic karnyx or the Galician corna, to create a A novel auditory environment with modern instruments. Campos Elíseos Theatre. February 21st.
  • The Best of SOUL – the greatest songs of Soul and Doo Wop performed by 5 incredible voices. Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations… Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. February 21st.
  • Masquerade. Great arias and dances of the Baroque period. Baroque music reigning in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Euskal Herriko Orkestra Barrokoa (Basque Country Baroque Orchestra). Arriaga Theatre. February 29th.

Curated Basque culture experiences in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa – February 2026

  • Limina: Cosmopolitan Chicken Project 30. Euskadi Mugak International Architecture Biennial. Koen Vanmechelen merges art, science, nature, and society. And, like Chillida, he reflects on the “limit” as a space for creation. Chillida Leku Museum. October 17th to February 22nd.
  • Photographic exhibition “The Admirable Nature of Gipuzkoa” A tribute to the millennium of the word “Ipuscoa.” Photographers: María Azkarate, Peter Bialobrzeski, Dragana Jurišić, and Lobo Altuna. Kutxa Fundazioa Artegunea, Tabakalera. November 21st, 2025 to March 1st.
  • Exhibition “Elcano-Urdaneta: The Discovery of the Oceans” Commemorating the 500th anniversary of Juan Sebastián Elcano’s little-known second voyage. Basque Maritime Museum. December 4, 2025 to October 4th.
  • “Our new cider!” The cider season begins in the Basque Country. At the cry of “txotx!” you pour the natural cider directly from the kupelas (barrels). Astigarraga, Hernani, Usurbil, and Urnieta. Mid-January to the end of April.
  • Homeland. Judith Jáuregui presents her new piano album. Recorded with the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra and Kaspar Zehnder, it has been nominated for the 2025 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA), one of the most prestigious awards in classical music worldwide. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. February 5th.
  • Concert by Sevak Avanesyan and Josu Okiñena. Works by Aita Donostia, Jesús Guridi, José María Usandizaga, and pieces by Armenian composers. A tribute to the 140th anniversary of the birth and the 70th anniversary of the death of Father Donostia. Cello and piano. Victoria Eugenia Club. February 10th.
  • “The Space Boy in Concert 2026” Tour. Singer-songwriter Pablo López and his band. Greatest hits and new works from his highly anticipated album. Kursaal Palace Auditorium. February 13th.
  • “Infinity Tour 2026” Concert of Elliott Murphy’s poetic rock with guitarist Olivier Durand. Kursaal Palace Chamber Hall. February 21st.
  • Performance: Roots of the Caucasus. Georgian National Ensemble of Dance and Song – Erisioni. The oldest and most historic folk ensemble in the Caucasus. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. February 21st.
  • Odysseus. Concert by David Ivar (guitar and vocals). A journey through the turbulent life of one of the singers of the French folk-rock duo Herman Dune. Teatro Principal. February 25th.

There’s nothing like a trip that will thrill your partner or closest loved ones (children, family, friends). Aitor Delgado loves designing an unforgettable day with his guests, creating a special day just for you, so that the magic is truly yours. Click this link and Saint Valentine—or rather, Saint Aitor—will provide you with the perfect bow and arrow to nurture your love.

 

Basque culture, personally curated.

Aitor Delgado Tours

 

January 30, 2026