Delving deeper into Basque culture in January 2025 may be one of the best resolutions I suggest for you for this new year. 2025 is packed with many cultural and historical events, which, along with getting to know the Basque lands and people, will serve as personal and professional inspiration.

January 2025 marks the birth of Sabino de Arana y Goiri, 160 years ago. He is considered the father of Basque nationalism, and founder of the Basque Nationalist Party (the second oldest political party in Spain). It also coincides with the 45th anniversary of the entry into force of the Basque Statute of Autonomy. The provinces of Araba, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia are united in an autonomous community, with their own Government and Parliament; and it takes the name of the “Basque Country”.

The famous fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was born in Guetaria on January 25th, 1895 (130 years ago). Sebastián Iradier, composer of La Paloma, and the sculptor Eduardo Chillida were also born. We celebrated the centenaries of both of them last year. On January 20th, the city of San Sebastián celebrates the day of this Christian martyr and as patron saint of its city, since 1597. Around 1836, the first festive activities of what is known today as the Tamborrada began to take place. Don’t miss it!

245 years ago, in 1780, USA presidents John Adams (45 years old) and John Quincy Adams (9 years old) traveled through Basque lands on their way to Paris. They had been sent, along with their entourage, by Congress to negotiate peace with Great Britain. I invite you to take a similar route with me through the Basque Country through the 4 Basque provinces they visited: the 3 Basque provinces in Spain and Labort (France). The details of that trip can be seen in the article I have written about this historic event. On January 14th, it is the first full day that they spend in the Basque Country. And it coincides, 4 years later, that the Treaty of Paris between the United States and Great Britain is ratified on that day, formally ending the American War of Independence. On January 7th, 1789, the first presidential elections are held in the United States, and together with George Washington, John Adams obtains the possibility of being the first vice president of this country.

80 years ago, in January 1945, Soviet troops enter Auschwitz, occupy Warsaw and liberate Krakow (Poland). And as a beautiful historical coincidence, also in January but in 1880, Thomas Alva Edison had patented the incandescent light bulb in the United States. Mohammed conquers Mecca in 630 (1395 years in 2025). Francisco Pizarro founds the capital of Peru: Lima (490 years in 2025). The Israeli Parliament declares Jerusalem the capital of Israel in 1950; and San Francisco acquired its name (Yerba Buena was the old one) in 1847.

The Spanish language celebrates the publication, 420 years ago, of the first edition of El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de La Mancha in 1605, by the illustrious Miguel de Cervantes. You can celebrate that event with me in the lands of Castile and the Basque province of Álava, where Castilian languaje originated. We can also share together at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) from January 22nd to 26th in Madrid. Or enjoying my selection of activities, and private and personalized tours, of Basque culture in January 2025:

Basque culture proposals in Bilbao and Biscay

  • Intermission: Bilbao Museum of Modern Art 1924-1945. Commemorative exhibition of the museum’s centenary. From June 7th, 2024 to February 2nd.
  • Antonio de Guezala. Exhibition of the new collection acquired by the Basque painter. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From September 27, 2024 to February 2.
  • Hilma af Klint Exhibition. Pioneer in the representation of the invisible. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. From October 18th, 2024 to February 2nd.
  • Punta Galea Challenge – The Big Wave Alliance. Surfing championship in Punta Galea, Bizkaia. From November 15th, 2024 to March 31st.
  • Gabonart – Bilbao Craft Fair. Ceramics, jewelry, toys, leather, wood carving, textiles… and many handcrafted products. Muelle del Arenal. From December 13th, 2024 to January 5th.
  • D’Artagnan and the Young Musketeers. Opera in Spanish with subtitles in Basque and Spanish for children over 6 years old and adults. Music by José María Echeverría. Arriaga Theater. From January 3th to 5th.
  • John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Hollywood Symphony Orchestra. Symphonic multimedia music show based on film soundtracks. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. January 5th.
  • The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Théâtre Classique Ballet. Teatro Campos Elíseos. January 18th.
  • The Vipers Queen Tribute. ‘Queen Tribute’ show. Music, choreography and visual effects. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. January 19th.
  • Irene Mas Salom (singer) and Malcolm Martineau (pianist). A journey through compositions and artists who have drawn influences from French culture. Teatro Arriaga. January 29th.

Basque culture activities in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa in January 2025

  • Exhibition “Balenciaga. Character”, 3rd part. Perspective of the couturier’s work, hitherto unpublished, and focused on what makes “a Balenciaga” recognizable. Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. From March 1st, 2024 to January 19th.
  • Exhibition “Chillida / Balenciaga – Folding the form”. Within the framework of Eduardo Chillida’s centenary. People from Gipuzkoa, friends and with a common philosophical basis between the sculptor of the air and the couturier of space. Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. From March 22nd, 2024 to January 5th.
  • 100 years. The modern and/or the contemporary. Exhibition of Basque art from the 1920s to the present. San Telmo Museum. From April 13th, 2024 to June 30th, 2026.
  • 100 years of Eduardo Chillida with the Telefónica Collection. Telefónica’s artistic heritage of pieces by the sculptor Chillida Leku. From May 15th, 2024 to January 12th.
  • Connections of a collection: Néstor Basterretxea and San Telmo Museum. Centenary of the birth of Néstor Basterretxea (1924-2014). From October 4th, 2024 to January 26th.
  • Baserritarrak. Farmers. Secrets of the “baserritarra costume”. Replicas of photographs and 15 original garments from the beginning of the 20th century. Jantziaren Zentroa – Basque Costume Museum of Renteria. From November 1st, 2024 to January 5th.
  • Gala: The best magicians in the world. Magicians from the Basque Country, France, the United States, Belgium, Korea, Canada and Spain. Victoria Eugenia Theater. January 6th.
  • Concert-proclamation. Municipal Band of Txistularis of San Sebastián. Main Theater. January 12th.
  • Euskadiko Orkestra – Symphony Orchestra of the Basque Country. Kursaal Auditorium. J. Brahms and A. Dvorak, on January 13th and 16th. C. Saint-Saëns and K. Szymanowski, on January 24th and 27th.
  • America sings. Orfeón Donostiarra and the Santa Cecilia Classical Orchestra. Choir and symphony orchestra. Kursaal Auditorium. January 30th.

Basque culture events in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Álava in January 2025

  • María Antonia Proietti, the Italian model. Model of the Alava painters Ignacio Díaz Olano and Fernando Amárica. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th, 2024 to January 26th.
  • Careers. Shows the work of the three Basque artists Juan de Echevarría, Gustavo de Maeztu and Ángel Olarte. Works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th, 2024 to January 26th.
  • Bernaola Zikloa Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz. More than 12 classical music concerts. Ensemble Kuraia, Anthony Pateras & Drumming GP, Ensemble Sinkro and more. Jesús Guridi Music Conservatory (main headquarters), Artium Museum, and Andra Mari Aretoa in Araia. From October 14th, 2024 to February 3rd.
  • Chillida: Applied uses. Facet of illustrator and creator of two-dimensional forms and icons. Centenary of his birth. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From October 25, 2024 to February 2.
  • Joëlle Tuerlinckx. The case of the house museum. A disconcerting retrospective in which Tuerlinckx brings together historical works alongside recent proposals. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From November 15th, 2024 to May 4th.
  • Traditional Nativity Scenes in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Monumental Nativity Scenes in the Florida Park, at the Sagrado Corazón School, at the Casa del Cordón, at the Villa-Suso Palace or at the Belenista Association of Álava. From December 6th to January 7th, 2025.
  • We Love Queen. Fun and original liturgy of exaltation and enthusiasm for the life and work of Queen. Felix Petite Theatre (Ibaiondo Civic Centre). From January 3th to 5th.
  • Magialdia: Magic… and beyond. Clown at heart, illusionist and born communicator, a showman: Luis Boyano. Felix Petite Theatre (Ibaiondo Civic Centre). January 4th.
  • Carles and Sofia, Piano Duo – Musical Tuesdays. One of the most internationally recognised European piano duos. Works by Schubert, Brahms, Granados, Falla and Ravel. Fundación Vital, room A. January 14th.
  • Xiaolu Zang (piano) – Musical Tuesdays. Works by Bach, Schumann, Schubert, Szymanowski and Prokofiev. Fundación Vital, room A. January 21st.
  • “The wine that sounds”. Rita Payés (voice, trombone) & Lucía Fumero (voice, trombone and piano). Latin American song, my own work and all the colours of jazz, with appetizers and wine. Bodega Viña Real, Laguardia. January 25th.

I hope you like the Basque culture proposals I have selected for you in January 2025. And remember that you can expand your knowledge of Basque history, gastronomy and culture with my exclusive and à la carte tours services.

Health, prosperity and love for the year 2025!

December 27, 2024