What to do in the Basque Country - Agenda February 2021

Things to do in Bilbao, Rioja, San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Biarritz, Bayonne, Guernica, Getaria…Our selection of best art, sport & cultural events in the Basque Country (Spain and France) during January 2021.

Please note that some of the events below may change due to regulations to control Covid-19.

Regarding arts, congress and exhibits in Basque Country:

• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. "Windows to the Basque art collection" between the years 1850-1950. Artists who introduced the new artistic languages -impressionism, symbolism or Fauvism- in the Basque Country, after passing through Paris and other European capitals. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava. From January 17th, 2020 until March 28th, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Olafur Eliasson: In real life. Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson places the viewer's experience at the core of his art. Guggenheim Museum. From February 14th until April 11th, 2021.
• In Getaria. Fashion and Heritage: Cristobal. It puts the focus on Cristóbal Balenciaga himself and the imprint he has left behind as a person through various objects that belonged to him and that have been collected in the Museum's collections. Part of the annual program for the 125th anniversary of his birth. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From February 29th, 2020 to April 5th, 2021.

• In Bilbao. Exhibition: "J. S. Elkano. After the Footprint". It delves into the biography of Juan Sebastian Elkano (1487/88 -1526), and allows the visitor to follow his life imprint, before, during and after the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Basque Maritime Museum. From June 26th, 2020 until April 11th, 2021.
• In Bayonne. Exhibition: Un autel pour Eugenia. Basque Museum of Bayonne. From February 1st to April 30th, 2021.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Exhibition of the Bilbao painter Fernando García Alegría (1895 - 1952). 2020 marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of “Fernando”. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava. From July 21st, 2020 until March 21st, 2021.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. "Ignacio Figueroa, Marquis of Villamejor". A portrait by Joaquín Bárbara y Balza: life and work of an artista recovered [1867–1931]. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava. From September 25th, 2020 until March 21st, 2021.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. XVII International Cycle of Contemporary Music. Bernaola Festival is an important cultural event whose objective is to spread the diversity of the music of the 21st century. Different places in the city: Artium, Jesús Guridi Conservatory of Music... From October 3rd, 2020 to February 20th, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Masterpieces from the Valdés collection. It shows 79 works, mainly paintings, but also sculptures, two baroque carvings and two classicist marble panels. Many of them are unpublished works, little known or that, until now, had never been exhibited to the public. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From October 7th, 2020 until February 28th, 2021.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Moyra Davey exhibition. First solo exhibition of the artist, whose work circulates between the fields of photography, cinema and writing. Artium Museum. From October 8th, 2020 until April 11th, 2021.
• In Bayonne. ABC of Critters. Bayonne Natural History Museum. The exhibition presents sculptures made from recycled material (cans, cans, wire, nails ...) and photos where each animal is staged in an original way. An exhibition to visit with the family !. Collections of the Natural History Museums of Bayonne, Bordeaux and Montauban, showing: hairy crab-eating, ashy curlew, nasal otter, European otter, European pond turtle, pearl mussel…. From October 17th, 2020 to March 21st, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Celebrates! Online 2020. Photography and video brands, restaurants, hotels, travel agencies, DJs, jewelry stores, florists, wedding planners, rental properties and unique places, tents and catering, beauty and hairdressing centers, gifts and details, rental rentals vehicular. Bilbao Exhibition Center. From October 17th, 2020 until April 1st, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Agustín Ibarrola exhibition, naturalki. Tribute to his 90th birthday. The exhibition focuses on the fundamental relationship established between art and nature in the author's work. Rekalde Room. From October 23rd, 2020 to July 4th, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Exhibition: "Otl Aicher. Metro Bilbao. Architecture and landscape". First major international retrospective dedicated to the German graphic designer Otl Aicher, with more than two hundred works and objects from the Archive of the Ulm School of Design in Germany. 80 unpublished drawings of his project for Metro Bilbao stand out. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From November 5th,2020 to April 5th.
• In Bilbao. Kandinsky at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Paintings and works on paper and trace the aesthetic evolution of Kadinsky throughout his career. Today, the Guggenheim holds more than 150 pieces by Vasily Kandinsky. November 20th, 2020 until May 23th, 2021.
• In Bayonne. Exhibition: Hugo Pratt, Corto Maltese, Dessin Au Long cours. Hugo Pratt (1927-1995), creator of the famous character Corto Maltese. DIDAM. From November 27th, 2020 until February 14th, 2021.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. June Crespo exhibition: Helmets. Sculptor from Navarra awarded several times. Room A1, of the Artium Contemporary Art Museum Center. From December 4th, 2020 to May 2nd, 2021.
• In Bilbao. Exhibition: Eduardo Arroyo engraver. His artistic interests spanned not only painting but also literature, sculpture, and printing. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From December 12th, 2020 to March 7th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Viphoto Fest'20: Pic of the midday. Exhibition of Cecilia de Val. Amárica Room. From December 16th, 2020 until February 7th.
• In Güeñes. The art of dressing: Exhibition of Mercedes de Miguel. Basque Design Center. From December 20th, 2020 to April 11th.
• In San Sebastian. Nosferatu Cycle: Luis Buñuel. Tabakalera. Complete retrospective of his work, consisting of 32 films. From January 6th to December 31st.
• In Bilbao. Candlelight. Classical music concerts at the Church of the Incarnation in Bilbao in an intimate setting under candlelight. From January 10th to February 20th.
• In Bilbao. Municipal Band of Txistularis. Euskalduna Palace. January 27th, February 10th and 24th, and March 15th
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Exhibition: Juncal Ballestín, Life as exercise. A selection of works by the Vitorian artist Juncal Ballestín. Artium, Contemporary Art Museum Center. From January 29th to May 16th.
• In Bilbao. Theater: Antonia. Premiere. It is a journey between memories, between past and present, between reality and fiction. It is the search for his story and ours. Arriaga Theater. February 2nd and 3rd.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Constanze Quartet concert. Cord Musicians. Vital Fundazioa. February 2nd.
• In Bilbao. Theater: The final judgment. Actor Juan Amodeo will help you realize that, even if you deny it, you are also a bad person. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 5th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Natalia Lacunza in concert. Singer, songwriter, and performer. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 5th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Bes-Te-Bat!: Kulto Kultibo in concert. Music. Sala Kubik. February 5th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Bes-Te-Bat!: Nogen in concert. Music. Sala Jimmy Jazz. February 5th.
• In Bilbao. Theater: A Night without the Moon by Juan Diego Botto. Lesser known aspects of the life and work of Federico García Lorca. Arriaga Theater. February 5th, 6th and 7th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Turing machine. Inspired by Hugh Whitemore's play "Breaking the code", and based in turn on Alan Turing: "the enigma deandrew hodges". Interpreters: Daniel Grao and Carlos Serrano. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 6th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Obus in concert. Rock Music. Urban Rock Concept. February 6th.
• In Bilbao. LKBSFF 2021: Laboral Kutxa Bilbao Surf Film Festival. Second edition of the largest multidisciplinary festival developed around surfing: cinema, photography, sports, lectures, training, commerce and live music in the heart of Bilbao, with the Ría as a backdrop. Inauguration at the Euskalduna Jauregia Palace on Thursday, February 4th. The rest of the sessions will take place at the Itsasmuseum, ending on Sunday, February 7th.
• In Bilbao. Theater: Love and Humor. Ylenia Baglietto and Lander Otaola present a scathing, ironic, funny and deeply moving show. Euskalduna Palace. February 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th and 14th.
• In Bilbao. Concert: Christian Gerhaher. Accompanied by his regular pianist, the also German Gerold Huber, he performs complete cycles by two of his favorite authors, Schumann and Debussy. The German baritone is one of the best liederists of our time. Arriaga Theater. February 10th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Banda Municipal de Musica in concert. Band Music. Teatro Principal Vitoria-Gasteiz. February 10th.
• In San Sebastian. Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra. Kursaal Auditorium. February 10th.
• In Bilbao. Theater: The Mountain. Agrupación Señor Serrano. Arriaga Theater. February 12th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Theater: Beginners. "What we talk about when we talk about love" is the theatrical adaptation of one of Raymond Carver's best-known stories, which was originally published in 1981. Cast: Javier Gutiérrez, Mónica Regueiro, Daniel Pérez Prada, Vicky Luengo. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 12th.
• In Bilbao. Theater: Darwin's jump. Between comedy and tragedy. Arriaga Theater. February 13th and 14th.
• In San Sebastian. The invention of landscape in painting: Joachim Patinir. Speaker: Ana Sánchez- Lassa. Conference organized by the Catalina de Erauso Art Club in collaboration with Aulas Kutxa Kultur. Kutxa Kultur Plaza, Tabakalera. February 16th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. R.S. Basque Factor concert. Music. Vital Fundazioa Kulturgunea. February 16th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Carmen.maquia. Best Dance Show at the 2019 Valencian Performing Arts Awards. Titoyaya Dansa. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 19th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Rossini's small solemn mass with piano and harpsichord. Orfeón Donostiarra. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 20th.
• In San Sebastian. "Requiem", W.A. Mozart with the staging, orchestra and choir of the Opus Lirica Company. Kursaal Auditorium. February 19th and 20th. And in the Basque language on February 21st.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Theater: Maria's room. Interpreter: Concha Velasco. Antzokia Principal Theater. February 25th.
• In Bilbao. What a pack of Basques. Humor recipes for the pandemic, with Victor Amilibia and Nerea Garmendi comedians. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 27th.
• In Bilbao. Wild. Show of the comedian and magician Jandro. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 27th.
• In Bilbao. North winds. Zarzuela and talk-colloquium. Behotsik Orkestra and Santander Youth Choir. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 28th.
• In San Sebastian. The Choir sings Rosinni. La petite messe sollennelle by Gioachino Rossini. Sacred work of the Italian composer. Organ, Piano and soloists. Second concert of the I Cycle of classical concerts organized by the Orfeón Donostiarra. Kursaal Auditorium. February 28th.

Best Basque traditions and festivities

• In Ordizia. Agricultural Fair. Farm products fair. Every Wednesday.
• In Hondarribia. Agricultural Fair. Sale of local products. Wednesdays at Damarri Plaza and Saturdays at the Port.
• In Mungia. Peasant Market. Exhibition and sale of farm products. Every Friday.
• In Bilbao. Gure Lurreko Merkatuak. Market of products of the hamlets of Bizkaia, made in a traditional way by their farmers, with Basque varieties and native breeds. Slow food, natural and local foods. Tinglados del Arenal. Every Saturday.
• In Tolosa. Agricultural Fair. Farm products fair. Every Saturday.
• In Irun. Agricultural Fair. Vegetable Fair. Every Saturday.

• In Laguardia. Articulated Nativity Scene. Church of Santa María de los Reyes. One of the few baroque nativity scenes equipped with movement that are preserved today, and arouses great interest among visitors and residents of the area. Performances are offered until December 1st until February 7th.
• In Llodio. Fair of San Blas. Monograph on the pig. Agricultural and crafts fair. Pork burning and scraping. Exhibition and sale of products. Preparation of blood sausages. Pork legs gastronomic contest. Dances Pilgrimage. February 1st.
• In Alegría. Fair of San Blas. Exhibition and sale of crafts and food products. February 2nd.
• In Rivabellosa. Truffle Fair. V Fair of truffles and artisan products related to it. Live cooking and contests. February 2nd.
• In Astigarraga, Hernani, Usurbil y Urnieta. Season of the Basque Cider. The main area in the Basque Country is in Astigarraga (near San Sebastián). There are some 51 Basque cider houses in Guipúzcoa, 10 in Vizcaya and 2 in Alava. The cider season begins on February 5th until May 23rd.
• In Agurain-Salvatierra, Campezo-Kanpezu, Lantarón, Laudio-Llodio, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zalduondo. Carnival in the province of Álava. From January 30th to February 21st.
• In San Sebastian, Anoeta, Astigarraga, Irun or Tolosa. The party of the caldereros boilermakers. Several groups emulate the Hungarian Zingaros who arrived in the city to sell their products during the Carnivals. It is a peculiar way of announcing carnivals. February 1st. Cancelled
• In Laudio/Llodio. San Blas Festival. Exhibition and sale of agricultural and artisan products, rural sports, elaboration of blood sausages, dance and music shows, a tribute to the baserritarras of the area, tasting of chestnuts, burning and scraping the pig, ... and Txarripatas Gastronomic Contest (pig hands). From Febuary 3rd.
• In Abadiño. Fair of San Blas. Fair for crafts, livestock, machinery, nurserymen and oxen testing. Exhibition and sale of farmhouse products. Awards for the best agricultural and livestock production. Special activities for children, Basque sports, bertsolaris shows (sudden poets) and exhibitions of dragging stones with oxen are organized. February 3rd.
• In Kastrexana (Barakaldo). Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Santa Águeda. It is the patron of women and fertility. The main pilgrimage on February 5th, and two others: one the previous Sunday and another the following Sunday. On February 4th, choirs and gangs roam the streets singing in honor of the Holy and accompany their songs with rods and sticks ("makilas") with which the ground is beaten rhythmically. Cancelled.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Feast of Saint Agatha. Traditional rounds singing couplets in honor of the martyrdom and death of the saint in the neighborhoods, accompanied by the sounds produced by rods and canes that hit the ground to the rhythm of the couplet. February 4th and 5th.
• In Markina-Xemein. Fair of trees, plants and tools of the farmhouse. February 8th.
• In Tolosa. Tree Day. XXV edition. Exhibition and sale of trees and plants. February 8th.
• In Lapuebla de Labarca. Uztaberri Eguna. Presentation of the new harvest. Guided visits to wineries. Exhibition and tasting of products related to wine. Work from before and now in the vineyard. February 8th.
• In Mundaka. Carnivals: Aratuste. The most important carnival in Bizkaia, since 1841. In the morning the men come out in their white dresses like atorrak, and in the afternoon the women like lamiak. They represent themes of Basque local mythology. They represent themes of Basque local mythology. From February 10th until 13th.
• In Biscay. Carnival Celebrations: Bilbao, Mundaka and Markina-Xemein.  Concerts, dance shows, tastings and various competitions, various activities… From February 11th until 16th.
• In Bilbao. Carnivals. Special: the trial of Farolín and Zarambolas (distinctions that are awarded to popular figures from our environment), who represent the bragging and goodness of Bilbao, respectively. From February 11th until 16th
• In Alava. Carnival Celebrations: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Santa Cruz de Campezo, Zalduondo, Agurain, Salcedo and Laudio. From February 13th until 16th.
• In Zalduondo. Carnivals. Some of the oldest in Álava, they are very popular. The quirky Markitos doll is paraded around the town on Carnival Sunday along with other carnival characters. From February 11th until 16th
• In Gipuzcoa. Carnival Celebrations: San Sebastián, Azpeitia, Antzuola, Amezketa, Abaltzisketa and Aretxabaleta. From February 11th until 16th.
• In Tolosa. Carnival.The most multitudinous and popular carnivals of the Basque Country. From February 11th until 16th. Cancelled.
• In San Sebastian. Carnivals Do not miss the troupes (Boilermakers, Barnacles, Gardeners, Roosters ...), which pay tribute to the central character of the party, the God Momo. From February 11th until 16th.
• In Abaltzisketa and Amezketa. Carnival: Txantxok. A group of young people goes through all the villages in the town, dancing a simple stick dance. February 14th.
• In Mungia. Livestock fair: bovine, wool, horse and goat. Agricultural machinery and tools. Exhibition and sale of farmhouse products. February 16th.
• In Getaria. Festivities of San Antón. From February 15th to 17th.
• In Elgoibar. Festivities of San Antón. From February 15th to 23rd.
• In Segura. Easter week. Since the first decade of the seventeenth century. Processions are solemnly celebrated on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. From February 28th to April 5th.

Regarding Basque sport:

• In Getxo. XIV Punta Galea Challenge is one of 7 that form part of the prestigious Big Wave Tour, and the only one held in Europe. One day between November 1st, 2019 until and March 31, 2020. Cancelled.

And remember, if you are thinking to come to Bilbao, San Sebastian, Rioja, Vitoria, Pamplona or anywhere else in the Basque Country, you can get a better understanding on our culture and traditions with a local guide.

Enjoy the Basque Country!

You can also contact us or expand information through the new Aitor Delgado Basque Private Tours website that we launched in December 2019