THINGS TO DO IN BILBAO, SAN SEBASTIAN, VITORIA-GASTEIZ, BIARRITZ, BAYONNE, RIOJA OR PAMPLONA.
Our selection of best art, sport & cultural events in the Basque
Country during February 2022.
Please note that some of the events below may change due to regulations to
control Covid-19.
 |
| Alice Neel: "People first." A "collector of souls". Bilbao Museum Guggenheim |
Regarding arts, congress and exhibits in Basque Country:
- In Bilbao. Alice Neel: "People first." A "collector of souls". Bilbao Museum Guggenheim. From September 17th to February 6th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. XVIII 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 16th to February 5th, 2022.
- In Bilbao. "Guernica" by Agustín Ibarrola. This new acquisition is an emblematic work of Basque art and of the painter's production, and it was also one of the most significant episodes in the museum's recent history. Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. From October 18th until March 27th.
- In Bilbao. Women of abstraction. Contribution of women artists to abstraction. Exhibition that comes from the Center Pompidou in Paris. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From October 22nd to February 27th.
- In Getaria. Balenciaga: the elegance of the hat. Exhibition resulting from a joint investigation of the collections of hats of the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum and the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. October 29th to May 8th, 2022.
- In Bilbao. The Arrue brothers in Paris. 2 large-format paintings of Basque prints awarded in Paris. Fine Arts Museum. From November 16th to March 27th.
- In Getaria. Transmissions. Selection of works from the museum's educational project with international fashion design schools seeking: the introduction of new and revolutionary silhouettes. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From December 3rd until February 7th, 2022.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. A place to think. Schools and experimental educational art practices in the Basque Country, 1957-1979. Collaboration with the Jorge Oteiza Museum Foundation. Artium Museo - Contemporary Art Museum of the Basque Country. From January 21st to June 5th.
- In Bilbao. Candlelight. Classical music concerts by candlelight. Church of the Incarnation. From January 22nd to March 19th.
- In Hernani. Walk between sculptures as if through a forest. Permanent exhibition of Chillida's work. Chillida-Leku Museum. From February to December.
- In Bilbao. Tina Turner Tribute "Typically Tina". Kursaal Auditorium. February 6th.
- In Bilbao. Magicians. International festival of illusionism. With 7 of the most representative illusionists worldwide. Champs Elysées Theatre. February 11th and 12th.
- In Bilbao. Exhibition: "From Fauvism to Surrealism: 70 masterpieces from the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris (MAM)". Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From February 11th until May 22nd.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Big bolero. A stubborn dance about the transition between enjoyment and exhaustion, a dance to celebrate the time and space we share; the intense and the fleeting, the pulse and the calm. Max 2020 Award for best Dance Theater show. February 12th.
- In Bilbao. Concert by Mikel Erentxun "Amigos de Guardia". In this album, he reviews 35 years of musical career, starting from the first recordings with Duncan Dhu in 1985 until today. Cafe Antzokia. February 18th.
 |
| In Biarritz. CAR/MEN. Chicos Mambo company. Gare du Midi Theater. February 18th. |
- In Biarritz. CAR/MEN. Chicos Mambo company. Bizet's work is revisited by eight dancers and a virtuoso singer who, with fantasy, tenderness and derision, play with the masculine and the feminine. Choreographer Philippe Lafeuille. Gare du Midi Theater. February 18th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Eñaut and Idoia with symphony orchestra. Cycle of great concerts. Main Theater. February 19th.
- In San Sebastián. Swedish String Quartet. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. February 20th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Bernstein+Zhou. Euskadiko Orkestra: Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Main Theater. February 21st.
- In Bilbao. Shen Yun 2022. Shen Yun Performing Arts. The lost world of traditional Chinese culture. Kursaal Auditorium. February 22nd and 23rd.
- In Bilbao. Exhibition: "Jean Dubuffet: Fervent Celebration". Made up of funds from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From February 25th until August 21st.
- In Bilbao. XIV Japan Weekend. The largest pop culture event in Spain. Bilbao Exhibition Centre. February 26th.
- In Bilbao. Concert by Mikel Erentxun "Friends of the Guard". In this album, he reviews 35 years of musical career, starting from the first recordings with Duncan Dhu in 1985 until today. Kursaal Auditorium. February 27th.
- In Biarritz. Mosaics. Choreography Julien Lestel, with dancers from Alexandra Cardinale's company. Expresses our wish for a world which does not tend towards the standardization of individuals but which, on the contrary, recognizes the richness of its multiplicity. City Casino. February 27th.
 |
| Season of the Basque Cider. |
Best Basques 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. Urdanibia Square. Every Saturday.
- In San Sebastian. Craft market in La Bretxa. Every Sunday and holidays from Easter.
- In Bilbao. Flower and plant market. Flowers and plants grown and collected directly by local producers. A melting pot of colors and smells. Tinglados del Arenal. Every Sunday.
- In Laguardia. Articulated nativity scene. One of the few baroque nativity scenes with movement that are preserved today. Set of 73 pieces of which most are Rococo style. Church of Santa Maria de los Reyes. From December 1st until February 6th.
- In Astigarraga. Start of the season of the Basque Cider. Around January 15th. 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 January 12th and runs until the end of April.
- 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 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.
- 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.
 |
| The party of the boilermakers |
- In San Sebastian, Anoeta, Astigarraga, Irun or Tolosa. The party of the 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 5th.
- In Rivabellosa. Truffle Fair. V Fair of truffles and artisan products related to it. Live cooking and contests. February 6th.
- 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 Alava. Carnival Celebrations: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Santa Cruz de Campezo, Zalduondo, Agurain, Salcedo and Laudio. From February 21st until March 1st.
- In Tolosa. Carnival.The most multitudinous and popular carnivals of the Basque Country. From February 11th until 16th. Cancelled.
- 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 12th.
 |
| Punta Galea Challenge. Surf Party |
Regarding Basques and others sports:
- In Getxo. Punta Galea Challenge. Surf Party. The only test in Europe of the 7 of the prestigious World Circuit of Big Waves of Surf, Big Wave Tour. From November 1st to March 31st.
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.
You can also contact us or expand information through the new Aitor Delgado Basque Private Tours website that we launched in December 2019
Enjoy the Basque Country!
