Flamenco Festival Miami XVII will take place from February 25 to March 1, 2026, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The annual event brings Spanish dance, music, and culture to South Florida. This year’s program is led by famous flamenco dancer Sara Baras, who presents Vuela, a tribute to legendary guitarist Paco de Lucía.
The festival has become an important cultural moment in Miami. It connects locals with artists from Spain and other parts of the world. Through dance, live music, and public celebrations, the event shows how flamenco continues to grow while keeping its deep traditions.
A Tribute Through Dance And Music
Sara Baras created Vuela to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her dance company. The production honors Paco de Lucía, one of the most influential flamenco guitarists in history. Baras performs with 13 dancers and musicians in a work made of 15 pieces across four acts. Each act is guided by a theme: wood, sea, death, and flight.
These themes help tell a story about memory, roots, and freedom. The structure allows the audience to feel both tradition and new artistic ideas at the same time. The performance is not only a concert. It is a full emotional journey told through rhythm, movement, and sound.
Critics often describe Baras as a powerful performer. She has been praised as “a woman who can dance up not just a flamenco storm but a hurricane.” This description shows the strength and energy she brings to the stage.
Flamenco Festival Miami reflects the international spirit of the city. Miami is known for mixing cultures from Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Events like this allow residents and visitors to experience world traditions without leaving the city.
The Adrienne Arsht Center plays a major role in this cultural exchange. The organization presents hundreds of events each year and supports learning programs for thousands of children. Its work helps shape Miami’s identity as a place where global art and local community meet.
Because of this mission, the flamenco festival is more than entertainment. It is part of a wider effort to bring diverse cultures to public spaces and make the arts accessible to everyone.
Performances Beyond The Main Stage
The festival begins on February 25 with a live outdoor performance by Son Gitano at the Thomson Plaza for the Arts. The group blends flamenco with salsa and bolero influences, showing the shared musical roots of the Spanish-speaking world.
Before each performance of Vuela, the public can also attend the free Flamenco Festival Miami Fiesta. This pre-show event includes dance demonstrations, music, workshops, and cultural activities. Guests can learn basic steps and experience flamenco traditions in an open community setting.
These public programs are important because they invite new audiences into the art form. People who may not know flamenco can see, hear, and even try it themselves.
Honoring Paco de Lucía gives the festival deep historical meaning. His guitar playing helped bring flamenco to international audiences and influenced many modern musicians. By dedicating Vuela to him, Baras connects today’s performance with the past.
The tribute also shows how flamenco continues to evolve. New choreography and staging can exist alongside traditional music and technique. This balance keeps the art form alive for future generations.
Cultural festivals create shared experiences in a fast-changing world. In Miami, where many cultures live side by side, events like Flamenco Festival Miami help build understanding and connection.
The 2026 edition is especially meaningful because it celebrates both an artistic legacy and a company anniversary. It also offers free public programming, making the experience open to a wide community.
For audiences, the festival provides beauty, emotion, and history in one place. For the city, it strengthens Miami’s role as an international center for the arts.
As Flamenco Festival Miami XVII approaches, excitement continues to grow. Sara Baras and her company bring a performance that honors the past while looking toward the future. Through dance, music, and shared celebration, the festival shows why flamenco remains powerful across cultures and generations.
In Miami, this global art form finds a welcoming stage—and a community ready to feel its rhythm.
