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The concept
In the heart of Bilbao, the Bilbao Tango Festival 2026 will be held from February 9th to 15th. The last two years have been a huge success, with hundreds of people sharing warm hugs, smiles, laughter, and a little bit of themselves in this iconic venue.
This year we're going even bigger! We'll have milongas from Monday to Sunday with a live orchestra, shows and classes with the maestros, tango-aperos and street milongas in different venues throughout Santurtzi with live duos and trios. And parallel to the festival, the Bilbao International Tango Championship will take place, the final of which will be held in the beautiful Serantes Theater with a live orchestra, singers, games, the championship rounds, shows with dancers, and much more.
All the milongas will take place at the Hotel Palacio de Oriol in Santurtzi, Bilbao. The hotel is a historic monument dating back to 1906, combining its original architecture and elegant decor with modern amenities and an exceptional location overlooking Abra Bay and the Cantabrian Sea.
Join us at the Bilbao Tango Festival 2026!
🏨 The entire event will take place at the Hotel Palacio de Oriol and the town of Santurtzi in Bilbao
A dream location and our warm welcome add a special touch to the event's history. Sleep where you dance! A bustling port city center, two airports nearby, and nearby metro and train stations.
💃 300 sqm quality wooden dance floor installed by us
🎶 Excellent international DJs, live orchestra and tango-aperos in the city with live music
Music is at the heart of our event. We have a mix of diverse but proven DJs guaranteed to keep you dancing nonstop. We'll have a live orchestra with danceable tandas during the milonga. There will be tango-aperos and street milongas at select venues around the city with live tango duos and trios on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
🎓 High-quality shows and classes with renowned teachers & tango championship
There will be performances and classes with championship teachers and judges, winners of the BA Tango World Cup, and long-standing judges known for their excellent performances and excellent teaching.
Maestros
Fernando Galera & Pamela Colaneri
Fernando Galera, a tango and folklore dancer and teacher, has traveled the world with a dance career spanning more than four decades, starting from his neighborhood club, where he began training at age eight, between classes and dances for senior citizens. At twelve, he joined the prestigious El Chúcaro academy, where he also taught. He is a leading tango teacher worldwide and now based in Italy, embarking on a new professional career alongside Pamela Colaneri, an actress and folklore dancer who discovered tango 20 years ago, completed her degree at IUNA, and studied with renowned maestros such as Carlos Rivarola, Ignacio Gonzalez Cano, and others. Directors of the Tango Salón Extremo Festival, their main motivation as teachers is to convey tango as a cultural experience, not just the technique, with the aim of protecting the roots of this dance and, with them, its soul.
Juan Martín Carrera & Stefania Colina
Stefanía Colina and Juan Martín Carrara began their careers in ballet and modern dance at an early age. At 17, Stefanía began teaching ballet, while Juan enrolled in the National Dance Academy of Uruguay and was selected for the "Joven Ballet" (Young Ballet), touring all the theaters in the region. A few years later, he came into contact with tango, met Stefania, and from that day on, a passionate, life-changing story began for both of them.
After several years of hard work improving their level and knowledge, they won the Intercontinental Championship in 2009 and the Uruguayan Tango Championship in 2012. Today, they are recognized for their clear and dedicated teaching and their excellent performances. They are now directors of the National Tango Ballet of Uruguay, touring theaters throughout the region with their shows.
Ricardo Astrada & Constanza Vieyto
2022 World Tango Champions in the Stage Tango category. Dancers and choreographers, each has a history of dance since childhood. They have been part of the cast of various tango companies over the years, including Tango x 2, Forever Tango, Dramatic Tango, Rojo Tango, and more. Ricardo is also the director of “Evergreen Tango” and the choreographic director of “Alto Tango Show.” They have served as judges in several tango championships around the world and have been touring around the world for several years, performing in theaters, tango events, and festivals.
TANGO DJs
Vivi La Falce
(Argentina)
Professional DJ in Buenos Aires since 2001. She has worked constantly for 24 years in renowned milongas in Buenos Aires such as Lo de Celia, Salón Canning, El Arranque, Lujos, Obelisco Tango, Abasto Hotel, among others. She was the Official DJ of the TangoBA Championship and Festival for 6 years, selecting the music for the competition, and worked in events such as the Gran Milonga Nacional de Av de Mayo and the annual Milonga at the French Embassy. She has worked for Costa Cruceros since 2013 as the Official Tango DJ for ‘Danzando a Bordo’, the most important dance event in the world held on themed cruises. Since 2009 she has been travelling around the world playing music at Milongas, Milonguero Meetings, Festivals, Marathons and giving seminars for DJs, spreading her culture and revaluing the role of the professional DJ.
Carmen Villafuerte
(Seville, Spain)
When I provide music at a milonga, my main goal is to connect with the dancers, creating an atmosphere that inspires the desire to dance and enjoyment. For me, the best tangos I can offer in a milonga are those that combine a solid rhythmic base with a deep emotional charge. It is crucial to select the best quality music possible to guide and inspire the dancers. At the end of each milonga, my goal is for the dancers to take away a memorable evening, with tangos echoing in their minds and the fond memories of the experiences they have had. Carmen is already a standard at all the major festivals in Spain and with her we have a guaranteed night of great dancing!
Diego Doigneau
(Argentina/London)
Born in Argentina and based in London, he studied music and theatre in both cities.As a DJ, he creates a journey for dancers through music, selecting songs to vary the mood of the night. He mainly plays golden age orchestras, but also adds modern orchestras depending on the night. He has a deep love for the music, the night and keeping people dancing until after the milonga is over.
He has been resident DJ at Negracha Tango Club, London's largest milonga. He has performed at major tango festivals and milongas all over the world, including MSTF in Porec, Sevilla Tango Festival, Brussels Tango Festival, Lisbon Tango Festival, Mallorca Tango Festival, Southern California Tango Championship and Festival, Bella Ciao Marathon in Tours France, Viva la Pepa in Buenos Aires and many more.
DJ El Jaak
(Antwerp, Belgium)
Jaak is known as a passionate tango lover and experienced DJ within the Argentine tango scene. His love for tango began in 2001, when he accidentally attended a local milonga. In 2005 he did his first DJ set, driven by a deep interest in the music that brings tango to life. Since then, he has developed his own style that remains true to the golden age of tango. For many years, he was co-organiser and DJ of the legendary milonga Altena Kapel in Belgium. His sets are characterised by musical refinement, a sense of atmosphere and the flow of energy through the night. Jaak knows better than anyone how to feel and direct the energy on the dance floor. Dancers appreciate him for his dedication and respect for tradition.
DJ Joel Renauld
(Pau, France)
Joël, nicknamed Jo, is a DJ who strives to create and maintain an irresistible atmosphere, full of energy and freshness. His primary goal is to capture the dance floor and adapt the music to the dancers' energy by choosing pieces that transport them into an intimate and passionate atmosphere, thus creating memorable milongas where each embrace is like an unforgettable journey. To this end, he plays original works by composers and performers from the "golden age," while leaving 1 or 2 tandas per milonga for recordings by contemporary orchestras that respect the originals and infuse energy. Constantly seeking sonic wonders in both the tandas and the coritnas, he is highly regarded in the tango world, both in France and Spain.
David Reus
(Valencia, Spain)
He has more than 20 years of experience as a milonguero, dancer and event organiser. DJ and organizer of the Milonga La Pasional since 2009 and the Benidorm Tango Festival. His tandas maintain the traditional structures, his preferred orchestras range from the 30‘s to the 40’s, making small incursions with some tandas from the Vieja Guardia and some newer ones, but this depends on the event, milonga and dancers.Quality and care in all the musical selection, with tangos, milongas and waltzes that have good musicality and energy changes to heighten dancer enjoyment. He especially likes sung tangos, he says that the singer brings passion, strength, fantasy and makes you travel back in time, even if you don't understand his lyrics.
To be confirmed
We are working to bring in international and well-proven DJs!
To be confirmed
We are working to bring in international and well-proven DJs!
Christina Gomez
(Bilbao/London)
I entered the world of tango through dancing but in the end so many years of listening to tangos led me to investigate orchestras, their histories, their energies and the effect this has on the energy of a milonga. I love to sit and watch the dance floor and choose what is best for the dancers in the moment. The milonga is a bit like a blank piece of paper and the dancers and I work together to draw something full of feeling. My aim is to fill the dance floor and to make each tanda make you want to dance. I always focus on the major tango orchestras and their most popular and danceable songs, especially from the golden era, with a view to taking the milonga and the people on a journey of different energies. And I never forget the fun cortinas to keep the party going!
Orchestras and live music
Exilio New Tango
The five members of Exilio New Tango are confirmed for Bilbao Tango Festival 2026! They will play at the Teatro Serantes during the Final of the championship and there will also be the opportunity to see them playing in the street in different parts of Santurtzi on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in our tango-apero events.
Exilio Neo Tango is formed by five Argentinians, the singer Fernando Valsega, the bandoneon player Dario Polonara, Emiliano Roca on double bass, Martin Aravena on Violin and Cristian ‘poyo’ Moya on Piano.
We are still working to get more musicians for the Bilbao Tango Festival 2026 edition.
We want live music to play an important role in our festival, to promote Argentine culture in Bilbao and to enjoy popular dance in the street.
Full program
Monday, February 9
Free beginners tango class:
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Arrauna Hall, 3rd floor, Palacio Oriol)
Screening of a classic tango film:
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Library Room, Palacio Oriol)
Night Milonga:
7.00 PM - 11.00 PM DJ Silverio Maqueira (Arrauna Room, Palacio Oriol)
Tuesday, February 10
Guided tour of Santurtzi:
10:30 AM (organized by the Santurtzi Tourist Office)
Free beginners tango class :
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Arrauna Hall, 3rd floor, Oriol Palace)
Screening of a classic tango film:
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Library Room, Oriol Palace)
Night Milonga:
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM DJ to be confirmed (Arrauna Hall, Oriol Palace)
Wednesday, February 11
Guided tour of Santurtzi:
10:30 AM (organized by the Santurtzi Tourist Office)
Free introductory tango class :
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Arrauna Hall, 3rd floor, Palacio Oriol)
Screening of a classic tango film:
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Library Room, Palacio Oriol)
Night Milonga:
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM DJ to be confirmed (Arrauna Hall, Palacio Oriol)
Thursday, February 12
Pintxos tour around Santurtzi bars and cafés:
10.30 AM (organized by Borja & Chris)
Morning Milonga:
12.00 PM - 2.30 PM DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Class 1 with Fer & Pam:
11.00 AM - 12.00 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 1 with Juan & Stefi:
12.15 PM - 1.15 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 2 with Ricardo & Constanza:
1.30 PM - 2.30 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Afternoon Milonga
4.00 PM - 7.00 PM DJ Joel Renauld (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Tango Apero - live music + open air milonga
7.30 PM - 8.30 PM (location in Santurtzi to be confirmed)
Night Milonga:
9.00 PM - 2.00 AM DJ David Reus, show Borja Alkalde & Christina Gomez (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Friday, February 13
Pintxos tour around Santurtzi bars and cafés:
10.30 AM (organized by Borja & Chris)
Afternoon Milonga:
12.00 PM - 4.00 PM DJ Carmen Villafuerte (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Class 2 with Juan & Stefi:
11.00 AM - 12.00 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 2 with Ricardo & Constanza:
12.15 PM - 1.15 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 2 with Fer & Pam:
1.30 PM - 2.30 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 3 with Fer & Pam:
2.45 PM - 3:45 PM (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Check-in for championship: 12.00 PM - 3.30 PM (3rd floor, Palacio Oriol)
Bilbao Tango Cup Qualifying Roung (all categories)
5.00 PM - 9.00 PM (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Tango Apero - live music + open air milonga:
6.30 PM - 8.30 PM (place in Santurtzi to be confirmed)
Night Milonga:
10.30 PM - 4.00 AM DJ to be confirmed, show Juan & Stefania (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
After Party:
4.00 AM - 6.00 PM DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Saturday, February 14
Pintxos route through the bars of Santurtzi:
10.30 AM (organized by Borja & Chris)
Tango tools - live musician in the village/street milonga:
12.00 PM -14.00 PM (location in Santurtzi to be confirmed)
Bilbao Tango Cup Semi-finals (all categories)
11.00 PM - 14.00 PM (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Afternoon Milonga:
2.00 PM - 6.00 PM DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Oriol Palace)
Bilbao Tango Cup 2026 Grand Final & Tango Show at Teatro Serantes, Santurtzi. Buy tickets here.
7.00 PM - 9.30 PM (Great dance show: championship, live tango singers and orchestra, shows with dancers, Basque traditional dances...)
Night Milonga:
10.30 PM - 4.00 AM DJ Carmen Villafuerte, Show Ricardo & Constanza (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
After Party:
4.00 PM - 6.00 AM DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Sunday, February 15
Pintxos tour around Santurtzi bars and cafés:
10.30am (organized by Borja & Chris)
Morning milonga:
12am - 2.30pm DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
Class 3 with Ricardo & Constanza:
11am - 12am (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 3 with Juan & Stefi:
12pm - 1.15pm (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 4 with Fer & Pam:
1.30pm - 2.30pm (Mikel Trueba Sports Center)
Class 4 with Juan & Stefi:
4pm- 5pm (location to be confirmed)
Class 4 with Ricardo & Constanza:
5.15pm - 6.15pm (location to be confirmed)
Afternoon Goodbye Milonga:
5pm - 8pm DJ to be confirmed, show with Fernando & Pamela (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
After Party:
8pm - midnight DJ to be confirmed (Salón Batela, Palacio Oriol)
SEMINARS & CLASSES
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Learn, deepen, and evolve your tango with the festival's maestros. Improve your embrace, technique, content, and musicality. With our packages, you can choose the combination that best suits your energy, level, and desire to learn: Choose a single class or packages of 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, or 12 classes.
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You can sign up for the seminars with or without a partner. However, if you don't have a partner for the classes, please let us know via WhatsApp or email after registering. You can choose a combination of classes to suit your needs.
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There are four classes with each couple. Classes last one hour.
Bilbao Tango Festival Class Packages
Accommodation at
Palacio Oriol
Participants in Bilbao Tango Festival 2026 can stay at a special rate at the iconic Hotel URH Palacio Oriol, the event's main venue. This offer is valid for stays of two nights or more, with the option of room only, breakfast included, or half-board (breakfast + dinner). Choose a package of two, three, four, five, six, or seven nights.
HOW TO BOOK?
Reservations for the Palace are only available by choosing one of our hotel packages. We'll arrange everything and will call you to confirm the details.
More information about the hotel can be found on the hotel website or by calling the hotel directly: 📞 +34 944 93 41 40
⚠️ Important:
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Half-board service includes breakfast and dinner.
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The hotel cafeteria will be open from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM, serving drinks and tapas.
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In the surrounding area you will also find many bars and restaurants with varied menus.
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If you'd like to have lunch at the hotel, you can add it as an optional extra: €24 per person if you book in advance (by calling the hotel). €30 per person directly at the hotel restaurant.
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There are other accommodation options in the Santurtzi and Portugalete neighborhoods, ranging from low-cost to luxury hotels and shared apartments.
Milongas: Packs & Prices
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All milongas take place at the URH Palacio de Oriol
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Choose from a variety of milonga package options: a 7-day package if you want to participate in the entire festival from Monday to Sunday, or a 6-, 5-, or 4-day package, or a weekend pack that includes all the weekend milongas from Friday night to Sunday.
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This year we also have a championship for tango pista, stage tango, milonga, vals, and milongueros. We have milonga packs that include admission to the championship as a spectator, including admission to the grand finale on Saturday afternoon at the Serantes Theater with a dance show, live tango orchestra, and more!
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If you prefer to just go to the milongas, we have milonga packs and tickets for individual milongas.
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If you participate in the Bilbao Tango Cup, an international tango championship, your registration includes the milonga package from Friday to Sunday.
Bilbao Tango Festival Packages + Watch the Championship
💃 MILONGUEROS PACKS – NO CHAMPIONSHIP
Individual Milongas of the Bilbao Tango Festival
Other accommodation options
The Palacio Oriol is located between the towns of Santurtzi and Portugalete—two very unique and beautiful corners of Bilbao. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the Peñota metro station and a one-minute walk from the Peñota train station. Kabiezes, Santurtzi, and Portugalete metro stations are also within a 20-minute walk.
It's a busy area, full of restaurants, bars, and other accommodation options.
Other options in Santurtzi
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Pensión Iruña (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 944 610 601 | www.pensioniruna.com
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Pensión Barlovento (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 944 612 084 | www.pensionbarlovento.com
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Pensión El Puerto (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 946 034 758
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Pensión Las Viñas (Guesthouse): Tel. *34 944 935 656 | www.pensionlasvinas.wixsite.com/pension
Other options in Portugalete
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Pensión Norte (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 944 830 970
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Pensión Buenavista (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 944 044 644 / +34 661 885 848
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Pensión Santa María (Guesthouse): Tel. +34 944 722 489
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Apartamentos Metro Pasarela (Apartments): Tel. +34 944 725 794
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Apartamentos El Mirador (Apartments): Tel. +34 695 705 600
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Apartamentos ROS (Apartments): Tel. +34 696 910 659
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Albergue Bide Ona (Hostal) Tel. 946 038 630
You can also check out the available options on Booking.com and AirBnB
Visit Bilbao
You can't miss a visit to the city while you're in Bilbao. The festival is an eight-minute walk from Portugalete, an elegant old neighborhood by the sea, from where you can cross the Bilbao Estuary to reach Getxo using the historic Bizkaia Suspension Bridge, the first of its kind in the world.
Taking the metro from Peñota to Moyua takes you to the Guggenheim, a modern art museum world-renowned for its unique architecture. From there, a stroll along the estuary leads to Bilbao's old town, with its seven streets lined with bars and restaurants where a drink and the local pintxos are a must.
1. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Iconic modern art museum in the shape of a ship surrounded by water, sculptures, and Puppi the giant dog made of seasonal flowers.
2. Bizkaia Suspension Bridge It is the first of its kind built in the world and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can cross the river for 50 cents or pay a little more and walk across the top and visit the museum to learn about its history.
3. Old Town and Ribera Market Don't miss wandering through the seven streets of downtown Bilbao for a drink and some pintxos, and stopping by the Ribera Market to see all the local products for sale and have a drink overlooking the estuary.
4. Views of Bilbao from Artxanda Take the cable car to see the entire city from the Artxanda viewpoint and visit the park, which is over 100 years old. If you arrive around lunchtime, you can also enjoy a delicious local steak.