Umore Azoka to Transform Leioa into a Major Performing Arts Hub

Leioa's festival will gather 45 companies across 27 stages, focusing on diversity and contemporary creation, promoting accessibility and the Basque language.

Generic image: A vibrant street scene in a Basque town, with blurred figures enjoying an outdoor performance, colorful lights, and a festive atmosphere.
IA

Generic image: A vibrant street scene in a Basque town, with blurred figures enjoying an outdoor performance, colorful lights, and a festive atmosphere.

The town of Leioa is set to become a major hub for performing arts next week with the new edition of Umore Azoka, a festival featuring 45 companies across 27 different stages.

This festival emphasizes the importance of culture in the daily lives of citizens, highlighting its ability to transform public spaces and strengthen the community. Organizers have stated that culture is not a luxury but a fundamental necessity, and initiatives like this play a crucial role in social development.
This year's edition will see 45 companies participating, with 17 being Basque, 22 from other regions of Spain, and 6 international, hailing from countries such as France, Italy, Argentina, and Lithuania. In total, over 300 professionals will gather in 27 scenic spaces and on itinerant routes organized throughout the municipality, making Leioa a primary meeting point for the performing arts.
The programming will focus on diversity and contemporary creation. More than 30 of the participating companies will present their works for the first time in Euskadi, with 25 of these being absolute premieres. Among the shows, humor will be one of the main themes, but other topics such as social issues, identity, and sustainability will also be addressed. For example, the work La llegada proposes an ironic story told in radio format, and the show Alboroto merges flamenco and circus. For families, there will also be participatory installations and playful proposals, such as Lilliput.
Umore Azoka will reinforce its commitment to accessibility this year. Adapted spaces will be provided for people with functional diversity, as well as resources for children with auditory sensitivity. Similarly, adapted posters and supports will be used for people with visual impairments. The presence of Basque will also be enhanced, both on stage and in professional interactions, through the use of translation systems and support materials. The festival will extend throughout the municipality, across 27 scenic spaces and two itinerant routes, transforming Leioa into an open stage. Additionally, Kultur Leioa will serve as a key reference point for spectators to easily plan their itinerary.