Leioa's Umore Azoka a Success Despite Rain, Featuring Over 80 Shows

The street arts festival exceeded attendance expectations and presented 25 absolute premieres.

Generic image: Festival atmosphere in the streets of Leioa, with blurred people and lights.
IA

Generic image: Festival atmosphere in the streets of Leioa, with blurred people and lights.

Despite rain forecasts, Leioa's Umore Azoka successfully maintained most of its program, attracting thousands of attendees and solidifying its reputation.

Although the organization had to make some adjustments due to rain forecasts, Leioa's Umore Azoka largely managed to stick to its planned schedule. Out of 45 participating companies, only two were unable to perform, and in both cases, the reason was an injury to a team member, not the weather.
This year, Leioa's streets and venues hosted over 80 shows and performances. The program encompassed various artistic disciplines, including dance, theater, comedy, and circus arts. According to the Leioa City Council, the offerings catered to diverse audiences and tastes, blending humor, reflection, critique, and social values.
The festival also strengthened its role as a showcase for new creations. Approximately thirty companies presented their work for the first time in the Basque Country, with 25 of these being absolute premieres.
Regarding audience numbers, over 1,500 people gathered on Thursday for the initial events; on Friday, more than 4,600 spectators visited the various locations in the municipality; and on Saturday, the busiest day, around 8,000 people filled the streets of Leioa.
In addition to the offerings for the general public, the Umore Azoka continued to serve as a meeting point for the professional sector. Approximately 250 cultural programmers convened in Leioa, providing companies with opportunities to showcase their work, establish professional relationships, and explore future booking possibilities.
The mayor of Leioa, Iban Rodriguez Etxebarria, emphasized that the Umore Azoka is not just a cultural event for citizens but also "a space for creating professional opportunities for companies." He stated that Leioa's role as a meeting point for Basque, national, and international professionals enhances the municipality's cultural standing.

"The Umore Azoka is not just a cultural event for citizens, but also "a space for creating professional opportunities for companies."

Iban Rodriguez Etxebarria · Mayor of Leioa
Awards were also presented. The prize for the best show in Basque went to Bitsa Konpainia for their work Haritik tiraka. The jury praised this production, based on Basque oral narration, for conveying the experiences of women during tragic events in Basque history through poetic and moving language.
The award for the best show in the Basque Country was given to the dance company DAB for their performance KEA. The jury highlighted the work's ability to transmit and document the world of cigarettes through dance, as well as the company's technique and staging.
The award for the best show from the rest of the world was received by Manolo Alcantara for his work Refugi. The jury commended the artist's reflection on his career, his connection with the audience, technical elegance, and the use of scenic elements.
Additionally, the newly formed Kankarro konpainia received a special mention for its skill in merging dance and circus, and for its approach to bringing certain Basque cultural traditions to the stage.
The Umore Azoka serves as a showcase for street arts and is a major annual gathering for industry professionals. Organized by the Leioa City Council, the festival aims to promote the work of companies, foster the circulation of performances, and strengthen relationships among creators, programmers, and other stakeholders. Its trajectory has established it as one of the most significant street arts festivals in the country.