The Aitzina Folk Solidarity Festival announced its XIV edition this Tuesday at the Montehermoso Cultural Center. For over a month, the festival will transform Vitoria-Gasteiz and Álava into a hub for roots music, blending cultural heritage, international artists, and a commitment to ataxia telangiectasia (AT) research.
The presentation also marked the launch of ticket and season pass sales for an edition that will gather prominent names in national and international folk music, including Dervish, Maruja Limón, Fillas de Cassandra, Los Hermanos Cubero, Corquiéu, Saltaire, Mayalde, Otxo Bikotea, Alos Quartet, Natxo de Felipe & Kuarteto Philiperena, and Luar Na Lubre. Additionally, streets, squares, and towns across Álava will host concerts, workshops, and family activities.
Among the edition's highlights is the concert by Natxo de Felipe (November 8, Palacio Europa). The artist returns to the stage eleven years after Oskorri's farewell with the project Abandonatuak, reviving unreleased songs from an essential figure in Basque music.
Another highly anticipated moment will be the performance by Luar Na Lubre (November 28, Jesús Guridi Music Conservatory). The Galician group celebrates its 40-year career with an international tour that includes a stop at Aitzina Folk. Considered a global reference in folk music, they bring four decades of experience, over 2,500 concerts in more than 60 countries, and a legacy that has significantly promoted Galician music beyond its borders.
The festival extends beyond the main stages. The XIV edition will feature major concerts alongside initiatives to bring folk closer to the public, such as the Kalejira (street parade), the Musika Eskolen Topaketa (Music Schools Gathering), concerts in Álava's towns, family activities like Baby Folk and Txiki Folk, and workshops and encounters that have been integral to the festival since its inception.
During the presentation, festival director Patxi Villén was joined by representatives from the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, the Provincial Council of Álava, the Basque Government, Fundación Vital, and Laboral Kutxa. Musician Xabier Zeberio Etxetxipia, a member of Alos Quartet, provided the musical closing.
Villén emphasized that this edition brings together special moments from the festival's recent history. Sonia Díaz de Corcuera, Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council's Councilor for Culture and Education, noted how Aitzina Folk demonstrates culture's power to transform reality by uniting cultural excellence with solidarity. Andoni Iturbe, Undersecretary of Culture for the Basque Government, highlighted the festival's ability to combine cultural heritage, Basque and international talent, and social commitment. Ana del Val, Provincial Deputy for Culture and Sport, stressed that culture serves as a way to connect and keep traditions alive.
Kepa Ortiz de Urbina, Head of Social Action at Laboral Kutxa, described Aitzina Folk as "arguably the most beloved and appreciated festival," successfully blending top folk music with a solidarity commitment that supports research into ataxia telangiectasia.
Since its creation, Aitzina Folk has proven that music can be a tool for social transformation. Each ticket purchased contributes to the research of ataxia telangiectasia, a rare genetic disease currently affecting two minors and one adult in the Basque Country.
With this new edition, the festival reaffirms culture's capacity to foster community, preserve musical heritage, and turn every concert into a gesture of support for those living with this disease. Season passes and tickets, along with the full schedule, are available on the website: [www.aitzinafolk.org](http://www.aitzinafolk.org/).
