Vitoria-Gasteiz will host the fourth edition of TARTALO, International Week of Fantasy in the Arts, from November 17 to 21, 2026. The festival is consolidating itself as a cultural event dedicated to the study, dissemination, and artistic creation linked to the fantastic, bringing together prominent international creators, researchers, and artists.
The program will commence on October 26 with the opening of the exhibition Tolkien’s Magic, by the prestigious German illustrator Anke Eissmann, renowned for her representations of J.R.R. Tolkien's universe. The exhibition will be on display at the Faculty of Letters of the UPV/EHU.
For five days, the festival will once again transform Vitoria-Gasteiz into a meeting point for specialists, artists, researchers, and the general public interested in the multiple manifestations of fantasy in literature, cinema, visual arts, music, design, history, philosophy, and popular culture.
“"The official inauguration of the festival will take place on November 18 at Artium Museoa and will feature the participation of writer J.J. Benítez, alongside renowned researchers Jim Casey, David Higgins, and P.J. Matthews, accompanied by a performance from the Jesús Guridi Music Conservatory."
This edition boasts significant international participation, including influential UK cultural communicator Janina Ramirez; classicist Richard Buxton from the University of Bristol; and researchers Jim Casey, David Higgins, and P.J. Matthews, who are leading figures in the study of fantastic literature, myth, and contemporary culture.
Illustrator Tomás Hijo, considered a key figure in contemporary fantastic illustration, will receive the 2026 Tartalo Award, the festival's highest distinction, for his artistic career dedicated to fantastic imaginaries. Other participating artists include Igor Yebra.
The program will be rounded out with an international academic congress, family activities, mystery and legend tours, a special podcast recording, and a closing gala featuring performances by the group SILOÉ, alongside La M.O.D.A. and guest artist Nacho Pistacho.
