Renew Your Subscriptions for the 42nd Festival
The International Music Festival of the Canary Islands (FIMC) opens its subscription renewal period for its 42nd edition tomorrow, Tuesday, September 16th. The prestigious lineup for the 2026 season includes performances by the Bamberg Symphony, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Munich), Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the SWR Symphony Orchestra (Stuttgart Radio), and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, alongside the two resident Canary Islands orchestras.
A major highlight of this stellar selection is the return of conductor Gustavo Dudamel and pianists Yuja Wang and Arcadi Volodos. The festival also proudly welcomes, for the first time, the acclaimed cellist Sol Gabetta, among other luminaries. The FIMC, which attracted a total of 1,435 people in 2025, will run from January 8th to February 10th, 2026, and will include over 60 concerts distributed across all of the islands.
Key Dates for Your Diary
Subscription renewals for the two capital cities, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, will be available until October 10th. Ticket sales for the general public will commence on December 11th. This is also the date when a special subscription package designed for concerts on the non-capital islands will be offered, ensuring music lovers across the entire archipelago can enjoy the festival.
A Spectacular Opening Night
The opening concert, included in the subscription package, will be performed by the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir. It features a tribute to Manuel de Falla on the 150th anniversary of his birth, under the baton of its principal conductor, Christoph König. The production includes the participation of Canarian pianist Iván Martín performing “Noches en los jardines de España” (Nights in the Gardens of Spain). The evening continues with a concert version of the opera “La vida breve” (The Short Life), featuring a wide array of solo vocalists.
World-Class Orchestras and Soloists
The festival program is packed with unforgettable performances. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from Munich will give four concerts under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. They will present two different programs: the first featuring works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert on January 10th and 11th in Tenerife; and the second with Mozart and Bruckner on January 12th and 13th in Gran Canaria.
The prestigious Mahler Chamber Orchestra returns to the festival, this time with Yuja Wang, described by organizers as “one of the best and most influential pianists in the world.” She will perform Ligeti’s Concerto under the direction of Fabien Gabel. In the second part of the program, Wang will take on the double role of soloist and conductor for Chopin’s First Piano Concerto. The orchestra will also perform works by Stravinsky and Mozart. This concert takes place in Gran Canaria on January 18th.
Also featured is the SWR Symphony Orchestra (Stuttgart Radio), directed by François-Xavier Roth. They will be joined by Emmanuel Pahud, principal flautist of the Berlin Philharmonic and considered one of the finest players of his instrument today. The program for their performances on January 23rd and 24th in Gran Canaria and Tenerife includes works by Debussy, Mozart, and Ravel, highlighting the flute’s significance in the symphonic world.
Celebrating Local Talent
The two Canary Islands orchestras hold a special place in the festival lineup. The Gran Canaria Philharmonic, with Karel Mark Chichón and the renowned “cantaora” (flamenco singer) Estrella Morente, will perform works by Falla and Ravel on January 24th in Gran Canaria and January 25th in Tenerife. Meanwhile, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, directed by Pablo González, will appear before the public with Russian violinist Vadim Repin on January 26th and 27th, performing pieces by Shostakovich and Mussorgsky.
Closing Out January in Style
The final days of January bring more incredible music. The Bamberg Symphony, with Jakub Hrusa on the podium, will be accompanied by the celebrated cellist Sol Gabetta (January 28th and 29th) for a program of Smetana, Elgar, and Dvorak. Following them, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic will perform under the direction of Kazuki Yamada, with Martin Helmchen on piano, on January 30th and 31st, featuring works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn.
A Sublime Finale
The 42nd FIMC will be brought to a close by the great Arcadi Volodos, who returns to the festival with a sublime solo piano program. Audiences can experience his masterful interpretations of works by Bach, Chopin, and Schubert live on February 5th and 7th.
Music for the Entire Archipelago
In addition to these 17 major concerts, the 42nd FIMC has scheduled another 20 extraordinary performances. This includes special productions that the two Canary Islands orchestras will take to other islands in the archipelago, truly making this a festival for all Canarians and visitors to enjoy.
