The Serenates festival returns to the cloister of the Universitat de València's Centre Cultural La Nau with a program that, from June 20 to July 2, will bring together classical music, jazz, pop, flamenco, film-concerts, and other contemporary proposals across 12 concerts.
The event, co-produced by the University and the Institut Valencià de Cultura, reaches its 39th edition "consolidated as one of the most veteran cultural and musical festivals in the city of Valencia," the organization emphasizes in a statement.
The program was presented this morning at La Nau in a press conference with the participation of Albert Moncusí, Vice-Rector for Culture, Sports, and Social Connection of the Universitat de València; Álvaro López-Jamar, Director General of Culture of the Institut Valencià de Cultura; and José Luis Moreno, Councilor Delegate for Cultural Action of the Ajuntament de València.
During the event, the heads of the three institutions highlighted "the pride" of working together to make possible a festival that is about to celebrate forty years of history and has established itself as one of the most outstanding cultural events of the Valencian summer.
They also emphasized the "high artistic quality" of the program, one of the distinguishing features of an event that, since its inception, has combined "excellence and closeness to the audience."
Serenates 2026 will feature a total of 12 concerts and will advance its start this year to Saturday, June 20, coinciding with the celebration of Fête de la Musique -- the Music Festival --, a cultural initiative that brings free concerts to streets and public spaces worldwide every June 21.
The opening will be led by the Orquestra de València, conducted by Alexander Liebreich, with pianist Mao Fujita as soloist. The concert, which will be recorded and broadcast by the European channel ARTE, will include works by Mozart and Martín i Soler and will kick off an edition marked by the coexistence of classical repertoire, contemporary music, and new stage proposals.
Valencian pianist Elena Font will headline the concert on Sunday, June 21, with Els somnis de Ravel (Ravel's Dreams), a proposal built around the sound universe of Maurice Ravel in the year commemorating the 150th anniversary of his birth. The recital will also engage with the music of Claude Debussy and Manuel de Falla, tracing a journey through some of the most influential languages of early 20th-century European music.
On Wednesday, June 24, it will be the turn of the Orquestra Filharmònica de la Universitat de València with Fanfàrries per a rituals i litúrgies (Fanfares for Rituals and Liturgies), a show that will combine symphonic music and live lighting designed by LABLUZ. The proposal will bring together works by Copland, Joan Tower, Henri Tomasi, and Janácek in a sonic exploration of the ceremonial and symbolic character of the fanfare.
Singer Christina Rosenvinge will arrive at Serenates on Thursday, June 25, to present Los versos sáficos (Sapphic Verses) in a trio format, accompanied by Amaia Miranda and Magalí Datzira. The concert will reinterpret, from a contemporary pop perspective, the verses of Sappho and the songs composed for the theatrical work of the same name, blending Mediterranean, folk, and electronic sounds.
The program will continue on Friday, June 26, with the film-concert Les aventures del príncep Achmed (The Adventures of Prince Achmed), considered one of the foundational titles in the history of animation cinema. Lotte Reiniger's film, made using animated silhouettes, will be screened with live music composed and performed by Jorge Gil Zulueta, Paco Alonso, and an instrumental ensemble.
Over the weekend, on Saturday, June 27, in a morning session with free admission, the company Entrelazados will present Descalços (Barefoot), a proposal of inclusive dance-theater linked to the Universitat de València's La Nau Social program. The performance reflects on empathy, diversity, and the need to pause and see the world from the experience of others.
On the same day, at 10 p.m., the Orfeó Universitari de València will offer (No) Res? (Nothing?), a concert focused on contemporary choral music and spiritual reflection. The program will include the absolute premiere of Calix maudit by Valencian composer Joan Gómez-Alemany, alongside works by Rachmaninoff, Tavener, Vasks, and Barber.
Jazz and flamenco will meet on Sunday, June 28, with Roneando, the project by Perico Sambeat with his Quintet Flamenco. The ensemble will perform original compositions exploring new languages between contemporary jazz and traditional flamenco styles such as bulerías, alegrías, and tanguillos.
The Banda Simfònica Unió Musical l'Horta de Sant Marcel·lí will perform on June 29 with Ecos de l'horta i la metròpoli: paisatges, festa i tradició (Echoes of the Orchard and the Metropolis: Landscapes, Festivity, and Tradition). The repertoire will offer a musical tribute to the duality between urban Valencia and the traditional orchard landscape, with works by Manuel Palau, Rafael Talens, Merche Femenía, and Franco Cesarini. This concert will be held in collaboration with the city's oldest musical festival: the Certamen Internacional de Bandes Ciutat de València.
On June 30, the women's choir Cor de dones A cau d'orella will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the show Dona i veu: 20 anys cantant (Woman and Voice: 20 Years Singing). The concert will feature the collaboration of the Quintet Casulana and will highlight the role of women in musical creation and performance through a repertoire for female voices.
The program continues on July 1 with a performance by Tonina, a singer, composer, and double bassist born in San Diego, recognized for fusing jazz, soul, and Latin American music. Her work stands out for its blend of cultural influences and a performance focused on voice and rhythm.
Serenates 2026 will conclude on July 2 with Passió barroca (Baroque Passion) by Harmonia del Parnàs, an interdisciplinary production combining baroque music and dance. The show, directed by Marian Rosa Montagut, will draw from fragments of Handel's opera Alcina to explore human emotions through musical interpretation and scenic movement.
Thus, the program maintains a "firm commitment" to Valencian creation, emerging talent, university ensembles, stylistic diversity, and the incorporation of new artistic proposals.
The Serenates festival is sponsored by the Diputación de València and the Ayuntamiento de València -València Music City. Important cultural entities such as the Palau de la Música de València, the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de València, and the Fundació General de la Universitat de València will also collaborate.
Tickets for the concerts will have a general price of 5 euros and will be available for purchase from June 2, at 2 p.m., at www.latenda.es/entrades and at La Tenda of the Centre Cultural La Nau, except for the opening concert tickets of the Orquestra de València, which will be available at http://www.palauvalencia.com and at the auditorium's box office. The performance Descalços by Entrelazados will be free admission.
The poster for this XXXIX edition was designed by Samuel Llopis Alonso, a third-year Graphic Design student at the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de València (EASD València), originally from Sagunto and 23 years old.
