Playa del Carmen Announces First Flamenco Fusion Festival Honoring Paco de Lucía

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Playa del Carmen has officially launched the first Flamenco Fusion Festival, a tribute to the late guitarist Paco de Lucía, set for February 28 at the city theater.

The announcement event took place at the Pata Negra restaurant, with municipal officials, invited artists, sponsors, and media representatives in attendance. Organizers described the festival as more than a concert, calling it a living memorial where tradition and innovation meet through flamenco.

Paco de Lucía, born in Algeciras, Spain, revolutionized flamenco guitar, blending it with jazz and classical music while preserving its roots. His iconic piece “Entre dos aguas” marked a turning point for the genre. The tribute holds special significance as Playa del Carmen was the city where he spent his final years.

Featured Artists

The festival will feature international artists closely connected to Lucía’s legacy:

• Juan D’Anyelica, Lucía’s only direct student, a concertist and composer with over four decades of experience and a Latin Grammy winner.
• Pakito Anyelica, a young flamenco guitar prodigy recognized by leading masters of the genre.
• Grisha Goryachev, a world-renowned guitarist personally endorsed by Paco de Lucía.

Additional performers include Martin Bies, Sofía Lych, Irving Contreras, Alejandro Barajas, and dancers Susana Esquinca and Armando Tobar.

Cultural and Tourism Impact

Organizers aim to promote artistic training through masterclasses and international meetings, strengthen Playa del Carmen’s cultural identity, boost the local creative economy, and attract specialized cultural tourism from Europe, the United States, and Latin America.

Cultural promoters Marta de Juana and Daniela Jáuregui, who are producing the event, said they envision this as the first in an annual series to establish Playa del Carmen as an international flamenco hub outside Spain.

The organizing committee thanked official sponsor Parques Xcaret, along with Fundación Natura y Cultura, DAC, Pata Negra, Jaguar Negro, Caravana Cultural Playense, and Alebrijes Films. They also acknowledged media outlets for their coverage.

Municipal Tourism Secretary Estefanía Hernández emphasized that such initiatives align with the city government’s vision, led by Mayor Estefanía Mercado, to solidify Playa del Carmen as the cultural and artistic epicenter of Quintana Roo.

“Under the mayor’s direction, we are promoting a strong cultural policy to establish Playa del Carmen as the hub for the best artistic and cultural events in Quintana Roo,” Hernández said. “We believe culture drives identity, development, and international projection for our destination.”

She added that events like the Flamenco Festival help shift Playa del Carmen’s narrative from a vacation spot to a cultural destination with international musical identity.

Tickets are available at TusBoletos.mx.