Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set to embark on a week filled with a rich programme of cultural, educational, heritage, and sporting activities that will span all districts of the city. The local government prioritises making culture and healthy leisure accessible to neighbourhoods, combining municipal initiatives with the extensive scenic and musical offerings from the city’s main cultural venues.
The municipal library network will play a central role in community engagement, offering activities for all ages. At the Central Municipal Library, a special selection titled “Libraries, much more than books” is currently available in the General Hall, alongside a historical and educational exhibition called “Books, blackboard and chalk: schooling in the Canary Islands in the 19th century,” which reviews teaching materials and methods used in the archipelago.
This Thursday, the library will host the presentation of the book “A cada paso un cuento” by Clara Benítez, followed by a motivational talk titled “What really matters” by Javier Rosquete for schoolchildren, and a family session “In songs and stories” with Fidel Galbán. Concurrently, the José Saramago Library in Añaza will enhance its role as a community and family space in the Southwest District with the children’s activity “Pequeguapadas” on Thursday morning, a breastfeeding workshop led by health professionals on Friday, and an evening storytelling session “Stories in motion.”
On Saturday afternoon, the Youth Information Centre (CIJ) will take over at the Central Municipal Library with a role-playing games day organised by Enrolados for young people aged 16 to 35. Additionally, the Teatro del Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero will host the presentation of the book “Manolo Monzón, the father of the Canary comparsas,” dedicated to Manolo Monzón Mingorance, the creator of the first comparsa and founder of Los Rumberos. The book, published by the Carnival Culture Classroom of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is authored by journalists Agustín Gajate Barahona and María Plasencia, and it highlights Monzón's significant legacy in the history of the Carnival.
Another key event this week is the III Historical Heritage Conference of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which this year commemorates the centenary of García Sanabria Park (1926-2026). Hosted in the park’s Art Hall, the programme includes conferences, round tables, and guided tours on Thursday and Friday to showcase the botanical, architectural, urban, and sculptural richness of this iconic green space. The park is also currently exhibiting the painting show “Windows from within” by Tenerife artist Clío Morente.
In terms of youth and participation, the municipal programme Distrito Joven offers various activities focused on training and alternative leisure. This Thursday, the Mascareño Youth House will host a study techniques and academic reinforcement session, while the Lázaro Siliuto Youth House will hold an introductory workshop on computer programming on Friday. The Valleseco Community Centre will be the venue for rehearsals of “Distrito Talent.” The youth agenda will culminate on Saturday with an eco-adventure horseback riding event at the El Manchón de las Flores Equestrian Centre.
The municipality's exhibition and artistic offerings are further enriched by the proposals at the Los Lavaderos Art Hall, which is hosting the ethnographic and visual exhibition “The Washerwomen of Santa Cruz” until the end of the month. Other ongoing exhibitions include “Cho Juaá: collective humour” at the TEA Tenerife Arts Space, “Sentire” by Ana Lilia Martín at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space, “Bajarse las bragas” by Juana Fortuny at the Bibli Gallery, “Ay Bendito!” at Leyendecker, and “Dreamlike Landscapes” by Juan Guerra at Desván Blanco Cultural Space.
From Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November, the TEA will screen “Neurótica anónima” (2025), the latest feature film by Cuban director Jorge Perugorría. The screenings, part of the month-long campaign against gender violence, address this critical issue as a central theme of the film. The film, nominated for the Goya Awards in the category of Best Ibero-American Film, will be shown in its original Spanish version with English subtitles and is not recommended for viewers under 12. The screenings on Friday and Saturday will feature a presentation by actor Joel Angelino and actress Mirtha Ibarra, who is celebrating 60 years in the profession. A round table discussion with Mirtha Ibarra, Aurelio Carnero, Joel Angelino, and Santiago and Teodoro Ríos will also take place on Friday. Following the screenings on Saturday and Sunday, the short film “WC Story,” directed by Santiago Ríos and starring Joel Angelino and Gretel Cazón, will be shown. This tragicomedy, produced by Angelino Producciones, unfolds in the women’s restroom of a nightclub, where an unexpected therapeutic encounter occurs.
In the realms of music, theatre, and fairs, the city’s agenda features high-profile events throughout the weekend. The Ferial Centre will host a new edition of Exposaldo 2026 starting Thursday to stimulate local commerce. Meanwhile, the Tenerife Auditorium Adán Martín will welcome the Wigmore Soloists chamber ensemble today, the Autonomous Phase of the 25th Intercentros Melómano on Saturday, and the much-anticipated premiere of Richard Wagner's opera “Lohengrin” on Sunday, as part of the 2026/2027 Tenerife Opera Season.
The commercial programme will include the celebration of the Day of Commerce on Saturday 14 November, from 10:00 to 14:00, in the rear esplanade of the Los Príncipes Shopping Centre, dedicated to commercial activities. Additionally, the XIII Naturajazz festival will take place at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) featuring Aziz Ozouss & Marmoucha Orchestra; a concert by Servando and Florentino in the Palmetum parking lot; the “Leo & Leo” meeting with Leo Sidran and Leonor Watling at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space; and programming at Espacio La Granja with cinema (“Dragon Ball Super: Broly”), physical theatre (“Triplette”), and Canarian music (Liane and Dácil Santana). Other performances will occur at the Victoria Theatre, the Docurock Festival at Equipo PARA, fashion and music proposals from Wearable Art at Crudo Bar, the Ticket to Shake! festival at the Lone Star, and live performances at Café Teatro Rayuela.
The week will conclude with the XII International Half Marathon of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fred. Olsen Express on Sunday 15 November. With over 4,200 registered athletes from 55 nationalities, this marks the highest number recorded for an event of this nature in the Canary Islands since 2016. The race will transform the waterfront and major thoroughfares of the capital into a vast urban circuit, starting and finishing around the Avenida Marítima and the Parque de La Gesta, covering a distance of 21 kilometres along with a popular 8K Bikila run.
