The XIII Festival Internacional Jazz Palencia has unveiled its most ambitious edition to date, featuring 28 concerts over 25 days and more than a hundred musicians. The festival will take place in November, transforming Palencia into a hub for both national and international jazz, with offerings for all audiences and budgets.
Sponsored by the City Council of Palencia, the Provincial Council of Palencia, the Junta de Castilla y León, and the Ministry of Culture through the INAEM, this thirteenth edition reinforces its commitment to quality, diverse, and accessible programming. The festival will blend renowned international artists with national musicians, offering free concerts and activities across various venues in the capital and the province.
This growth is reflected in the recognition the festival has gained nationally. A recent study by the platform Jazz España places the Festival Internacional Jazz Palencia among the country's leading festivals, just behind the five major Spanish festivals that have been running for over four to five decades. This is a significant achievement for a festival celebrating its thirteenth edition, which has established its own identity within the Spanish cultural calendar.
Key concerts at the Principal and Ortega theatres
The festival's core will consist of five major concerts featuring prominent representatives from different generations and styles of jazz. The opening concert on Saturday, 7 November, at 20:30 in the Teatro Principal will feature Antonio Serrano & Kaele Jiménez Cuarteto with their project Jazz CaLó. Harmonist Antonio Serrano, winner of the National Prize for Current Music in 2025 and a Latin Grammy recipient, teams up with the talented young pianist Kaele Jiménez to explore the connections between jazz and flamenco.
On Friday, 13 November, at 21:00, Kurt Elling & The Yellowjackets will perform Celebrate Weather Report. The American singer, a two-time Grammy winner and a leading voice in contemporary jazz, will join the historic band The Yellowjackets, which has over five decades of experience, to celebrate the legacy of one of the fundamental groups in jazz fusion.
Other highlights include the Michel Camilo Trio on Saturday, 14 November, at 20:30, featuring the Dominican pianist, who has received Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Emmy awards, alongside bassist Ricky Rodríguez and drummer Antonio Sánchez. The legendary drummer Billy Cobham will perform with his quintet on Friday, 20 November, at 21:00, while the festival will close its major concerts on Saturday, 21 November, at 20:30 with Cucurucho Valdés & Javier Colina Trio, paying tribute to the legendary Cuban musician Bebo Valdés.
New cultural collaborations and activities
This edition will also introduce the Day of Swing on Saturday, 31 October, in collaboration with Swing con P. The day will kick off with a free introductory class to lindy hop at the Casino de Palencia, followed by a vermouth concert featuring Hot Club Valladolid at Tocalé & Jump!, and will culminate in a swing party with Chuchi Step Trio at the Casino.
The festival is expanding its collaborations with cultural and educational institutions in the city. On Wednesday, 4 November, at 11:30, the Palencia Campus of the University of Valladolid will host a musical conference titled Damas del Jazz, featuring Ana Silva and Mauricio Caruso, dedicated to key figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan. That same day, at 19:00, the Ateneo de Palencia will host a new proposal that combines literature and music, where journalist and writer Carlos Aganzo will present his poetry collection Que no acabe este blues, accompanied by pianist Naiel Ibarrola.
Additionally, the Municipal Music Band of Palencia will perform a free orchestral jazz concert on Sunday, 22 November, at 13:00 in the Teatro Principal, showcasing various jazz styles adapted for a band format.
Jazz across the province and in local venues
The festival will also extend its reach to four towns in the province. Paredes de Nava will host David Cid Quartet feat. Marta Marín on 30 October; Aguilar de Campoo will welcome Cream Quartet on 1 November; Guardo will feature César Tejero Trío on 14 November; and Baltanás will close the provincial cycle on 15 November with Cover Club.
Jazz will also fill the streets of Palencia. On Saturdays 7, 14, and 21 November, at 12:00, the Calle Mayor will come alive with performances by El Puntillo Canalla Brass Band, Big Malavara, and La Nouvelle Helmantique, respectively. Free vermouth concerts will take place at Bar Alaska on 7 and 14 November, and at Habana Cafetería on 15 November.
The Club de Jazz series will feature Slim Slam Tribute on 6 November at Club 38 and Víctor Antón Quintet on 12 November at Bar Universonoro. The traditional jazz dinner will take place at the Ponte Vecchio restaurant, accompanied by Chuchi Step Trio on 19 November.
Family-friendly jazz events
On Sunday, 8 November, at 12:00 in the Teatro Principal, Swing for Kids will premiere De Cine, a family show that combines jazz, swing, cinema, live music, tap dancing, games, and stories, designed to engage children in a fun and interactive way.
Cultural programming and the Ramos Ópticos award
The cultural programme will also feature a new edition of Jazz de película, with three free screenings in original version with subtitles: Pete Kelly's Blues (3 November), El demonio vestido de azul (10 November), and Chantaje en Broadway (17 November). The Museum of Palencia will host Cuca Albert & The Jumping Fleas on 5 November, focusing on swing and classic jazz. The Public Library of Palencia will host the exhibition El jazz está en los libros from 30 October to 21 November, along with two vinyl listening sessions on 13 and 20 November, and a poetry and improvisation event on 18 November with zo brinviyer and Lachy Torriente.
The festival will also celebrate the ninth edition of the International 'Ramos Ópticos' Award for the best jazz-related story, with the results expected on 15 October. This unique competition, which links jazz and literary creation, is one of the festival's defining features, reinforcing its commitment to promoting jazz culture beyond the stage.
Ticket information
Individual tickets for the Teatro Ortega range from €25 to €30, while tickets for the opening concert at the Teatro Principal on 7 November are priced between €12 and €28. The family concert Swing for Kids costs €8 for children and €10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the respective theatres' box offices.
With this extensive programme, the XIII Festival Internacional Jazz Palencia reaffirms its dedication to bringing jazz to diverse audiences and establishing Palencia as one of Spain's key locations for this genre during the autumn.
