30 MASDANZA: Canary Islands’ International Contemporary Dance Festival (2–26 October 2025)

If you thought Gran Canaria was just about beaches and papas arrugadas, think again. This October, the island becomes a stage for one of Europe’s most exciting contemporary dance events: MASDANZA. And 2025 isn’t just any year — it’s the festival’s 30th edition. Expect world-class performances, cutting-edge choreography, and more pirouettes than you can count.

💃 What is MASDANZA?

Born in 1996 in Gran Canaria thanks to dancer and choreographer Natalia Medina, MASDANZA started as a local initiative and quickly grew into an international heavyweight. By the sixth edition it was already global, attracting artists from Europe, Asia, and beyond. Today it’s recognised with the EFFE Label (the European Festivals badge of quality) and has even been a candidate for Best European Dance Festival.

At its heart, MASDANZA is about bringing contemporary dance closer to the people of the Canary Islands while giving emerging and established artists a stage to shine. It’s also a celebration of inclusion, diversity, and creativity — all with a salty Atlantic breeze in the background.

📅 The 2025 Edition: What to Expect

The festival runs from 2 to 26 October 2025, filling theatres, outdoor plazas, and even unusual spaces across Gran Canaria. Here are some of the programme highlights to look forward to:

• Solo Dance Contest: Individual performers showcase their artistic voices in intimate, powerful pieces. The competition takes place between 15 and 18 October and is always one of the festival’s emotional peaks.
• Choreographic Contest: Groups and companies present complete works, mixing movement, sound and stagecraft in bold new ways. Expect premieres and plenty of surprises.
• MASDANZA Dunes: Dance meets nature in one of Gran Canaria’s most spectacular landscapes. Think contemporary choreography set against the backdrop of the Maspalomas sand dunes at sunset.
• Inter-Island Tour: From 19 to 25 October, selected works travel beyond Gran Canaria to reach audiences across the Canary Islands.
• MASDANZA Cinema: Screenings that bring together film and dance, showcasing international works that push boundaries between the two art forms.
• MASDANZA Showcase: A professional platform where choreographers present their work to festival directors and programmers, opening doors to future collaborations.
• Breaking MASDANZA: A section dedicated to urban dance and breakdance, showing how contemporary movement thrives beyond the theatre.
• Workshops and residencies: International choreographers lead sessions for dancers and students, while residencies support the creation of new works.

This year, the festival will distribute 38,000 euros in prizes, support residencies, and foster artistic exchanges with other international festivals.

🗓️ Mini Schedule: Key Dates

• 2 – 26 October 2025: Festival runs across Gran Canaria with events, workshops and shows.
• 15 – 18 October 2025: Solo Dance and Choreographic Contests take centre stage. The Winners’ Gala and Prize Ceremony close this section on 18 October.
• 19 – 25 October 2025: The Inter-Island Tour takes selected pieces across the Canary Islands.

🌍 Why It Matters

MASDANZA isn’t just a cultural event — it’s a lifeline between the Canary Islands and the global arts scene. For locals, it brings contemporary dance out of the capital and into small towns, opening up access to world-class culture. For artists, it’s a chance to be seen, supported and connected internationally, with many winners going on to perform at major festivals around the world. And for visitors, it’s cultural tourism at its best. Spend the day exploring volcanic landscapes and the evening watching a dance performance under the stars.

📝 Tips if You’re Going

Check the program on masdanza.com to know which performances are happening where, because venues shift between theatres, cultural centres and outdoor stages. Book ahead, especially for performances in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Don’t miss the open-air sections like MASDANZA Dunes, where the atmosphere is as much a part of the show as the choreography. And go with an open mind — this is contemporary dance, which means you’re guaranteed the unexpected.

✨ Final Step

Gran Canaria might be known for its sun and surf, but every October it proves it has serious cultural flair too. The 30th MASDANZA is set to be a landmark edition, mixing the global with the local, and turning the islands into a giant dance floor. Whether you’re a hardcore dance fan or just curious, this is one event you don’t want to miss.

Source, more info and tickets: MASDANZA Official Website