The Festival Flamenco Azul has become one of Southern France’s most vibrant cultural events, celebrating flamenco in all its artistic expressions. Created in 2019 by María Pérez, director of the Centre Soléa, it has quickly grown into an international gathering that unfolds across Marseille, Aix‑en‑Provence, Digne‑les‑Bains, and other cities in the region. Its ambition is to connect the depth of flamenco’s tradition with the creativity of contemporary forms, showing how this centuries‑old art continues to evolve through dance, song, and music.

The 2026 edition, the festival’s eighth, revolves around the evocative theme Le Geste Nécessaire (“The Necessary Gesture”). This year’s program explores flamenco as an instinctive, almost vital impulse — a movement born from the need to breathe, survive, and connect. Renowned artists such as Ana Morales, Yoel Vargas, and flamenco harpist Ana Crismán headline a program that ranges from intimate tablaos to bold, avant‑garde stage productions, all highlighting the “true gesture” that is at once powerful, fragile, and deeply human.

Beyond its artistic ambition, Flamenco Azul is anchored in values of inclusion and solidarity. The festival supports social initiatives like A Pulso, which works with women facing hardship, and maintains a long‑standing partnership with T’Cap 21 to welcome young dancers with Down syndrome into its creative spaces. Through workshops, screenings, and festive community gatherings — including the beloved annual celebration at the Niolon train station — the festival turns flamenco into a shared, accessible experience, reinforcing its role as a tool for expression, empowerment, and collective joy.