Torrevieja once again becomes the world capital of choral singing with the 72nd International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition

The Festival will offer seven nights of music with an opening gala, competition evenings, a focus on Torrevieja choirs, and a grand closing ceremony with awards presentation.
29.06.2026
TORREVIEJA VUELVE A CONVERTIRSE EN LA CAPITAL MUNDIAL DEL CANTO CORAL CON EL 72º CERTAMEN INTERNACIONAL DE HABANERAS Y POLIFONÍA
Fifteen choirs from thirteen countries across four continents will participate from July 19 to 25 in an edition that will bring together more than 700 choral singers and will feature top-level figures such as Ainhoa Arteta and José Manuel Zapata.

Torrevieja will once again become the world's leading center for choral music this July with the celebration of the 72nd International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition, declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, which will take place from July 19 to 25 at the Municipal Theatre.

For seven intense days, more than 700 choral singers from 13 countries across four continents will participate in one of the world's most prestigious and oldest choral competitions, once again consolidating Torrevieja as the true world capital of the habanera.

A HIGH-LEVEL OPENING GALA WITH AINHOA ARTETA

The competition will kick off on Sunday, July 19, with a spectacular opening gala in which the Unión Musical Torrevejense, together with the Coro Sinfonía of the Municipal Choral School, will perform the official anthems before giving way to the performance of the prestigious soprano Ainhoa Arteta, one of the great voices of international opera.

LOCAL CHOIRS, PROTAGONISTS OF ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NIGHTS

Torrevieja's choral tradition will once again take center stage with the gala dedicated to local groups on Monday, July 20, featuring performances by:

  • Maestro Ricardo Lafuente Choir and Orchestra.
  • José Hódar Choir.
  • Manuel Barberá Choir Group.
  • Torrevieja Choir.
  • Maestro Casanovas Choir.
  • Coral Torrevieja Francisco Vallejos.

In addition, the required work for this edition will be "Habanera de Sal", composed by Antoni Mas and Belén Puente.

Fifteen choirs from thirteen countries will transform Torrevieja into the world's great stage for choral music.

The four evenings of competition will bring together fifteen groups from thirteen countries, representing Europe, America and Asia, in an extraordinary display of cultural diversity and musical excellence.

First evening (Tuesday, July 21)

  • Latvia: Riga Technical University Mixed Choir "Vivere" (Riga).
  • Türkiye: Anchorus Polyphonic Choir (Ankara).
  • Chile: Sortilegio Vocal Ensemble (Valparaíso).
  • China: Beijing Wuzi Riparian Choir (Beijing).

Second evening (Wednesday, July 22)

  • United States: Chamber Choir "Portland Phoenix".
  • Mexico: Chamber Choir of the University of the Americas (Puebla).
  • Slovenia: Mixed Choir "Viva" (Brežice).
  • Indonesia: Administratio Choir (Malang).

Third evening (Thursday, July 23)

  • Venezuela: Mérida Chamber Choir.
  • Ukraine: State Capella Choir of Ukraine "Trembita" (Lviv).
  • Peru: Youth Choir "Symphony for Peru" (Lima).
  • Argentina: Chamber Choir of the National College of Buenos Aires.

Fourth evening (Friday, July 24)
The competition will conclude with the participation of the three selected Spanish groups:

  • Canary Islands: "Ainur" Chamber Choir (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
  • Community of Madrid: "Encanto" Choir (Griñón).
  • Asturias: "Aurum" Choir (Luanco).

In total, the stage of the Municipal Theatre will bring together representatives from Latvia, Turkey, Chile, China, the United States, Mexico, Slovenia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Peru, Argentina and Spain, consolidating an edition that will once again place Torrevieja as the world capital of choral singing and the habanera.

Closing gala (Saturday, July 25). Performance by winning choirs and awards ceremony.

José Manuel Zapata will present the competition

The renowned tenor and music educator José Manuel Zapata will be in charge of hosting all the galas of the Competition, while the jury will be made up of prestigious professionals from the musical field: Antoni Mas, Cristóbal Soler, Pietro Ferrairo, Ruth Revert and Selena Cancino.

A CITY DEVOTED TO CHORAL MUSIC

Alongside the official galas, Torrevieja will offer a wide cultural program with choral performances in the pedestrian streets of the historic center, concerts in different spaces of the city and the celebration of the XIII International Days of the Habanera and Choral Singing.

As a prelude to the Contest, on Friday, July 4, Playa del Cura will host a great night of habaneras outdoors with the performance of the UAnima Choir and La Trova del Llano.

In addition, the galas can be followed from the giant screen installed in the Paseo Vista Alegre, as well as through Televisión de Torrevieja, Televisión Española and À Punt, allowing thousands of spectators to enjoy one of the most important cultural events of the Spanish summer.

With this new edition, Torrevieja reaffirms its status as an international benchmark for choral singing and the habanera, bringing together for a week cultures, languages and musical traditions from all over the world around a heritage that is part of the city's identity.