Festival Tensamba Unveils Its 23rd Edition with 50 Events Across Three Continents
The XXIII edition of the Tensamba Festival was launched today at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (Muna). This exciting event in 2026 will feature over 50 activities, showcasing Brazilian music and culture across the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and other locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Present at the press event were José Carlos Acha, Tenerife’s Councillor for Culture, Museums, and Sport; Cristóbal de la Rosa, Director General of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries for the Canary Islands Government; Fernando Jiménez, Director of the Municipal Music Activities Organisation of La Laguna; Tomás LP Cruz, Tensamba’s producer; and Carlos Bruneto, a Brazilian studies expert from the University of La Laguna.
In 2026, the festival will once again connect Brazil with the rest of the world. After more than 20 years, Tensamba has established itself as a key international event in promoting Brazilian music and culture, being one of the most significant cultural projects related to Brazil outside the country.
Tensamba is sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur Islas Canarias, the Tenerife Cabildo, and the La Laguna Town Hall. Over its 23 editions, the festival has fostered cultural exchange between artists and audiences from both sides of the Atlantic, expanding its programme from just music to include various cultural expressions.
This year’s edition will enhance its international reach with more than 20 musical proposals in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Graciosa, and La Palma, as well as extending activities to other cities, including Mallorca, Salamanca, Lisbon, Stockholm, Tokyo, Sal Island, Rio Grande do Sul, and Vitória.
Artists from various Brazilian music genres will perform, including Marcio Faraco in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on November 7, Trio Corrente in La Laguna on October 17, Filó Machado in Mallorca on October 11, Paula Morelenbaum in Santa Cruz de La Palma on October 8, Kadjia Teles in Salamanca on November 9, and Melania Piñero in El Sauzal on October 23. This diverse lineup reflects the richness of contemporary Brazilian music. Detailed programming is available on the festival’s website.
Among the highlights is Paula Morelenbaum, a celebrated performer deeply rooted in bossa nova and Brazilian popular music. She spent ten years with Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Nova Banda and has since built an international career featuring collaborations with renowned artists like Jaques Morelenbaum and Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Also featured is Trio Corrente, formed in São Paulo in 2001. Comprising Fábio Torres, Paulo Paulelli, and Edu Ribeiro, they have spent over two decades creating a unique blend of choro, Brazilian popular music, and jazz, winning a Grammy for their work with Paquito D’Rivera.
The festival aims to illustrate the variety within Brazilian music and its connections to other genres. This spirit will permeate the entire programme, showcasing established names alongside emerging artists linked to the Canary Islands.
The festival promises experiences from seasoned performers like Filó Machado and Marcio Faraco while also presenting newer perspectives on contemporary Brazilian creation. Tensamba continues to provide an open and diverse programme that highlights the richness, tradition, and evolution of Brazilian culture.
A Cultural Experience Beyond Music
While music remains central, Tensamba 2026 will also feature exhibitions, workshops, talks, literature, fashion, and participatory activities. Highlights include the Voices of Women meeting, a Roda de Samba, jiu-jitsu and capoeira displays, jam sessions, and various educational efforts.
The Roda de Samba stands out as a highly participatory expression of Brazilian musical culture. In this format, musicians and the audience engage closely, fostering a sense of community.
This initiative reflects the festival’s evolution towards a broader understanding of Brazilian culture from multiple perspectives. In 2025, Tensamba hosted approximately nine weeks of programming across the archipelago, combining international artists with educational activities and cultural mediation spaces.
In 2026, Tensamba will reaffirm its role as a cultural meeting point, emphasising its international dimension and commitment to presenting the diverse richness of Brazilian culture through music and beyond.
