Nine scenes blending music, poetry, theatre, circus, sports, active education and sustainability form the tapestry of Alacant Desperta’s VIII edition. Mount Tossal in Alicante will host a dense lineup from May 13 to 15, inviting the city to immerse itself in a packed cultural program.
The event runs under the banner breath and brings together the urban festival spirit organized by the collective For the Love of Art in collaboration with the Alicante City Council. Over three days, more than 80 groups fill dedicated stages with rock, electronic and hip hop sounds. The program kicks off on Friday at 7 pm with performances by Alabayos, Homo No Sapiens and Motonegra, among others. Saturday and Sunday feature acts from Lapsus, Los Minipimers, Caja B, Discípulos de Titán, Kamilo Soriano and Lord Byron and the Ambassadors, who will close the festival space.
Electronic music also shines with a collection of DJs and live artists such as The Liquid Mirror, Viika, RepAlive and Acheote joining the bill.
Hip hop opens the festival with El Siervo and Aukan on Friday, while the third stage hosts acts including Los Ligh ter, Ze Kings, Elia Soriz, Nase and Chamán Charro. The program also features a freestyle challenge and a break dancing showcase.
There will be collaborative and mixed stage moments where bands from different styles perform side by side, including Jean Jass, Música de Mierda, Yake and Tearful Sorrow.
The performing arts program includes tai-chi, African dance, batucada, contemporary pole dance, Balkan dancing, Condor, Nana Moon and a blend of contemporary music and poetry.
The festival presents poetry recitals featuring Marina García, Elena Tajuelo, Nelo Curti, Mercedes de Cecilia, Iván Calero, Amador Navarro and Enrique Morte, weaving words with melodies and movement.
Sustainability remains a core theme for Alacant Desperta. An entire area is dedicated to environmental action, with initiatives to combat climate change, beach cleanups and workshops on urban gardening, recycling and printmaking, plus a free market and a clearing table for exchange and reuse ideas.
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Region, city and sport intersect in a program that includes jugger, bike polo and highline demonstrations, complemented by a symbolic walk through the festival area.
Active education also takes a prominent place with workshops ranging from ceramics to sign language, from comics to manga and cosplay. A circus segment presents Esto no es Serio, Betzy and Company on the final stage, with performances by Tello and Jota, plus juggling, hula hoop and unicycle workshops.
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Mount Tossal Park becomes a gathering space for residents and visitors, offering a diverse spectrum of multicultural and intergenerational proposals crafted by artists and organizers across the city.
Cultural Programming Consultant Anthony Manresa notes that after a two year break due to health reasons, the festival hopes for a large turnout so people can enjoy the wide range of offerings in this special edition. The city’s streets will once again come alive with culture and vitality.
Alacant Desperta is a collective project born from grassroots culture and a desire to imagine inclusive socio-cultural models created by and for the community. It aims to welcome new experiences of creativity, free expression and artistic experimentation, inviting everyone to participate, observe, listen and feel. The festival aspires to keep these experiences accessible throughout the year, empowering people to engage with culture every day.