The Cordoba Guitar Festival (FGC) presented the official data of the 44 editions on Wednesday, marking 22,539 participants, which represented a 15% increase in average attendance compared to the previous year. Additionally, the training program, a cornerstone of this historic monographic event, brought together nearly one hundred students from 14 countries.
The data was presented by the Mayor of Cordoba, José María Bellido, and the President of the Municipal Institute of Performing Arts (Imae), Isabel Albás. Bellido highlighted that the positive figures from this edition demonstrate "the ongoing commitment to what has always been a hallmark of the Guitar Festival’s identity and solidifies it as an unmissable event in the national musical landscape."
Furthermore, he emphasized that the program offered this year "allowed Cordoba to continue growing in cultural offerings and provide high-quality entertainment for all tastes." The mayor also noted that the local council’s "firm commitment to this festival remains to offer the best version."
He also stressed that the recently concluded edition "brought together a lineup for all types of audiences, with innovative shows, a strong presence of guitars from different styles and events, and a program consisting of 25 musical performances that have attracted interest and strengthened this cultural event as one of its most important."
On the other hand, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and Imae President, Isabel Albás, indicated that the attendance figures in the 44th edition "reflect that the guitar festival is alive, has room for growth, and has a bright future." The delegate commented that "the audience remains loyal to this event, underscoring the importance of continuing support to enhance and expand it."
Albás highlighted that this year "we offered a wide-ranging seasonal program, in the three picturesque spaces and additional venues, continuing to promote a festival that puts us among the best guitar festivals in the world, one that we believe in and for which we deserve to work."
The program for this year has been streamlined compared to the previous edition, providing a series of better-structured artistic proposals aimed at all types of audiences. The goal from Imae was to offer concerts and performances for both young and older audiences, rock fans, flamenco enthusiasts, classical music lovers, Indian music aficionados, professionals, and amateurs, providing an experience of approaching the culture of municipal theaters and other city spaces with which Imae collaborates.
territorie
Out of the total of 22,539 participants, the Teatro Axerquía had 15,669 attendees, the Gran Teatro welcomed 4,072, and the Teatro Góngora had 1,394. The Mosque in Cordoba hosted a thousand spectators, with additional audiences in other venues totaling 1,404.
This edition included 25 concerts and performances, spread across the Gran Teatro, Teatro Góngora, Teatro Axerquía, and other spaces like the Patio de Los Naranjos in the Mezquita Catedra, Casa Góngora, and musical events. The enthusiastic reception of the audience was felt throughout, with sold-out concerts by Vega and Crumbs at the Gran Teatro and Dani Fernández and Viva Suecia with Sexy Cebras at Axerquía.
Invitations for shows at the Patio de Los Naranjos in the Mosque of Cordoba and the Casa Góngora terrace were sold out to the public. This demonstrated a high interest in listening to these artistic proposals created by renowned artists from the national and international sectors.
Several events sold over 60% of tickets, including the opening of FGC with the Texas Scottish Group and the closing with Orianthi at the Gran Teatro, and Guardián Blind at Axerchy. Additionally, the Daniele Nicole Band and The Origin Show, directed by Flamenco Ballet de Andalucía and Accademia Del Piace, were well-received.
Children’s Programming
The children’s program was a novelty in this edition and stood out for its large and enthusiastic reception. Children gathered at Boulevard Gran to enjoy entertaining shows like Diabolo Classic Metal, Yee Haw!, and Festykids. To wrap up these free morning activities, children were invited to a musical treasure hunt at Casa Góngora, titled "The Guitar Duel," to learn about the history of this fun and educational form of entertainment.
Seven workshops and three masterclasses were part of the training program, a fundamental pillar in FGC’s history. Nearly one hundred students from 14 countries participated in these classes taught by industry professionals such as David Russell, Olga Pericet, and Juan Gómez Chicouolo.
The students hailed from Germany, Argentina, Brazil, China, Spain, the United States, the Philippines, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Of these, 79 were registered as active students, and 15 as observers. It is worth mentioning that eleven scholarships were offered by FGC to top students at the Rafael Orozco Music Conservatory, one of the venues for this training program along with the practice rooms at Axerquía.
Imae maintains its role as a public entity, providing quality training by top professionals and continuing its mission to promote talent and culture in the city, facilitating the professional development of students starting their careers in Cordoba with international prospects.
Another essential element of FGC that couldn’t be missed in this edition was the Study Days, with over three decades of history focusing on the intersection of culture and academia. The XXI Study Days on the history of the guitar explored "Tocaoras, guitar concertos, and masters of flamenco guitar," featuring three lectures at the Arab House by researchers Ángeles Cruzado, María Jesús Castro, and Inma Morales.
Impact
Among the data provided by the Imae president were the media monitoring results, showing high-quality coverage of FGC in regional and national content. Public investments in communication and advertising yielded returns of 869,000 euros, seven times more than the initial investment. Between July 1 and 11, the Guitar Festival reached a total audience of 166 million, underscoring the event’s significant national importance.
A total of 45 accredited media outlets and 86 professionals covered one or more of the scheduled events. These figures underscore the value of FGC for industry professionals, from critics to graphic media. They captured the essence of the festival in their pieces or images, expanding the reach to a wider audience and preserving the experiences lived during these eleven days for posterity.
A total of 539 journalistic pieces were published during the Festival Days, featuring live connections and interviews with guest artists. Additionally, millions of views were achieved on social media platforms with audiovisual content tailored to new discourses and formats, enhancing the reach to audiences interested in FGC for future editions.