CONTRACULTURA Returns June 9‑12, a Multidisciplinary Festival in the Capital

The Puerto del Rosario City Council presents A CONTRACULTURA 2026 as “a festival that challenges the conventional and reflects on culture in the digital age.”

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Press Release

The Puerto del Rosario City Council announces the celebration of Festival A CONTRACULTURA 2026, a multidisciplinary event scheduled for June 9‑12. This innovative cultural proposal, now a local tradition, aims to explore currents that challenge hegemonic narratives and to create a space for critical reflection on our present, with free admission to all activities.

The festival is positioned as an unmissable fixture in Fuerteventura’s cultural calendar, offering a diverse program that spans literature, theatre, investigative journalism and live music, culminating in a grand concert by the iconic band Melón Diesel in Plaza de la Paz.

“A CONTRACULTURA reflects our firm commitment to an accessible, bold, high‑quality culture. It is not only about enriching the leisure agenda, but also about providing our citizens and visitors a space for dialogue and critical thinking. This festival not only energises the social and economic life of our capital, it also positions us as a benchmark of cultural innovation that dares to ask relevant questions for our society,” said Mayor David de Vera.

A Space for Counterculture and Digital Reflection

The festival takes its name and spirit from the concept of counterculture. As academic Romani (2005) defines it, counterculture comprises “cultural expressions that, in some way, confront—explicitly or implicitly—hegemonic cultural currents, proposing alternative ways of understanding life.” A CONTRACULTURA re‑asserts its vocation as a megaphone for those marginal voices that often end up reshaping dominant discourse.

In an era of hyper‑connectivity, the festival also dares to question the thin line between public and private spheres. It echoes essayist José Daniel Arias Torres, who warns that “in cyberspace we live under a totalitarian regime of the public, of exhibition… we are being watched, not necessarily by people, but by algorithms.” Through its activities, the festival will invite the public to debate these realities that shape our identity and freedom in the digital environment.

“We have designed a program that works as a dialogue between disciplines, precisely seeking those expressions that invite us to view reality from another angle. We want to offer a powerful, free‑entry schedule that engages all audiences—from the pop‑rock of a legendary band like Melón Diesel to the deep analysis of current reality by journalists such as Ignacio Escolar, and the theatrical work Los centros de Lorca, which narrates a contemporary story interwoven with excerpts from Lorca’s oeuvre, evoking theatre, poetry and music to explore its ‘centers’. It is a bet on a living culture that unsettles, moves and, above all, makes us think,” explained Culture Councilor Juan Manuel Verdugo.

The Plaza de la Paz and the Casa de la Cultura will again serve as the festival’s epicentre, concentrating theatre and music performances.

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Highlighted Program of A CONTRACULTURA 2026

The four‑day festival will deliver a complete cultural experience:

• Literary Presentation (June 9) – Journalist and writer Roger Mateos will launch his book El verano de los inocentes, opening a dialogue on memory and narrative.
• Graffiti Exhibition – A street‑art showcase at the Casa de la Cultura exploring the countercultural phenomenon.
• Performing Arts (June 10) – The company Antagonista Teatro will stage Los centros de Lorca in Plaza de la Paz, probing the limits of contemporary theatrical language.
• Journalism & Debate (June 11) – A unique encounter with Ignacio Escolar, director of elDiario.es, to analyse the challenges of journalism in the age of misinformation and digital surveillance.
• Music (June 11) – Érase un Vez América will present a soundtrack concert preceding the grand closing event at Plaza de la Paz, scheduled for 9 p.m.
• Grand Closing Concert (June 12) – The legendary band Melón Diesel will deliver an unforgettable performance in Plaza de la Paz, joined by guest artists such as Decadencia (paying tribute to Héroes del Silencio) and local groups, providing a spectacular finale to the festival.

The City Council invites all residents of Fuerteventura and its visitors to join this celebration of free thought and artistic creation.