The patron saint festivities of Arrecife in honor of San Ginés will kick off this Friday, August 14, with the opening speech by Hécher Sosa, an Arrecife mixed martial arts fighter, known as ‘Guanche Warrior’ and currently in the world elite of this sport as a UFC fighter.
This was announced by the deputy mayor and head of the Festival Department of the capital of Lanzarote, Echedey Eugenio, who this morning unveiled the details of the poster for the current edition, along with its creator, Bárbara Müller, and the mayor, Yonathan de León.
Taking advantage of the official photo, De León and Eugenio have announced a program that once again combines the most deeply rooted traditions of the patron saint festivities with great musical performances, cultural and sports activities, children's and family proposals, and the recovery of spaces for the enjoyment of the citizens.
Among the main musical events are the concerts by Pablo Alborán, on Saturday, August 15, at 9:00 PM, and David Bisbal, on Tuesday the 25th, at 9:30 PM, both on the esplanade of the Recinto Ferial. Added to these is a program that includes, among other proposals, the XXXIII San Ginés Rock Festival, the III International Performing Arts Festival El Mundo en Lanzarote, the XXXVI Meeting of Habaneras and Sea Music, performances by La Guardia and El Consorcio, the Fiesta de la Chola, the XXXVIII Peasant Festival, the XXXII Arrecife Folk Festival, the Talent Show San Ginés, and numerous popular festivals, performances, and musical tributes.
The festivities will also once again bet on their hallmarks with the traditional food stalls on Avenida de Vargas, the parrandas, traditional Canarian music, traditional games at Charco de San Ginés, sports events, and activities for children and adults. The program will culminate on August 25, the feast day of San Ginés, with the religious celebration, the procession, and the traditional fireworks.
The mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, has highlighted that “San Ginés is much more than a program of events. They are days when Arrecife finds itself, when we reclaim our streets and share our city with family, friends, and visitors.”
De León has also stressed that “we wanted festivities for everyone, capable of combining our identity and traditions with modern programming and great shows that position Arrecife as a cultural and festive benchmark in the Canary Islands during the month of August”.
For his part, the deputy mayor and councilor for Festivities, Echedey Eugenio, has pointed out that “we have prepared festivities so that each neighbor can find their own San Ginés: from those who want to enjoy Bisbal or Alborán to those who prefer a parranda, the food stalls, traditional games, a sports activity or simply to meet up with their loved ones in the street”.
Eugenio has emphasized the work done during the term to recover the popular character of the festivities, stating that “our objective has always been for San Ginés to be felt in the street again. We have recovered traditions, spaces, and ways of meeting that are part of our memory, without giving up bringing great concerts and current proposals to Arrecife. Tradition and modernity can and must coexist”.
Twelve days to experience Arrecife
The program will extend to spaces such as José Ramírez Cerdá Park, Vargas Avenue, Reducto Beach, the Municipal Market, the Fairgrounds esplanade, Plaza de Las Palmas, and Charco de San Ginés, in addition to sports facilities and other points in the city.
Along with music and traditions, the program includes water activities, summer cinema, children's and gaming areas, proposals for seniors, an inclusive day at the fairgrounds, traditional games, and an extensive sports agenda with football, handball, 3x3 basketball, rugby, wrestling, Canarian ball, pétanque, sailing, swimming, kayaking, and other disciplines.
A poster that looks at Arrecife through the eyes of Bárbara Müller
One of the most unique elements of the 2026 edition is the graphic image of the festivities. Architect, artist, and urban illustrator Bárbara Müller is the author of the poster and the watercolors and illustrations that accompany the different pages of the program.
The cover places the church of San Ginés and its urban environment as the protagonist, accompanied by characters walking towards the celebration, while inside the illustrations reveal different corners, heritage elements, and recognizable scenes of Arrecife: the Charco, the coast, the city's architecture, boats, meeting places, and characters enjoying the festivities. The result turns the program not only into a guide of activities but also into a small illustrated tour of the capital's identity.
Müller is an architect graduated from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, has been part of the board of directors of the College of Architects of Lanzarote, and combines her professional activity with a broad career linked to watercolor, urban drawing, and visual arts. After residing in places like Patagonia, Sweden, and Barcelona, she settled in Lanzarote, where she has developed a large part of her artistic activity.
She has also been linked to initiatives such as Urban Sketchers Lanzarote, PH5, and KDD of amateur photography of Lanzarote, and has participated in exhibition and cultural projects related to Photo Arts Lanzarote, the MIAC Off Biennial, and Lacuna Festival. Among her projects are Cinco creadoras en busca de Aldecoa, La isla de papel, No puedo parar de dibujar, and the installation Metamorfosis de coordenadas, exhibited at El Almacén.
Her artistic relationship with Arrecife is especially close. In 2025, she starred in the Architecture and Art Encounters organized by Cultura Arrecife, giving urban drawing and watercolor workshops in spaces such as the Kiosco de la Música, the Charco de San Ginés, and the area of Fajardo and Manolo Millares streets.
For Echedey Eugenio, the choice of Müller "allowed us to tell San Ginés from another perspective. Bárbara knows Arrecife, walks it, draws it, and knows how to discover beauty in corners that are part of our daily lives. We wanted the program to have soul and that, by turning its pages, anyone could recognize themselves in our city and in our festivities."
In the same vein, the mayor has emphasized that "the poster perfectly conveys what we want San Ginés to be: Arrecife, its heritage, its people, and a city that takes to the streets to celebrate its patron saint festivities together."
“Now comes the most important part: that Arrecife takes to the streets, that the neighbors make the festivities their own, and that we fill these days again with encounters and memories. San Ginés belongs to all the people of Arrecife,” concludes Echedey Eugenio.
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