The Estadio de Gran Canaria is preparing for the fifth edition of the Granca Live Fest, solidifying its position as the main live music stage in the Archipelago. The festival has sold over 90,000 tickets, marking a historic record for a cultural event of this nature in the Canary Islands. This year's edition features improved infrastructure, a lineup with renowned international, national, and local artists, and a gastronomic offering that highlights Canarian products.
Leo Mansito, the festival organizer, expressed his satisfaction at exceeding 90,000 attendees, calling it an absolute record for a cultural and leisure festival in the Canary Islands. This edition, extended to four days, also boasts significant advancements in stage infrastructure. The main stage has increased in size by nearly 300 square meters, with lateral and rear extensions to accommodate the complex production setups of artists like Aitana, Alejandro Sanz, and Maroon 5. The stage height has been raised by two meters, and the side screens are larger, enhancing the visual experience.
The daily capacity has been set at 38,000 people, below the stadium's maximum capacity, a decision made to ensure attendee comfort during the ten-hour daily event. Mansito thanked the private sponsors for their crucial support in the festival's growth and announced that next year's dates, and possibly an artist confirmation, would be revealed during the event.
Alfonso Cabello, representative of the Government of the Canary Islands, highlighted the festival's importance for the international projection of the islands, expecting it to attract over 100,000 people and establish Canarias as a cultural hub. He estimated a daily job impact of over 2,000 positions and emphasized the festival's value to the capital's hotel industry. Cabello also mentioned Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's bid for European Capital of Culture.
The president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, underscored the Granca Live Fest's unique position in Europe, noting its draw of attendees from 48 countries and all Spanish autonomous communities, generating significant economic activity. He highlighted how the festival diversifies tourism and promotes the Gran Canarian food brand through local products in the gastronomic areas.
The mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias, described this year's lineup as one of the most important in the festival's history. She emphasized the coordination of municipal services and support for the hospitality sector, noting that the city's hotel capacity is nearly full during the event. She linked the festival to the bid for European Capital of Culture, stating that the Granca Live Fest contributes to the city's cultural diversity.
The gastronomic offering, managed by Airam Afonso, focuses on 'zero kilometer' sourcing and collaboration with Canarian companies. Classics like hamburgers, XXL hot dogs, and the iconic Ibarra sauces will be served, along with the new salchipapas. The menu also includes options for celiacs, vegans, and vegetarians, with the beef steak remaining a star dish. Prices are intentionally kept affordable, aiming to be cheaper than eating outside the venue.
As a new feature to reduce queues, vendors will be stationed in the stands and on the lawn, taking orders via credit or debit card for quick collection. This initiative could set a precedent for events like UDLP football matches.
The Granca Live Fest 2026 lineup features international icons such as Juan Luis Guerra, Lauryn Hill, Maroon 5, and Grupo Frontera, alongside top national artists like Aitana, Alejandro Sanz, Dani Martín, Dani Fernández, and Lola Índigo. It also reserves a special space for local talent, including artists like PetaZeta, La Pantera, Wendy, and Dani Calero.
Stadium gates will open on Thursday at 5:00 PM, and the event will run until Sunday night, with Maroon 5 closing the festival. Leo Mansito acknowledged that raising the bar for the Granca Live Fest is increasingly challenging.
