Live Performance and Contemporary Art Converge at Colección del Museo Ruso for Málaga's Live Arts Festival
Málaga is set to become a focal point for contemporary performing arts as the Live Arts Festival (Festival de Artes Vivas or FAV) returns for its second edition. Running from April 13 to April 25, 2026, this two-week event transforms traditional gallery spaces into dynamic stages. The festival invites audiences to interact with art through live performances, open creative processes, and collaborative public initiatives across several key cultural hubs in the city, including the Colección del Museo Ruso.
Originally launched in 2025, this year's festival is organized by the public agency managing the birth house of Pablo Ruiz Picasso alongside other major local municipal cultural venues. The collaborative effort brings a diverse multidisciplinary lineup directly to residents and travelers looking to experience Málaga's cutting-edge cultural landscape.
What to Experience at the Colección del Museo Ruso
The Colección del Museo Ruso serves as a major host for several of the festival's highly anticipated projects. Visitors to this venue can engage with groundbreaking works that bridge the gap between performers and the gallery environment:
- Multidisciplinary Dance and Cinema: Artist Aïda Colmenero Dïaz will present Qué importa el abismo, a project fusing live dance, literature, and film. The event features short films starring African women and concludes with an intimate talk with the artist.
- Collective Introspection: Performer Rocío Texeira, collaborating with students from the local Faculty of Education, will present the reflective piece Yo / contigo / aquí. introspección colectiva frente al espejo.
- Community-Driven Writing: On April 17, the museum hosts a new chapter of Parque, a project by Cristian Alcaraz and Violeta Niebla. Combining real-time writing and performance, this presentation is the culmination of collaborative workshops held with local associations and community groups.
- Festival Finale: On the closing day, April 25, dancer Gero Domínguez presents Yo no soy la obra, a multidisciplinary flamenco, poetry, and contemporary music piece featuring vocalist Perrate and guitarist Maui de Utrera. The performance will be followed by a roundtable discussion with several festival artists.
Festival Highlights Across Partner Venues in Málaga
The festival's reach extends beyond the Colección del Museo Ruso, activating three other prominent cultural spaces across Málaga.
The opening event on April 13 takes place at the Centre Pompidou Málaga, featuring a contemporary flamenco performance by David Coria and singer David Lagos, developed during their artistic residency. The Centre Pompidou Málaga also hosts Lucero, an eight-day continuous performance by Alessandra García designed to blend into the daily rhythm of the building, alongside Jose Padilla’s theatrical comedy Ruido.
Meanwhile, the MUCAC La Coracha features Marc Montijano’s durational performance El trabajo del tiempo: la práctica de la espera, which explores patience and human metamorphosis. At the Museo Casa Natal Picasso, the public can attend a live recording of the Spanish National Radio cultural show La Sala, hosted by Daniel Galindo.
Planning Your Visit to the Festival
The festival presents a unique opportunity to see how Málaga's landmark exhibition spaces adapt to live performance. Visitors can download the full programme schedule directly from the organizers to map out performances across the different venues.
If you want to discover other dynamic creative spaces and events during your visit, look up what's on in Málaga or explore the wider local art scene on the Málaga museums list through Musemap (musemap.art).
