January 23 to 25 Folk and Cuadrillas festival in the Caravaca village of Barranda

A feast of music coinciding with the local Fiestas de la Candelaria in Barranda

Over the weekend of 23^rd to 24^th January 2026 the village of Barranda in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz will be welcoming thousands of people to the 48^th edition of its annual Festival de Cuadrillas and folk festival - last year the final day saw over 25,000 people gather in the village!

This is the largest and most important gathering of traditional “cuadrillas” in the Region of Murcia, sharing and enjoying traditional folk music which has been passed down verbally for generations. In addition to the music and dancing, the village hosts a market of countryside traditions which celebrates not only the crafts and skills passed down from one generation to another, but also the gastronomic traditions of Murcia, with workshops, crafts, demonstrations and plenty to eat.

The dates of the festival coincide with the Fiestas de la Candelaria, the patron saint of Barranda, and it was given the status of “National Tourist Interest” in January of 2011.

It should be noted that Barranda has a strong musical tradition and is home to the Ethnic Instruments Museum, one of the network of 6 establishments funded by the regional government of Murcia and this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of its opening.

The program for the Folk and Cuadrillas festival in 2026 includes the following:

Friday January 23

Activities in the local primary school during the morning, while in the afternoon a book presentation is held at 20.30 in the Centro Cultural Pepe Salcedo prior to a free concert by Manu Sequera as part of the Región de Murcia evento.

The evening ends with a Cuadrilla dance at 23.00 by the Animeros de San Blas from Bullas.

Saturday January 24

A day devoted to presentation of research into the culture of oral cultural transmission and workshops concerning tambourines and traditional dances. At the end of the day the famous Semana Santa drummers of Mula perform in the streets.

20.30: The Barranda Folk event begins at the Centro Cultural Pepe Salcedo with performances by El Naán and El Efecto Verdolaga. Tickets cost 15 euros in advance and 20 euros on the door.

Sunday January 25

9.30: Holy Mass with music from the Animeros de Cehegín, followed by an official reception for the Cuadrilla groups taking part.

11.30 to 14.00: The musicians and dancers take to the streets of Barranda to entertain the general public, returning to the Calle Mayor in the afternoon before carrying on the fun at the Centro Cultural Pepe Salcedo.

The Murcia groups taking part are the Animeros de Caravaca, the Cuadrilla de la Albatalía-Arboleja, the Cuadrilla de Aledo, the Cuadrilla de Zarcilla de Ramos, the Cuadrilla de Purias, the Cuadrilla del Raiguero, the Animeros de Cehegín, the Animeros de la Posá La Compañía and the Aguilanderos de Barranda, while guests from outside the Region are coming from Nerpio and Albacete in Castilla-La Mancha, Villanueva de la Vera in Extremadura and Mallorca.

For the full prgramme of the fiestas de La Candelaria in Barranda click here, or for more local events, news and visiting information contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 702424) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.