Festivals and traditions

Throughout the year, Andorran cultural tradition is revived at all the festivals in the villages of the Principality and also for some commemorative events.

Andorran folklore is represented by the typical dances such as la marratxa (Sant Julià de Lòria), Santa Anna's dance (Escaldes-Engordany), el contrapàs (Andorra la Vella), and also the sardana which can be danced in all the squares in the Principality, especially at festivals.

To understand the combination of Andorran festivals and customs you should take into account the special characteristics of Catalan culture, its geographic location and history.

Almost all the popular festivals and traditions coincide with religious festivals and natural cycles on Earth:

St. George's Day (Sant Jordi), when roses and books are given as presents.
Festa del Poble, celebrated on St. John's Day (Sant Joan) and marking the summer solstice.
La fiesta de Sant Esteve, patrón de la parroquia de Andorra la Vella
St. Lucia fair, where materials for making traditional Christmas crêches and typical Christmas products are on sale.

Cultural life

Being a country suited to tourism, the Principality hosts international, prestigious meetings throughout the year, demonstrating Andorran cultural life.

The international Jazz Festival of Escaldes-Engordany Apart from exhibitions dedicated to Andorra and "art without frontiers", the parish communes organize well-known artistics activities of prestige:

Jazz concerts, flamenc, spanish pop, local modern music
Country Music Feast, Bagpipers' Meet, typical dances, dance exhibition
Street theatre
The Festival of Classic Music in Ordino (September)
The Season of Music and Dance in Andorra la Vella (from November to May)

Also see Andorra Culture and heritage

Andorra Yearly Festivals:

1st June - Main yearly feast at La Margineda (Andorra la Vella)
4th June - Main yearly feast at Vila (Encamp)
From 15th to 16th June - Barri de Puial (Andorra la Vella)
From 23th to 24th June - Main yearly feast at Sispony (La Massana)
From 25th to 27th June - Main yearly feast at Aixirival (Sant Julià de Lòria)
From 28th to 30th June - Main yearly feast at Pas de la Casa (Encamp)
10th July - Main yearly feast at Anyós. Sant Cristòfol (La Massana)
11th July - Main yearly feast at Soldeu (Canillo)
18th July - Main yearly feast at Erts (La Massana)
From 19th to 21th July - Main yearly feast at Canillo
From 23th to 27th July - Main yearly feast at Sant Julià de Lòria
From 24th to 27th July - Main yearly feast at Escaldes-Engordany
From 25th to 26th July - Main yearly feast at Ransol, l'Aldosa and els Plans (Canillo)
From 6th to 9th August - Main yearly feast at Andorra la Vella
8th August - Main yearly feast at La Aldosa (La Massana)
From 9th to 10th August - Main yearly feast at Llorts (Ordino)
From 14th to 17th August - Main yearly feast at Encamp
From 15th to 16th August - Main yearly feast at La Massana and Sornàs (Ordino)
28th August - Main yearly feast at Arinsal (La Massana)
From 31th to 1st September - Main yearly feast at La Cortinada and Arans (Ordino)
8th September - Main yearly feast at Meritxell (Canillo)
16th September - Main yearly feast at Ordino
From 29th to 30th September - Main yearly feast at Ansalonga (Ordino)

Andorra historical heritage tourist routes

Government Exhibition Hall

Andorra la Vella
Phone: (+376) 828704

This amenity is dedicated to art; several international artists representing different movements such as Adami, Alechinsky, Brossa, Hopper, Chagall, Dietman, Di Rosa, Gordillo, Gorky, Oppenheim, Tabuchi, Tàpies, Vasarely, Vieira da Silva, among many others, have been shown here.

Organised guided visits are available to help to make the general public aware of various forms of art in an entertaining way. Approaching the work of the various artists individually enables one to understand them better, and to comprehend some of the most representative artistic movements of our time.

National Auditorium of Andorra

Ordino
Phone: (+376) 838325

The National Auditorium of Andorra was opened in September 1991.
The building is based on an earlier construction dating from the 1930s.

At the end of the 1980s the decision was taken to build an auditorium, supporting the longstanding tradition of classical music festivals in the parish. The Auditorium is a four-sided open concert hall, allowing the spectators to sit all around the stage. It can hold an audience of 514, distributed between the stalls, the first and second floor galleries, the choir and the tribune. The hall is entirely lined with wood and designed to provide the best possible acoustics.

Since its inauguration many styles, performances have ranged from ballet, contemporary dance, classical music, Negro spirituals, Catalan song, ethnic music and flamenco song, in a varied programme which has also included important artistes such as José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Narciso Yepes, Cristina Hoyos, Lluís Llach, Sister Marie Keyrouz, Cesarea Evora, Zap Mama, Jean Pierre Rampal and the Women’s Choir of Bulgarian Radio and Television.

The National Auditorium of Andorra has a regular programme and allows other public or private bodies to hold events on the premises.