National Flamenco Contest Expands Prizes and Categories

(headline image: Isabel Albás, president of Instituto Municipal de Artes Escénicas (IMAE) during the presentation.)

The 24th National Flamenco Art Contest (CNAF) will take place in Córdoba, Spain, in autumn 2025 with increased prize money and a new category for flamenco instrumentalists. The total award fund rises to €79,000, the largest in the competition’s history.

Organized by the Municipal Institute of Performing Arts (IMAE), the event retains its traditional sections, dance, singing, and guitar, while adding the new instrumentalist category for acoustic and electronic instruments. Winners in each category will also perform at the 2026 editions of the White Night of Flamenco and the Córdoba Guitar Festival.

Registration and Competition Phases

Applications are open worldwide from 30 July to 28 September 2025, via the official website, where contest rules are posted.

• Admission Phase: 29 September–19 October — Jury reviews submissions; results announced from 20 October.
• Selection Phase: 3–11 November — Public auditions at the Sala Telares, Gran Teatro de Córdoba, streamed live.
  • Singing: 3–5 November
  • Guitar: 6 November
  • Dance: 10–11 November
  • Instrumentalists: three finalists chosen for the prize phase.
• Prize Phase: 14–19 November — Live sessions for each category.
• Final Gala: 22 November at Gran Teatro — Performances by category winners, open to the public.

Parallel Program

Throughout November, IMAE will present flamenco performances to coincide with UNESCO’s Flamenco Day anniversary. Highlights include:

• 8 November — Córdoba Orchestra with guitarist Daniel Casares, Gran Teatro
• 12 November — Olvidadas (a las sin sombrero) by Mercedes de Córdoba, Gran Teatro
• 13 November — Rosario La Tremendita with Matancera, Teatro Góngora
• 15 November — La edad de oro by Israel Galván Company, Gran Teatro
• 16 November — Empaque by Chicharrón Circo Flamenco, Teatro Góngora
• 20 November — Rocío Márquez with Pedro Rojas, Himno vertical, Teatro Góngora
• School performances of El duende de las emociones by Anabel Veloso on 17–18 November

Updated Image and Campaign

The event debuts a new visual identity by Córdoba designer Manuel Fresno, inspired by four flamenco branches and three traditional airs. The audiovisual campaign highlights artisans behind the art form, luthiers, hatmakers, shoemakers, set to La Grieta by Electronic Flamenco Esquejes (EFE).

Full details and tickets are available at teatrocordoba.es/cnaf/.