Be Cooltural and the Fundación Paco de Lucía are behind the first edition of a festival that brings literature, music and flamenco into the squares of the old town, with open, free events.
Marbella has spent decades looking outward without losing its accent. Cosmopolitan and diverse, the city pairs tradition with modernity, heritage with the avant-garde. Its Andalusian roots — flamenco, memory, the spoken word — sit alongside an international reach that has made it a meeting place for artists, creators and audiences from around the world.
That crossroads is the starting point for Voces del Sur, a festival launching in 2026 to celebrate the creative richness of the south and to give Marbella a cultural identity of its own, rooted in literature, music and flamenco.
Three days, five events
Over three days, Thursday to Saturday, the programme spreads conversations, concerts and workshops across squares and heritage sites. The Mediterranean is the inspiration and the old town is the stage. The Fundación Paco de Lucía takes part as cultural partner, tying the festival to the musical heritage of southern Spain.
Thursday: “El sur que se expresa” (The south speaks). The opening afternoon asks the question at the heart of the festival: why is Andalusia a land of creators? The planned line-up brings together writer Aurora Luque, singer Ángeles Toledano and musician Raúl Rodríguez in conversation. Toledano then performs “La palabra en la boca”, a showcase concert.
Friday: “La raíz que canta” (The root that sings). The morning takes songwriting into the classroom, with a composition workshop in Marbella’s secondary schools planned with singer-songwriter María Peláe. In the afternoon, “La palabra hecha cante” looks at everyday speech and cante jondo, flamenco’s deep song, as the root of southern creativity, with flamenco singer Miguel Poveda and writer José Javier León Sillero.
Saturday: “El sur que baila” (The south dances). The festival closes at street level, with a masterclass in compás, flamenco’s rhythmic pulse, led by dancer Farru in an old-town square, in collaboration with the Fundación Paco de Lucía.
The public at the centre
Voces del Sur is aimed at a broad audience: lovers of literature, music and flamenco, cultural professionals, teachers, journalists and creators. They are joined by the local and international community that defines Marbella. Events in the squares and heritage sites are open and free of charge, and the school workshop involves the education community directly.
Built to return every year
The project comes from Be Cooltural, a creative agency specialising in communication and PR, cultural projects and storytelling. Its reference point is Verso Libre, the festival it staged in Cádiz with the Fundación Paco de Lucía. According to the organisers, that festival filled every event and generated more than 400 media mentions. With that precedent, Voces del Sur sets out to become an annual fixture in Marbella’s cultural calendar.
An invitation to brands
The festival offers two ways to take part, as sponsor or as collaborator. Both include a presence in the programme, posters and invitations, coverage on the Cooltural Plans channels (its newsletter has more than 3,500 subscribers) and invitations to the events. Sponsorship adds visibility at the venues, a press and influencer call, and the option of a tailor-made activity or an exclusive session for employees.
More information: becooltural.com · @coolturaplans Image generated with AI
