The Plaza de Toros Becomes the Festival’s New Venue for an Event Combining Music, Humor, and Entertainment for All Ages.
By Susan Villa
Ledesma will once again become one of the major cultural meeting points this summer with a new edition of “Estrellas en Ledesma.” The festival continues to grow with a program designed for audiences of all ages and an approach that brings together music, humor, entertainment, and heritage.
The other important point is to choose artists from different musical styles, trying to reach a broader audience, from children to adults, including today’s youth with new and emerging styles of music.
The main new development for 2026 will be the relocation of the concerts to the Plaza de Toros, a venue that will make it possible to meet the artists’ technical requirements and accommodate larger-scale productions. The new venue will welcome artists such as Ana Torroja, Duncan Dhu, Pablo López, Los Mojinos Escozíos, and Los Gandules, along with the K-Pop musical “K-Power,” comedy by David Domínguez, and the II Festival de la Rumba.
In this interview, Susan Villa discusses with the festival organizers the keys to the growth of “Estrellas en Ledesma,” the change of venue, and the tourism and economic impact that an event of this kind generates in the town and the surrounding rural area.
1. “Estrellas en Ledesma” continues to grow year after year. What do you think has been the key to turning this festival into one of the most important cultural events of the summer?
Consistency, hard work, the commitment to top-level national artists, and a program aimed at all types of audiences.
2. In this edition, the festival will debut the Plaza de Toros de Ledesma as its venue. What does this change of location mean to you and to the organization?
Really, nothing. It is a matter of technical and space requirements for the artists’ productions, but in the end, it does not matter where it takes place, because we understand that “Estrellas en Ledesma” has a setting, which is the medieval town, and then it does not matter which specific space is chosen. The castle is beautiful, the bullring is beautiful, and any corner the festival needs to use can be beautiful.
3. The program brings together artists from very different styles, from Ana Torroja and Pablo López to Duncan Dhu, Los Mojinos Escozíos, and a K-Pop musical. What criteria do you follow when designing such a diverse lineup?
That they are top-level national artists with an important career, or that they are currently in fashion as breakthrough artists.
4. Beyond the concerts, the festival seeks to offer a cultural experience in a historic setting. What impact do you think “Estrellas en Ledesma” has on the town’s tourism and economy?
It is very important, since on every concert day, the town doubles its population due to the significant attendance at each event. This obviously has an impact on the local hospitality industry, as well as on Ledesma’s image and the publicity that many attendees take away with them, since it is a place that is unknown to a large part of them.
5. Organizing a festival of this scale involves a significant amount of planning. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in this edition?
The most important challenge has been transferring the concept of the concerts, which for five years had been held at the castle, to the bullring. However, everyone understands the technical requirements of some of the artists, which are the main reason for the change.
6. Audiences are becoming increasingly demanding when choosing festivals. What do you think differentiates “Estrellas en Ledesma” from other musical events held during the summer in Spain?
Not in terms of content, because we share programming and artists with other similar festivals held in coastal areas. The main difference is that we are the only festival of this kind, with such a broad program, that takes place in rural Spain and in what is known as “Empty Spain.” Other major festivals organize their offerings by the beach, in highly populated areas. We are committed to bringing culture to rural areas and to regions with declining populations, and we continue fighting to provide leisure and entertainment for everyone living in rural Spain.
7. Finally, what projects or new developments would you like to introduce in future editions of “Estrellas en Ledesma,” and what goals have you set for the festival’s future?
The goals of a festival are always to grow in the quality of its artists and to consolidate the brand, the audience, and quality content that can establish itself as a benchmark in the region.
“Estrellas en Ledesma” is therefore entering a new stage with the goal of continuing to grow, strengthening its brand, and maintaining a quality program. With the Plaza de Toros as its new venue, the festival reinforces its commitment to bringing culture and leisure to rural areas, attracting visitors, and turning every summer night into an experience connected to the music and heritage of Ledesma.
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