What is the Palabras al Vuelo festival?
The Festival Internacional de Narración Oral Palabras al Vuelo is celebrating its fourteenth edition, according to the Cabildo de Lanzarote. From 8 to 18 October 2026 it brings storytellers from Kenya, France, Italy, Spain and the Canary Islands to the island.
The focus is on oral storytelling for adults, families and young people. According to the official festival website, the programme includes 11 storytelling performances for adults, 5 family events, 2 workshops and a “Biblioteca Humana” with workshops and a final presentation.
The venues are spread across Arrecife, Tías, Puerto del Carmen, Uga, San Bartolomé and Máguez. Other reports also name Yaiza and Haría as participating municipalities.
Which events are planned?
The festival website names Wangari from Kenya, Pepito Mateo from France, Simone Negrín from Italy, Pablo Albo from Albacete and Estrella Escriña from Madrid as participants. Further programme details list Isabel Bolívar from Tenerife and Patricia Sánchez from Salamanca.
How much does it cost to attend?
Most festival events are free of charge, according to the official website. A deposit is required for certain places, which is to be refunded in full after attending the event. The available sources do not state a specific amount.
Admission may be required for certain events such as Palabras al Vuelo; the price varies depending on the event. The only event explicitly listed as paid is “Cuentos surcando las olas”. In it, Simone Negrín tells stories from the Decameron on a catamaran trip, with a snack and music by Angie&Eva. The price in euros is not stated in the available sources.
Reservations are required for events with limited capacity or at natural and very small venues. A specific booking method such as a form or email address is not indicated in the search results.
Who is the target audience?
According to the official website, the festival is aimed at adults, families, young people as well as foreign residents, tourists and learners of English, French and Italian. Multilingualism is a central feature of the event.
For residents, foreign residents and visitors, the festival changes neither residence nor traffic rules. The only relevant points are the limited capacities, the need to book ahead for some events, the refundable deposit and the not yet published price of the catamaran event.
Where can I find the full programme?
The full programme and booking links are available on the festival website palabrasalvuelo.com. The organiser also names the contact address contacto@palabrasalvuelo.com for reservations and current detailed information.
As the sources contain contradictory venue and start details, it is advisable to check the official daily programme before attending. The 7 October mentioned in the initial notice appears in a separate programme of the island library as the start of a youth workshop, not as the start of the main festival.
What is known about funding?
The available information confirms the involvement of the Cabildo de Lanzarote in cultural and library communications as well as the role of the private festival organiser. A published detailed breakdown of the total budget, subsidy amounts or individual funders is not apparent.
The culture councillor Jesús Machín Tavío highlighted, according to the Cabildo de Lanzarote, that October has become one of the most intense months of programming. The festival is described by the organiser as an international network that extends beyond Lanzarote.