Tre kilometres of parades will connect the four stages set up for Arrecife en Vivo at the marina in Lanzarote’s capital, providing a platform to enjoy thirty local, national, and international bands featured in this year’s lineup.
Diverse Musical Offerings
From rock and its many subgenres to pop, electro-folk, groove, funk, and variations of electronic music, Lanzarote’s most popular festival returns with a lineup that includes both emerging talents and established names. Artists are selected not only for their stage presence and energy but also for the significance of their lyrics, which often reflect social critique, sensitivity, and honesty. “There is life beyond the mainstream,” says Semi Gil, co-director of Arrecife en Vivo.
Festival Highlights
On Friday, 19 September, the versatile artist Rocío Saiz will kick off the festival at 6:00 PM at the Islote de Fermina. The parade featuring the Parranda Marinera Los Buches will lead the audience to Parque Islas Canarias, where Tenerife’s Jela will perform at 7:30 PM.
The batucada troupe Villa Pipol will continue the route towards the Marina Lanzarote, where Triángulo de Amor Bizarro will take the stage at 9:00 PM. The Muelle de Cruceros will host the night’s final performances starting at 10:30 PM, featuring concerts by Zahara, La Gore, and a session by Laiv x Aquiles Orquídea. Access to this last stage will be restricted to those over 18 years old.
Cultural Engagement
Arrecife en Vivo is taking a significant step to strengthen its status as a cultural production fostering critical thought and community life, by organising a gathering titled “For a Diverse and Dissenting Culture.” This event will bring together Rocío Saiz – a recognised activist in the fight for rights and freedoms – with LGTBI+ groups from Lanzarote.
Addressing Relevant Issues
Topics such as art as a form of activism, the persistence of physical and verbal violence against diversity, and the representation of the LGTBI+ community in the cultural sector will be discussed at this meeting, scheduled for Thursday, 18 September, at 6:00 PM at the Islote de Fermina, with free entry.
Discrimination and physical or verbal assaults against the LGTBI+ community “are experiencing a worrying resurgence, coinciding with the rise of hate speech.” This is the main conclusion from the report ‘State of Hate: LGTBI+ Status 2025,’ produced by the Federación Estatal LGTBI+. “Almost 80% of the transgender population faces serious issues accessing employment,” noted Edgar Nuñez Oncina, head of Education for the Lánzate group.
A Celebration of Diversity
In light of this social context, Arrecife en Vivo aims to highlight the problem, encourage dialogue, and celebrate that Lanzarote “is a diverse and multicultural society.” On Friday, 19 September, this will be illustrated through a rainbow parade led by the Los Buches troupe, featuring multicoloured flags crossing the bridge connecting the Islote de Fermina to Parque Islas Canarias.
The festival is calling on the public to attend dressed in colourful shirts, LGTBI+ flags, or banners promoting coexistence. “On Thursday, we propose a debate we believe is very constructive, and on Friday, we want to celebrate what we are: a welcoming coastal community,” remarks the producer Hsmith Solutions.
