La Laguna is opening up its historic centre for two days of performances, guided tours and a few opportunities to see parts of the city that are normally off limits.
Las Noches del Patrimonio 2026 takes place on 18 and 19 September, with more than 20 activities combining contemporary art with the history and heritage of the city.
The event is organised by the Group of World Heritage Cities in Spain (GCPHE) and is particularly significant for La Laguna as the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the Canary Islands.
A performance that listens to the landscape
One of the main attractions will be the premiere of Sangre mineral at Parque del Drago.
The performance comes from Chile’s Pseudónimo Cía and Peru’s Crudo Colectivo, with Tenerife artist Paula Quintana appearing as a guest.
It takes a slightly unusual approach to dance and sound, using geophones and wireless microcontrollers to capture vibrations in real time.
The result is a 25-minute performance that responds to the environment around it, turning movement and vibrations into part of the soundtrack.
Not exactly your standard trip around the old town.
Heritage meets contemporary creation
The programme also includes Monumenta Performance at Plaza de La Concepción on 19 September.
Nine dancers will represent female Guanche figures in a performance that connects indigenous heritage with contemporary artistic expression.
There are also dance workshops led by Yapci Ramos and María Ibarretxe, with activities beginning before the main weekend itself.
All activities are free, although some have limited capacity and require advance registration.
See parts of La Laguna you don’t normally see
One of the more interesting parts of the programme is La Laguna: un patrimonio de altura, which gives visitors access to lesser-known areas of historic buildings.
Visits will include parts of the Convent of Santa Clara and the Church of Santo Domingo, among other heritage sites.
Numbers are limited to 20 people per visit, partly for safety and partly because squeezing 200 people into a historic tower probably isn’t the best way to appreciate it.
There will also be guided tours around the historic city, covering its architecture, history and cultural identity.
A different way to experience La Laguna
The timing of this year’s event has been adjusted to coincide with, while not competing with, the local Fiestas del Cristo celebrations.
Cultural Heritage councillor Adolfo Cordobés said the change was intended to encourage greater public participation while allowing La Laguna’s own traditions to remain at the centre of attention.
The idea behind Las Noches del Patrimonio is fairly simple.
Instead of treating heritage as something you look at from behind a barrier, the city becomes the setting for people to experience it through performance, movement, history and exploration.
With more than 20 activities taking place across the two days, there’s plenty going on for both residents and visitors.
And if you’ve walked around La Laguna a hundred times, there might still be a corner you’ve never seen.