The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced this year’s Ithra Cultural Days featuring Spain, taking place from January 12 to 31, 2026. 

The programme, taglined Live Spain, activates Ithra’s spaces throughout the centre, inviting visitors to move between experiences and discover multiple aspects of Spanish culture in a single visit, said a statement.

The festival follows the success of last year’s Ithra Cultural Days Japan edition, which welcomed more than 200,000 visitors in just two weeks, 

Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the Plaza, Museum, Theater, Lush Garden, Library, Idea Lab, Cinema, Children’s Museum, Energy Exhibit and Ithra Tower, presenting exhibitions dedicated to Spanish photography, fashion and sports, alongside Spanish cuisine and interactive installations exploring historical and linguistic connections between Arab and Spanish traditions.

Live programming forms a central part of the experience, with daily performances across multiple stages, including the theatre and Lush Garden, as well as Spanish parades, flamenco-inspired works and roaming performances. The program also includes larger-scale productions presented at key moments throughout the event. Among the performance highlights is a production of Carmen, presented as part of Ithra’s theatre programme.

“Cultural exchange is a core part of Ithra’s approach to programming. Celebrating Spain’s culture and history reflects this focus, particularly as this year’s Cultural Days takes on a distinctive character by exploring Spain’s cultural heritage,” said Noura Alzamil, Programs Manager at Ithra, adding that, “visitors to Ithra will experience an exciting program in every sense, given the scale and variety of events designed to appeal to all tastes and interests.”

Cinema programming will present a curated selection of Spanish short and feature films throughout the event period, accompanied by post-screening discussions that provide additional cultural context. Talks and sessions in the Idea Lab and Library will explore architecture, literature and creative practice, complementing the visual and performance-based program.

Hands-on workshops invite visitors to engage directly with Spanish craft and creative traditions, from visual arts and design to food-related practices. A dedicated program for children and youth runs in parallel, with storytelling, creative workshops and performances developed for families and younger audiences.

Food and market experiences extend the program into Ithra’s public spaces, through culinary activations and outdoor market offerings, reflecting the social role of food.

Ithra Cultural Days featuring Spain presents international cultures through immersive, public-facing experiences. The 2026 edition offers audiences multiple ways to experience cultural expressions across disciplines and generations, through a program that encourages discovery, participation and shared moments. - TradeArabia News Service