Holika Festival will kick off its eighth edition with a spectacular audiovisual show by Padre Guilherme in Calahorra‘s Cathedral Square. The opening event lands on Wednesday 1st July, with Lexlay B2B Javi Colina, Marnik and Joyse also performing.
Crucially, the venue itself is the headline. The performance takes place in front of the imposing façade of Calahorra Cathedral, transforming one of the city’s most emblematic spaces into an immersive open-air stage. As a result, the night reads as one of the festival’s most ambitious production moments to date.
Notably, the visual concept is built around the architecture. The show features a spectacular projection mapping display on the cathedral’s façade, accompanied by a significant lighting and laser show designed specifically for the location. Furthermore, the production is conceived to engage with the cathedral’s monumental surroundings, integrating technology, architecture and music in a single sensory piece.
Meanwhile, the setting carries deep history. Calahorra Cathedral was built between the 15th and 18th centuries and sits next to the river on the site linked to the martyrdom of Saints Emeterius and Celedonius. Indeed, that monumental architecture and unique location serve as the canvas for a visual spectacle designed exclusively for this opening.
Equally important, the inaugural event also serves as a preview of the impressive technical and artistic display that Holika will present throughout its 2026 edition. The festival will once again feature a large-scale production with top-tier stages, including a Main Stage with over 500 square meters of LED screens spread across more than 87 meters of façade, over 200 spectacular lighting projectors and lasers, and a sound system exceeding 180kW of power.
Furthermore, the wider story is the city. Holika has had a permanent home in Calahorra since 2022, integrating the city into the national and international circuit of major festivals. The institutional support of the Calahorra City Council has been key to the festival’s success, organised by Burcor Producciones with the collaboration and support of the Calahorra City Council and the Government of La Rioja.
Still, the bigger picture is intent. With this opening in the Plaza de la Catedral, Holika reaffirms its commitment to offering unique experiences where music, technology and environment merge. In short, the Cathedral Square moment sets the tone for what is shaping up to be the festival’s most ambitious chapter yet.
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