From October 16 to November 15, Málaga will once again become the epicenter of contemporary culture with Moments 2025, an event created in the city itself that, after twelve editions, has established itself as a European benchmark. This International Festival of Contemporary Cultures & Arts combines the energy of a biennial with the intimacy of an annual gathering, deploying more than 130 activities and 100 artists across 45 venues in Málaga, Seville, and Madrid.

The festival was born in 2013, driven by a group of friends from Málaga with the idea of offering a different format, capable of linking the avant-garde and popular culture. Today, it has become a must-attend event for diverse disciplines such as music, visual arts, design, photography, cinema, fashion, urban culture, and live arts, with a notable impact on young and emerging audiences and in the activation of neighborhoods and cultural spaces.

Extensive Programming: Workshops, Concerts, and Exhibitions

The 2025 edition offers more than 50 workshops and meetings, 20 exhibitions, and 40 concerts. Among the participating artists are Luz Moreno, Idoia Cuesta, Gema Polanco, Rocío Madrid, Antonio Xoubanova, Jon Aspuru, Sofía Moro, Orina, and Lucía Álvarez ‘La Piñona’. The festival includes unique and exclusive cycles such as Designarium, Oquedades, Wall Stories, Electroversos, and Fistrosofía, the latter dedicated to the legacy of Chiquito de la Calzada.

In the musical realm, Moments 2025 proposes a sonic collage that blends jazz, punk, and experimental flamenco. In Málaga, notable concerts include Ray Barbee at Centre Pompidou (October 22), Nadolibre (October 23, Teatro Cánovas), Orina (October 30, Teatro Cánovas), and the closing by Quentin Gas & Los Zíngaros (November 15, La Cochera Cabaret). The festival also premieres ‘Calvario’, by the dancer Lucía Álvarez ‘La Piñona’ at Museo Carmen Thyssen on October 31.

Ray Barbee, a Central Figure at Moments 2025

A major highlight of this edition is the first visit to Spain by Ray Barbee, a skateboarding legend, photographer, and instrumental jazz-soul musician. He will present the exhibition ‘The joy is in capturing the journey’ at Le Mur Photo Gallery in Madrid from October 18 to November 15 and will offer photography workshops at the Museo Casa Natal Picasso in Málaga (October 21) and in Madrid. Additionally, he will perform at El Sótano (Madrid, October 16), Centre Pompidou Málaga (October 22), and Bar Mutante (Seville, October 23).

Workshops, Labs, and Exclusive Cycles

Moments 2025 enhances its educational aspect with more than 25 workshops. In Málaga, notable workshops include Irene Zottola's session at Las Buganvillas Film Lab, the material explorations by Idoia Cuesta at the Museo de Málaga, the textile proposal by Pilar O’Connor at Nika Art Gallery, the gastronomic experiences by Bernardita Cocina and Luz Moreno at Espacio OCOA, the branding workshop by Laura Zorrilla at the Escuela de Arte San Telmo, and the ‘Autozine’ workshop by Ricardo Cases at the Museo de Málaga.

Key figures of Moments during this edition.

The festival maintains its own creation meetings that have become essential appointments. Fistrosofía, dedicated to Chiquito de la Calzada, returns to the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País to discuss humor, flamenco, and the Trinidad neighborhood. The cycle Oquedades, focused on the Montes de Málaga, also repeats, and the third editions of Designarium, Wall Stories, and Electroversos are reached. Designarium will gather at the Escuela de Arte San Telmo Realmente Bravo and Luz Moreno; Wall Stories, at La Económica, will address mural art in rural environments; and Electroversos will fill La Caverna de Amores with poetry and sound experimentation.

Exhibitions in Málaga, Seville, and Madrid

Moments 2025 will host 20 exhibition premieres, almost half in Málaga. In Nika Art Gallery, the shows of Saúl G. Corona, Edu Rosa and Silvia Guerrero, Pilar O’Connor, and Marta Pozas will open in October and November. La Económica will host the new project by Marcos Sevilla and the exhibition ‘Skater and sunsets’ by the Málaga native Pillo. Drunk-O-Rama will present ‘Monsters, skeletons, madness and Rock’N’Roll’ by Carmela Maracas, OCOA ‘Obliterae’ by Lau Efron, and INDI&COLD the installation by Idoia Cuesta.

In Seville and Madrid, another ten proposals will be displayed with works by Sofía Moro, Alejandra Amere, Marisa Maestre, Rocío Madrid, Alexander Gross, Jon Aspuro, and Shippai64, among others.

A Cultural Network Connecting Three Cities

For nearly two months, Moments activates a network that links major museums in Málaga—Centre Pompidou, Museo Casa Natal Picasso, MUCAC La Coracha, Museo de Málaga, and Museo Carmen Thyssen—with self-managed spaces like Drunkorama, La Caverna de Amores, and Las Buganvillas Film Lab. At the same time, it consolidates Seville as the epicenter of photography and underground culture and turns Madrid into a premiere and meeting point.

Although photography represents more than 30% of the programming, the festival also encompasses illustration, comics, graphic design, graffiti, painting, crafts, music, literature, thought, urban art, skateboarding, surfing, and gastronomy. All coexist under a contemporary philosophy that unites high culture and popular culture, connecting generations and disciplines with a real commitment to equality, diversity, and sustainability, values that have already earned it a nomination at the Iberian Festival Awards 2024.