Free philosophy festival in Malaga explores failure, heartbreak and political disappointment

Malaga will become a meeting point for collective reflection on vulnerability, precariousness, heartbreak and political disappointment. The La Malagueta Cultural Centre is hosting the ninth edition of its Philosophy Festival from Thursday, November 12, to Saturday, November 14, 2026.

Entitled “Failures”, the festival examines an experience that society often hides or presents merely as a temporary obstacle on the road to success.

Five free conversations will bring together philosophers, writers and specialists to explore the personal, social and political dimensions of failure.

The cultural programme continues at La Térmica, where Eugenio Recuenco’s exhibition Fulgor y Delirio: Cartographies of the Human provides the starting point for guided visits and workshops on identity, the body, sexuality and emotional wellbeing.

Five conversations examining different forms of failure

The festival is directed and curated by Valerio Rocco Lozano, director of Madrid’s Círculo de Bellas Artes and a lecturer in the History of Modern Philosophy.

Rather than offering self-help formulas or presenting every setback as a future success story, the festival considers failure to be an inherent part of the human condition.

The programme will examine what disappointment can reveal about vulnerability, personal expectations and relationships with other people.

All five sessions will take place in Room 001 of the La Malagueta Cultural Centre. Admission is free, no advance booking is required and entry will be permitted until the room reaches capacity.

La Malagueta Philosophy Festival programme

Thursday, November 12

6pm – Positive failures: our essential vulnerability

Iván de los Ríos and Nantu Arroyo will open the festival with a conversation about human fragility. They will consider whether an adverse experience can encourage empathy, listening and self-knowledge without being transformed into a conventional story of personal triumph.

7.30pm – Generational failures: precariousness and frustration

Mar Gómez Glez and Victoria Szpunberg will examine the disappointment experienced by a generation shaped by instability, broken promises and the difficulty of making long-term plans.

Friday, November 13

6pm – Temporal failures: between impatience and nostalgia

Jorge Freire and Diego S. Garrocho will discuss modern society’s relationship with time, the demand for immediate results and the tendency to idealise the past.

7.30pm – Romantic failures: heartbreak is fashionable

Writer Laura Freixas and historian Javier Moscoso will explore why break-ups, emotional disappointment and failed relationships occupy such a prominent position in contemporary culture.

Saturday, November 14

12 noon – Political failures: hope and disappointment

Marina Garcés and Clara Serra will close the festival with a discussion about ambitions for social change, the realities of political institutions and ways of living with political frustration without abandoning collective action.

Valerio Rocco will moderate all five conversations.

La Térmica explores Eugenio Recuenco’s visual universe

Reflection continues at La Térmica through Fulgor y Delirio: Cartographies of the Human, an exhibition by Eugenio Recuenco combining photography, detailed scenery and a cinematic visual style.

The exhibition raises questions about the body, mind, emotions, desire and identity. A programme of guided visits and cultural mediation provides visitors with additional context and tools for interpreting the works.

This weekend’s visits will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 6pm to 7pm, and Sunday, November 15, from 12 noon to 1pm.

The sessions are free but require advance registration. Each group is limited to 20 people. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult or have the appropriate authorisation.

Guided visit with Eugenio Recuenco

Visitors will also have an opportunity to explore the exhibition with the artist himself. Eugenio Recuenco will lead a guided visit on Friday, November 20, at 7pm.

The photographer will explain the ideas, references and visual decisions behind the project.

Recuenco has worked across artistic photography, fashion, advertising, film and stage design during a career spanning more than 25 years.

Free workshop on sexuality, identity and culture

La Térmica is also hosting a workshop entitled “Healthy sexuality, identity and culture: a psychological perspective”, aimed at young adults aged between 18 and 25.

Using the works in Fulgor y Delirio as a starting point, the workshop will encourage discussion about the body, nudity, identity, sexuality and the influence of culture on personal development.

Professionals from the Creando Cambios Psychology Centre will guide the sessions, combining a visit to the exhibition with a moderated conversation.

The next workshops will take place on November 18, 25 and 30, from 6pm to 8pm. Participation is free, although advance registration is required and each session is limited to 20 places.