At Veranos del Taoro, an evening in Parque de la Sortija becomes a journey between theatre beneath a great tree, intimate cabaret, free dance and a place to share a meal outdoors. The festival brings performers and audiences into a green corner of Puerto de la Cruz, where the changing light is part of the experience.
The June 2026 edition has finished. Use this guide to understand the festival and our Events page to find a future edition once its dates, shows and ticket details are confirmed.
Veranos del Taoro at a glance
| What | An outdoor performing-arts festival with theatre, cabaret, dance and a food and local market area in recent editions. |
|---|---|
| When | In summer; the 2026 edition ran 18–20 June. The next dates are unconfirmed. |
| Where | Parque de la Sortija in the Taoro area of Puerto de la Cruz. |
| Admission | Park access and some performances have been free. Laurel de Indias and Arboleda shows have required separate tickets; future conditions need confirming. |
| Next programme | See our Events page for current dates, shows and booking information. |
Why visit Veranos del Taoro?
The setting gives this festival a character of its own. Instead of heading into a conventional theatre, you enter Parque de la Sortija and choose where your evening will lead. One performance may begin in daylight under the trees; another unfolds as the stage lights come on. Between them there is room to talk, eat and enjoy the park.
Veranos del Taoro began in 2022. Over successive editions it has welcomed national and international stage artists alongside dance and other live work. The June 2026 programme included Patti LuPone, Lola Herrera, Anabel Alonso and performers from across theatre, music, cabaret and contemporary dance. These artists illustrate the range of a completed edition; no future cast is implied.
You can visit for one ticketed show or spend longer discovering the public side of the festival. The event's mix of free and paid experiences is particularly useful if you are travelling with someone whose tastes differ from yours.
Open-air theatre at Laurel de Indias
The Laurel de Indias space has been the main stage for larger theatre and music performances, arranged around a striking laurel tree. Sitting outside as the evening darkens gives a familiar play or concert a very different feel. The organisers have used this setting for artists who would normally fill conventional theatres.
In 2026, the venue hosted Patti LuPone's Songs From a Hat and Lola Herrera in Camino a la Meca, among the festival's headline performances. The names, titles and schedules belonged to that edition. For a future visit, choose a specific show from the announced programme and check its start time, duration, seating category and ticket conditions.
Arriving early leaves room to find the entrance, enjoy the park and settle into your seat before the performance. In an outdoor venue, weather and temporary access arrangements matter, so follow the current instructions for the show you book.
Cabaret at Arboleda and free dance at Raíz
Arboleda offers a smaller, cabaret-style experience: the festival describes a stage among trees, with tables and lights that suit comedy, songs and a more intimate kind of performance. The 2026 edition included Señoras y señoras with Mariola Cubells and María Guerra, and Melissa T's Madonna a la carta. This space has required tickets, which may differ from those for Laurel de Indias.
Raíz brings dance and movement into the open parts of the park. In 2026 it included free dance performances, inviting visitors to pause and watch before moving on to the evening's other shows. The council's account singled out Raquel Jara's Entre maguas as one of that edition's works.
A gentle way to explore the festival is to arrive for a free piece, have something to eat and then see a ticketed show later. Times and even the names of spaces can be revised, so use the new programme to build an actual itinerary.
Food, craft and time between performances
Parque de la Sortija has offered more than stages. Recent editions included food trucks, seating and a market for local and regional craft, creating an easy place to meet before a show or talk about it afterwards. Because entry to the park has been free, visitors could enjoy this side of the festival without buying a theatre ticket.
The available food, market stalls and payment methods vary with the edition. If you are planning a full evening, check the current opening times and whether a particular performance overlaps with the time you would like to eat. Arriving with room to spare is more enjoyable than rushing straight from one stage to the next.
The park remains a shared public space. Use bins, respect planted areas and follow any temporary routes put in place for the festival. The organiser has also promoted reusable cups in past editions; the current deposit or return arrangement should be checked on the day.
Where is Parque de la Sortija?
The festival takes place in Parque de la Sortija, part of the wider Parque Taoro area above the centre of Puerto de la Cruz. The wooded setting, paths and open spaces make it a rewarding place to visit even outside festival dates. Explore it in our Parque Taoro virtual visit if you would like a feel for the area beforehand.
Inside the park, the stage spaces are separate from the food and common areas. A general park entrance does not automatically lead to the correct seat or ticketed enclosure. Follow current festival signs and allow time to walk between areas, particularly if you have booked two performances.
The site sits above the seafront, so travelling up from the town centre takes more time than a harbour event. Parking around Taoro is limited; consider public transport or a taxi if the climb or an evening return is inconvenient. Check current access routes if you need a step-free approach.
What is free, and when do you need a ticket?
The organiser has kept entry to the park free in previous editions, together with some open-air performances. That is an invitation to enjoy the atmosphere, food area and public programme. It does not cover every show: Laurel de Indias and Arboleda have been ticketed spaces with their own limited capacities.
For a future edition, check which acts are free, which require a ticket and whether seating is assigned. A festival pass may cover different spaces from a single-show ticket. Do not assume that a seat, free-performance spot or particular price carries over from 2026.
Look at our current Events listings once dates are announced, then follow the confirmed booking details for the show you want. The 2026 Veranos del Taoro article is a record of the finished programme.
Plan an evening under the trees
Choose your main performance first and use its start time to plan the rest of the visit. If you want to see a free dance piece too, arrive before it begins and leave enough time to walk to a reserved seat. A light layer can be welcome as the park cools after sunset; comfortable shoes make the paths easier.
Bring a little flexibility for an outdoor event. Stage entrances, seat access, show lengths and weather guidance are part of each new edition's visitor information. Families can enjoy the public park and food area, though individual shows may have age guidance that is worth checking before booking.
Come early enough to enjoy the setting, not just the performance. The trees and the shared spaces give Veranos del Taoro its charm, and an unhurried arrival makes it easier to see why audiences return.
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Find the next Veranos del Taoro programme
The 2026 edition ended in June. The next dates, performers, ticket prices and free-performance schedule need a fresh announcement. Check our Events page before booking travel or buying a show ticket.