International Arts Festival (FIA): A Ten-Day Celebration of Culture and the Arts in March 2026
The International Arts Festival (FIA) will return in 2026 with its 37th edition, reaffirming its place as one of Costa Rica’s most important cultural events and as a showcase for national and international talent.
The official announcement was made by the Minister of Culture and Youth, Jorge Rodríguez, at the Costa Rican Art Museum. During his remarks, Rodríguez emphasized that the festival is part of a long-standing cultural policy and stressed that culture is a right for all citizens. He also noted that the FIA is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Youth, with support from Banco Popular.
10 days of art and encounters
The FIA will take place from March 20 to 29, 2026, and will feature 70 artistic events with the participation of more than 450 national and international artists from 12 countries. The program will include music, theater, dance, film, literature, visual arts, street performances, artistic training initiatives, and platforms for cultural entrepreneurship.
This year’s festival will take place in San José, Costa Rica, with Metropolitan Park La Sabana serving as the main venue. The festival will feature a wide range of events open to the public. The opening ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 20, on the main stage, featuring a selection of Costa Rican bands.
In addition to La Sabana, the festival will extend to iconic venues such as the Costa Rican Art Museum, the Antigua Aduana (Old Customs House), the National Theatre of Costa Rica, the Melico Salazar Popular Theatre, the Costa Rican Film Center, the National Center of Culture (CENAC), and the National Dance Workshop.
La Sabana will feature two main stages, a food court, a children’s area, artistic intervention spaces, and an entrepreneurship boulevard bringing together 100 cultural, publishing, and craft projects.
Music, theater, and grand-scale shows
The program will include symphonic concerts, contemporary theater, street performances, and international cinema. Notable participants include the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as a selection of national bands under the direction of American composer Frank Ticheli.
The festival will close with a performance by the renowned Spanish company La Fura dels Baus, a world leader in physical theater and large-scale shows. It will present the play RECONEC, a stage production that will bring together more than 70 Costa Rican artists in a show with powerful visual and theatrical impact.
Mexico, guest country
This year, Mexico will be the guest country, in recognition of its cultural influence in the region and its longstanding artistic exchange with Costa Rica.
The Mexican delegation will present performances and initiatives in folk and contemporary dance, music, theater, film, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, workshops, and conferences. Among the highlights will be the participation of Zapotec director Ivonne Mazas alongside the Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as jazz performances by Adrián Oropeza, literary gatherings, and art exhibitions.
Cultural access for all
One of the central pillars of FIA 2026 will be ensuring access to culture. Ninety-five percent of the program will be free or affordable. Theatre performances will have a nominal fee depending on seating capacity, and IMAS beneficiaries will receive free admission to performances held in theatres.
International guest artists
FIA 2026 will also bring together leading figures from the international music scene, who will perform at La Sabana alongside national orchestras and groups. Guest artists include Mau y Ricky, Ivy Queen, Fonseca, Ovy On The Drums, and Jenny Berggren.
Fashion at the FIA
As a new feature, this edition will include “Costa Rica Fashion Week,” which will offer 25 fashion shows and bring together more than 16 national and international designers in its first edition, expanding the presence of creative industries within the festival.
The organization invited the public to join in and enjoy this great cultural celebration. The complete program, schedules, and details will be available on the official platforms of the Ministry of Culture and Youth and the festival.
Sensorial Sunsets
