Whether you want to see an emerging Basque band, a musical or a stage show, this is where to go to get your culture fix in Bilbao
Theatres
Teatro Arriaga
Named after acclaimed Basque composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, known as the ‘Spanish Mozart’, this neo-Baroque structure is one of the jewels of Bilbao and stands resplendent on the bank of the River Nervión and at the entrance to the city’s old town, Casco Viejo.
Designed by Joaquin Ruboca, the same architect who designed Bilbao’s City Hall building, the Arriaga Theatre was constructed in 1890. However, it was destroyed by the severe floods of 1983 and needed to be rebuilt, opening again in 1985.
The theatre puts on a wide range of productions but mostly focuses on stand-up comedy shows, stage plays and musicals.
It is the first port of call for any Bilbaino looking for an evening of culture and sophistication.
Palacio Euskalduna
“A tribute to the former steelmaking and shipbuilding tradition scattered along Bilbao’s riverbanks”, construction on the Euskalduna started in 1994 and was completed by 1999.
The building’s striking façade, reminiscent of rusted corrugated iron, is a nod to the former shipyards that once occupied the same space.
A cultural centre, conference hall and theatre, the Euskalduna has a wide and varied programme which includes operas, orchestral shows and music concerts.
The structure also features a fine-dining restaurant called ‘Jauregia’.
Campos Eliseos
Thanks to its exquisite façade, the Teatro Campos Eliseos is one of Bilbao’s most recognisable and most stunning buildings.
First opened in 1902, the theatre has been an important promoter of culture and arts in the city for over 100 years.
Age, weather damage, terrorist attacks and subsequent reformation work have seen the structure go through several periods of inactivity but it has always bounced back.
The theatre’s programme includes music concerts, stand-up comedy gigs, ballets and more, with there also being a special focus on family-friendly events.
Venues for concerts and gigs
Kafe Antzokia
Taking over a space that previously belonged to a cinema, Kafe Antzokia has been a staple of Bilbao’s nightlife since the mid-90s.
Part of the venue’s mission is to promote the use of the Basque language in arts and culture. As a result, many of the country’s biggest artists came to prominence playing gigs at ‘Antzokia’.
Besides more local groups, it has become a go-to spot for international artists with the likes of Miles Kane, The Psychedelic Furs and Wolfmother having played gigs here in recent years.
However, this is definitely the place to go if you want to catch upcoming Basque or Spanish bands and musicians.
The venue stayed faithful to the old cinema’s interior design. A large open forum leads up to the stage, while an upper balcony wraps around the building.
At the weekends and some nights of the week, Antzokia becomes a sort of nightclub, with it being particularly popular among people who have a taste for less mainstream music.
Bilbao Arena
Although most well-known for being the home court of Bilbao Basket, the city’s main basketball teams, in recent year’s the 10,000-spectator-capacity venue has started to host non-sporting events, including music concerts.
For example, in April 2025, American mega-band The Lumineers played a sold-out concert at the venue.
Keep an eye on Bilbao Arena’s Facebook page for the latest news on upcoming events.
Bilbao Exhibition Centre
Located in the city of Barakaldo, this huge space is used for a range of events and activities including musical concerts, comic book festivals, pop culture festivals, trade shows, business seminars and much more.
The centre has six open-plan exhibition halls which can be adapted for almost any kind of event.
In the past, global music icons such as Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams, Depeche Mode and Twenty-One Pilots have held concerts at BEC.
Bilborock
Found in Bilbao La Vieja, on the otherside of the river from Casco Viejo, Bilborock is certainly one of the city’s most innovative music venues.
Originally a church built in the 17th century, the building was acquired and refurbished by the Bilbao City Council in the ’90s.
An important cultural space for young people, the former church hosts vinyl fairs, gigs, theatre productions and an annual ‘battle of the bands’ competition featuring local groups.
In addition to that, they have partially-equipped practice rooms which can be booked by the hour.
Candlelight Bilbao
Organised by Fever Up, one of the world’s leading live-entertainment companies, their world-famous Candlelight concerts are a regular feature of Bilbao’s cultural sphere.
The concerts usually take place at the Church of Incarnation in Atxuri or the Bilbao Philharmonic Society in Abando.
Upcoming Candlelight events include a tribute to Hans Zimmer, a Coldplay vs Imagine Dragons special, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and much more.
In addition to these shows, Fever organises more concerts and activities in Bilbao.
