Art returns to the city. From March 20 to 29, the International Arts Festival (FIA) will celebrate its 37th edition, consolidating itself as the largest public cultural event in the country and one of the most emblematic festivals in the region.

La Sabana becomes the cultural heart of Costa Rica with FIA37
More than 450 artists from 12 countries, Mexico as guest of honor, and the La Fura dels Baus show will mark the 2026 edition of the International Arts Festival.

San José, Costa Rica. February 24, 2026. Art returns to the city. From March 20 to 29, the International Arts Festival (FIA) will celebrate its 37th edition, consolidating itself as the largest public cultural event in the country and one of the most emblematic festivals in the region.

Around 70 artistic activities, more than 450 national and international artists from 12 countries will bring to life a diverse program that includes music, theater, dance, cinema, literature, visual arts, street performances, artistic training spaces, and platforms for cultural entrepreneurship.

The Parque Metropolitano La Sabana will once again be the main venue of the festival, concentrating a large part of the programming open to the public. The opening will take place on Sunday, March 20, on the main stage with the selection of Costa Rican Bands and the guest director Frank Ticheli from the United States.

La Fura dels Baus
A public policy that transforms public space

The Minister of Culture and Youth, Jorge Rodríguez Vives, highlighted that FIA37 reaffirms the festival’s value as a cultural policy sustained over time, “When the FIA takes La Sabana, the country beats differently. We are not just organizing a festival: we are reaffirming that culture is a right and that public space is the place where we come together as a society. Thirty-seven editions later, the FIA remains a national decision, a bet on national talent, international exchange, and the power of art to unite us.”

FIA37 is not only an artistic meeting but also an expression of institutional coordination to expand cultural access. This edition has the support of Banco Popular y de Desarrollo Comunal, a strategic partner of the festival and of multiple national cultural initiatives.

“At Banco Popular, we proudly celebrate the FIA’s 37 years and reaffirm our belief that culture is a fundamental pillar for the development of our society. Being alongside initiatives like this, which transform La Sabana into a great stage for people to meet, fills us with satisfaction because that is precisely where we fulfill our social role.

We do not just support a festival; we become allies of a shared dream: bringing art and culture to every corner of the country, to every person, without distinction. Spreading the magic and wonder of different artistic expressions brings us immense joy. Seeing how art unites us, makes us beat differently, and strengthens social fabric is the greatest reward.

We invite all families to be part of this great celebration and to take ownership of this public space which, thanks to the FIA, becomes the cultural heart of Costa Rica,” said Gina Carvajal, General Manager of Banco Popular.

Major international figures mark the program

The 2026 edition will feature a high-impact international musical offering. Among the invited artists are Mau y Ricky, Ivy Queen, Fonseca, and Ovy On The Drums, along with orchestras, national groups, and contemporary proposals.

The program will include symphonic concerts, street performances, contemporary theater, and international cinema. Notable is the participation of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony, as well as the selection of national bands under the invited direction of the American composer Frank Ticheli.

The closing of FIA37 will be led by the renowned Spanish company La Fura dels Baus, a global reference in physical theater and large-format shows. They will present their work “RECONEC,” a stage production that will integrate more than 70 Costa Rican artists and combine theater, music, technology, and citizen participation, standing out as one of the most memorable moments of the festival.

A city turned into a cultural network

In addition to La Sabana, FIA will take place in multiple emblematic spaces of the capital, including the Costa Rican Art Museum, the Old Customs House, the National Theater of Costa Rica, the Popular Melico Salazar Theater, the Cinema Center, the National Culture Center (CENAC), and the National Dance Workshop.

In La Sabana, two main stages, a gastronomic area, a children’s area, artistic intervention spaces, and the Boulevard of Entrepreneurship, which will bring together 100 cultural, editorial, and artisanal projects, will be installed.

Mexico, guest country of honor

FIA37 will have Mexico as the guest country, in recognition of its cultural influence in the region and the historical artistic exchange relationship with Costa Rica.

The Mexican program will include folkloric and contemporary dance, music, theater, cinema, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, workshops, and conferences. Notable are the participation of Zapotec director Ivonne Mazas with the Youth Symphony Orchestra, jazz performances with Adrián Oropeza, literary meetings, and artistic exhibitions.

Access as a principle

One of the central axes of FIA37 is to guarantee cultural access:

• 95% of the programming will be free or economically accessible.
• Theater shows will have a symbolic cost due to capacity.
• IMAS users will have free access to theater programming.
• BRETE cardholders will have a 50% discount.
• Seniors and students will receive a 30% discount.

These actions reaffirm that culture is a right and that FIA is, above all, a public cultural policy serving citizens.

With 37 editions, the International Arts Festival remains a historical platform for national talent, international exchange, and the strengthening of the country’s creative ecosystem.

The complete program, schedules, and details will be available on the official platforms of the Ministry of Culture and Youth and the festival.