Rubén Blades

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Image courtesy of BARTS Festival.

To speak of Rubén Blades is to speak of one of the most monumental figures in Latin culture. With a career spanning more than 50 years, the Panamanian has transcended music to become an essential social chronicler. An absolute icon of "intellectual salsa," Blades revolutionized the genre in the 1970s from New York, imbuing the lyrics with an unprecedented political and poetic charge. Winner of 12 Grammy Awards and 10 Latin Grammys, his legacy includes masterpieces such as Siembra (the best-selling salsa album of all time). A prestigious actor and activist, the "Poet of Salsa" returns to the stage to demonstrate that his relevance and charisma are, like his classics, absolutely immortal.

A concert in the 2026 edition of BARTS Festival.

Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals

What are your plans for summer? If you’re staying in the city, you won’t be alone. Barcelona is becoming a go-to destination for festival lovers, given Catalunya’s covetable combination of culture, great weather and an increasingly diverse concert circuit. So if you’re looking to expand your horizons while staying put this season, check out our article Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals for a summary of the summer music events taking place in Barcelona, from big-name gatherings to boutique takeovers.

For more music events check our online events calendar.