Festival 10 Sentidos: culture, sustainability, body

Festival 10 Sentidos is underway in Valencia through May 26, with a programme that links performance, visual art, music and public events to questions of sustainability and the body. Visit Valencia lists the festival from May 12 to May 26, while the festival’s own homepage bills the 2026 edition, “Naturaleza viva Vol. 02,” from May 14 to May 26. The event is the 15th edition of Festival 10 Sentidos, according to festival coverage and organisers’ material, and it is spread across venues including the Palau de la Música, Las Naves, the Jardí Botànic, Bombas Gens, Centre del Carme and Teatro Principal. The programme combines dance, theatre, music, visual arts, talks and participatory events. (visitvalencia.com) ### Why are there two different start dates? Visit Valencia says the festival runs from May 12 to May 26, and its listing begins with a May 12 mural presentation by illustrator duo Cachetejack at the Hemeroteca Municipal de València. The festival’s own site, by contrast, labels the main edition “Naturaleza viva Vol. 02” from May 14 to May 26. (makma.net) The printed programme shows a May 14 opening event at Parque de Cabecera at 7:30 p.m., with dance, music, circus, visual arts and literature under dramaturgy by Paola de Diego, featuring Ignasi Terraza, Matt McCreary, Charles Auguste and La Corcoles. That suggests the May 12 event functions as an early programme item ahead of the formal opening night on May 14. (visitvalencia.com) ### What does “Naturaleza viva Vol. 02” look like on the ground? The festival says each year’s programme is built around a theme intended to make visible issues affecting society, and Visit Valencia says this year’s activities invite reflection on the relationship with the planet and environmental responsibility through art. The city listing says the programme spans theatre, dance, visual arts, music and performance. (festival10sentidos.com) On May 15, Helle Siljeholm’s “Un canto del pequeño mar” is scheduled at Muntanyeta dels Sants in the Albufera area, with buses leaving from Paseo de la Alameda, according to the programme. On May 16, the Palau de la Música hosts both Roger Sayer’s “Interstellar Concert” and an Antara Ensemble concert described by Visit Valencia as an ecological approach to sound. (festival10sentidos.com) ### Which events best show the festival’s focus on body and environment? Ludwig Berger’s “Crying Glacier” is scheduled for May 16 at Las Naves, and Visit Valencia says the installation uses recordings of the Morteratsch Glacier melting. Gabriela Acha’s “Museo Móvil,” set for May 17 at the Jardí Botànic, is described by the city listing as a work that turns the artist’s body into a museum. (festival10sentidos.com) On May 17, Cie Fii ak Fee brings “Droits de la Nature” to the Museu de Belles Arts de València, and on May 18 Taiat Dansa presents “Gesto” at CaixaForum València. Visit Valencia says “Gesto” uses a reactive digital carpet, soundscapes and visuals to ask participants what footprint they are leaving on the planet. (festival10sentidos.com) ### How much of the programme is built around talks and community participation? The May 18 programme includes a literature discussion at Fundación Cañada Blanch titled “Naturaleza y literatura: la palabra como nexo con el mundo vivo,” moderated by Andreu Escrivà with Luci Romero and Virginia Mendoza. The schedule also includes a children’s drawing exhibition opening at Fundación Mainel on May 20. (festival10sentidos.com) Later events extend that participatory approach across several venues. Centre del Carme hosts Aurora Diago’s participatory performance “Gymkhana” on May 21, followed by works from Colectivo Sin Par and Arantxa Cortés on May 22, according to the programme. ### What is still ahead before the festival ends? (festival10sentidos.com) Bombas Gens Centro de Artes Digitales is due to host Needcompany’s “Malam / Night” and Her Project’s “Doomsday” on May 19, followed by Cie BewegGrund and Annie Hanauer’s “Forest” at Teatro Off on May 20. Espai Inestable, La Rambleta and Teatre El Musical are also on the closing-week schedule. (festival10sentidos.com) The festival is scheduled to close on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Teatro Principal with “laGeste | Stereo48,” featuring Amir Sabra and Ata Khatab under the artistic direction of Alain Platel, according to the programme. Full schedules and venue details are listed by Festival 10 Sentidos and Visit Valencia. (festival10sentidos.com)