Bilbao prepares for Aste Nagusia festival

Bilbao is preparing for Aste Nagusia, the city's most popular annual festival, which is scheduled to take place from August 22 to August 30. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Bizkaia capital.

The festivities will feature a diverse program including concerts, cultural animations, sporting competitions, and traditional Basque activities distributed across various city neighborhoods. Key highlights include an international fireworks competition held nightly along the banks of the Nervión River and over 600 scheduled activities.

On the cultural and social front, the program will blend popular music with strong Basque cultural elements. Local associations and 'konpartsak' play a vital role, with many using the festival to fund various social, cultural, and sporting projects throughout the year.