Música Ocupa 2025: A Look at How Music Is Claiming Space in Cuenca

Cuenca is known for its ability to blend old-world charm with a vibrant artistic scene. This month, the city is set to host a unique event that truly embodies this spirit: Música Ocupa 2025. The festival, now in its ninth year, is built around the idea of "inhabiting" spaces—creating a relationship between music, people, and the physical environment.

The organizers of Música Ocupa approach the festival with a clear perspective: that classical music doesn't have to be confined to traditional concert halls. They are intent on using unusual locations—from museums to plazas and historical buildings—as backdrops for performances. This year's event in both Cuenca and Quito focuses on themes like environment, gender, and safety, bringing together various collectives and artistic groups to help shape the program.

The Cuenca portion of the festival, running from September 23rd to the 27th, offers a variety of events for the community. The schedule is a mix of public performances and more private engagements designed to connect with specific social spaces.

• Tuesday, September 23rd: The festival kicks off with a Master Class at the University Museum of the Universidad de Cuenca at 2:00 PM, featuring viola, violin, horn, and cello.

• Wednesday, September 24th: The festival's community-focused approach is evident in events scheduled at Hogar Miguel Leon, a social space. In the evening, the focus shifts to the local community with Música para una plazoleta at Plazoleta Cruz del Vado at 7:00 PM, followed by Música y Vino on the rooftop of Hotel Cruz del Vado at 8:00 PM.

• Thursday, September 25th: concert in the Tadeo Torres Orphanage, this event is not open to the public but is meant to bring music to the people who inhabit these spaces daily. A Tango Workshop will be held at the University Museum of the Universidad de Cuenca at 3:00 PM. In the evening, Las Cúpulas will take place at Colegio Benigno Malo at 7:00 PM.

• Friday, September 26th: Music will be brought to hospital patients with an event called Hospitalario. No specifics on the hospital or time were given. Later, an event titled Ausencia will be held at the old IESS Hospital at 7:00 PM.

• Saturday, September 27th: The festival will conclude with a Closing Concert at Quinta Guadalupe at 7:00 PM.

For those interested in exploring the locations mentioned in the festival's schedule, you can find them all on our Interactive Cuenca Map.

We have made special marks (look for the brown pins with an exclamation mark) just for you, with the information displayed when clicking on the mark.

Plan well and enjoy your evenings.