'Your city is full of pianos' returns to Bilbao to fill the street with music

"The initiative promotes universal dissemination and practice of music by involving citizens. "

26 May 2025. On Friday 30 May, the “Your city is full of pianos” initiative by the GCO (Grupo Catalana Occidente) Fundación Occident and the Maria Canals International Music Competition is returning to the Basque city to delight pedestrians with eight pianos distributed around the city. The initiative is supported by Bilbao City Council, as well as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Alhóndiga Bilbao and the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa (BOS).

 'Your city is full of pianos' is returning this year to iconic city locations and will surprise passers-by with new locations such as the main entrance of Santiago Catedral, Calle Pedro Ibarretxe and the Monument to the Victims of Terrorism and Violence.  The eight pianos will be available between 11am and 8pm and may be played by anyone who wishes: professional musicians, music students, amateurs, children, and anyone else who wants to experience the joy of playing a piano in an incomparable setting.

The eight pianos will be located in the following spots:

1.- Entrance of Santiago Cathedral

2.- Plaza Nueva

3.- Plaza Teatro Arriaga

4.- Calle Pedro Ibarretxe (law courts)

5.- Arbieto/Diputación

6.- Plaza Arriquibar (opposite Azkuna Zentroa)

7.- Monument to the Victims of Terrorism and Violence (Alameda Mazarredo no. 69)

8.- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

The day's highlights can be shared on social media with the hashtag #PianosBilbao.

The “Your city is filled with pianos” action invites the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment. It is one of the leading activities organised jointly by Fundación Occident and the Maria Canals Competition to bring music closer to the entire Spanish population and is materialised through five annual actions.

“At Fundación Occident we promote initiatives that bring culture and music closer to citizens in an accessible and direct way. In Bilbao we develop different projects and 'Your city is full of pianos' is one of the most visible and with the greatest reach for our citizens. On 30 May, we are installing eight pianos in the city's busiest areas, inviting everyone, regardless of age or musical ability, to sit down, play or simply listen to enjoy this initiative with which we want to democratize access to art, turning the space in an open stage and promoting social interaction through music,” says the director of Fundación Occident, Ignacio Gallardo-Bravo.

The director of the Maria Canals Competition, Jordi Vivancos, adds, “Returning to Bilbao with 'Your city is full of pianos' is always an enriching experience. On 30 May, we will deploy eight pianos, inviting anyone who passes them, whether they are a professional musician, an amateur or simply curious, to interact with the piano and experience the city from another angle - that of shared music.”

The close collaboration between Fundación Occident and the Maria Canals Competition has allowed this cultural activity to take place in cities all over Spain, including Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Seville, Cádiz, Málaga, Salamanca, Toledo, Santiago de Compostela, Valencia, León, Granada, San Sebastián, Zaragoza, Cáceres, Santander, Córdoba, Palma de Mallorca, Valladolid and Girona. After Bilbao, the initiative will be held in Oviedo on 13 June.