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Flamenco and the World brings qawwali, Persian-Andalusian music, contemporary flamenco and masterclasses together for a four-day exploration of how artforms travel, meet and evolve.
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TORONTO — The Aga Khan Museum’s 12th annual Duende International Flamenco Festival returns November 19 to 22, 2026. Opening with the North American premiere of Qawwali Flamenco in partnership with Massey Hall on November 19, 2026, at 8 pm at Massey Hall. Titled Flamenco and the World, the festival also features a world premiere, two additional stage performances, three masterclasses, and a documentary screening to explore flamenco’s global connections.
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“Partnering with Massey Hall to open this year’s Duende Festival is a meaningful step for the Aga Khan Museum and for the festival,” said Amirali Alibhai, Head of Performing Arts at the Aga Khan Museum. “It reflects our commitment to contributing to Toronto’s cultural life through performances that are both world-class and welcoming. This year’s program invites audiences to experience flamenco in conversation with qawwali, Persian music and dance traditions as a vivid, emotional, and deeply human live experience.”
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The Qawwali Flamenco project brings together qawwali — a Sufi devotional music tradition from South Asia — and flamenco, revealing resonances between two traditions known for vocal intensity, improvisation, rhythm and spiritual expression. First conceived at the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco in 2005, Pakistani qawwali master Faiz Ali Faiz and flamenco guitar virtuoso Juan Gómez “Chicuelo” reunite for a one-night-only performance to open the festival at Massey Hall.
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The festival also presents the world premiere of Blackbird: In the Footsteps of Ziryab, a Persian-Andalusian collaboration. The work is inspired by Ziryab, the ninth-century musician and cultural figure associated with the movement of music, aesthetics and ideas across the Islamic world and Al-Andalus. Flamenco dancer Oscar de los Reyes and musicians Amir Amiri and Gaspar Rodriguez bring flamenco and Persian traditions into conversation through music, song, rhythm and dance.
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Other performances include:
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- Duende al Nur (Duende toward the light) presented by Compañía Carmen Romero, a Toronto-based flamenco company. Carmen Romero presents an immersive flamenco journey through sacred light, shadow and fire on a luminous plexiglass platform.
- Los Magníficos, a contemporary flamenco performance directed by Ángel Rojas, brings together legendary dancers Miguel Fernández Rivas “El Yiyo” and Carmen “La Talegona,” vocalist Sandra Carasco, a guitarist and a pianist to showcase the emotional intensity and artistic range of the form.
- The festival also features Farruquito: A Flamenco Dynasty, a documentary film featuring celebrated flamenco dancer Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya, known worldwide as Farruquito. The festival offers three flamenco masterclasses to both experienced practitioners and the public.
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Get the full Duende experience:
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This year’s festival pass allows audiences to experience four Museum performances across one weekend, with access to masterclasses and preferred pricing for the Massey Hall opening performance.
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- Attend all three shows at the Aga Khan Museum for $150 to experience three Museum performances and receive 10% off the Qawwali Flamenco show on November 19 at Massey Hall.
- Enjoy all 3 masterclasses for a bundled price of $150.
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Tickets go on sale to the public starting on July 30. More information about the festival can be found on the Aga Khan Museum website.
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The Museum’s Performing Arts programming is generously supported by the Nanji Family Foundation.
The festival is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
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About the Aga Khan Museum
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in Toronto, Canada, has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational activities and performing arts, the Museum’s mission is to spark wonder, curiosity, and understanding of Muslim cultures and their connection with other cultures through the arts. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the Museum shares a 6.8-hectare site with Toronto’s Ismaili Centre, which was designed by architect Charles Correa. The surrounding landscaped park was designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic.
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About Massey Hall:
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is one of Canada’s most revered cultural institutions and a designated National Historic Site. Built in 1894 by Hart Massey, Massey Hall was gifted to the citizens of Toronto and now operates as a charitable not-for-profit organization. Remaining true to Massey’s vision, the organization devotes much of its focus to artist development, community outreach, and educational programming.
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Contacts
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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
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ric Tang
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Front Street Partners
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416.822.0541
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Kelly Frances
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Director, Marketing and Communications
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Aga Khan Museum
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416.858.8735
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