Buenos Aires Events

Print a Buenos Aires travel guide • Email this guide • Write a review on Buenos Aires

Tango dancing

Tango Festival

The sultry tango was born in Buenos Aires, and is celebrated in the city in fine style for six days and nights during the annual Tango Festival. Visitors and locals, experts and beginners, all swirl and twirl in legendary Corrientes Avenue and the numerous 'milonga portena' dance salons. There are demonstrations, free lessons and plenty of music performed in concerts by soloists and orchestras.

Venue: Various; Date: 22 February to 2 March 2008; Website: www.festivaldetango.com.ar

Buenos Aires Book Fair © www.argentina.usembassy.gov

Buenos Aires Book Fair

The Buenos Aires Book Fair is an eagerly awaited annual event in the Argentine capital. More than a million people head for this three-week event at the La Rural exhibition complex where each year special lectures are run. In the past they have covered the history of jazz, workshops on scriptwriting and the history of Argentine art, all given by leading professors and lecturers. Alongside the events for specialists and publishing professionals, there are exhibitions and book sales of literature in all languages, educational activities including discussion forums, roundtables, book readings, presentations and signings, courses, workshops and activities for children and adolescents, all of which are divided into international and national sections.

Venue: La Rural; Date: 24 April to 12 May 2008

aretBA © www.flickr.com/photos/talignyp

arteBA

The highly successful contemporary art fair arteBA is held every year at La Rural exhibition centre in Buenos Aires. National and international art galleries come together to offer contemporary art works to roving collectors and visitors. There is also an agenda of talks and open debates throughout the five days.

Venue: La Rural; Date: 29 May to 2 June 2008; Time: 1pm-10pm

International Rural Exhibition © www.flickr.com/photos/free-stuff

International Rural Exhibition

This exhibition of livestock, agriculture and industry at the Rural gives an interesting insight into the international agricultural market. Activities, such as cattle competitions, take place in the courtyard throughout the day. Agriculture and livestock have always been important Argentinean industries and were responsible for a large part of the country's financial growth in the past few centuries.

Venue: La Rural; Date: 24 July to 5 August 2008; Time: 10am-8pm

The Vinos y Bodegas Wine Exhibition

Vinos y Bodegas Wine Exhibition

Representatives from more than 100 of the country's wineries (bodegas) gather together under one roof and the public can sip and swill to their hearts' content. The Vinos y Bodegas Wine Exhibition is held at La Rural exhibition centre. Vino Express, organised by the Argentinean Association of Sommeliers, is a circuit of different stands where visitors can find out about specific wine regions, soils and terrains, grape cultivation and tasting techniques. Cooking demonstrations provide a timely and very welcome pause for digestion.

Venue: La Rural; Date: September 2008, TBC; Time: 8pm-11pm

Buenos aires International Jazz Festival

Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival

For the avid jazz fan, the Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival is a must if visiting the city. Taking place at the ND Aneneo cultural space, the festival has included musicians such as saxophonist James Moody, the Terence Blanchard Quintet, the Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the local porteño favourite, the trumpeter Roberto 'Fats' Fernández.

Venue: ND Ateneo, 918 Paraguay; Date: 15-19 October 2008; Website: www.ndateneo.com.ar

International Guitar Festival

The International Guitar Festival brings some of the best guitar prodigies to Buenos Aires for a weekend of classical, flamenco, and traditional guitar playing. The festival started back in 1994 and since then more than 200,000 people have attended the festival which has seen hundreds of musicians from scores of countries. The free and open display of guitar skills is a prestigious and well-known event in Buenos Aires.

Venue: Centro Cultural General San Martin, Centro Nacional de la Musica, Congreso Nacional; Date: 1 October to 31 October 2008; Time: Various; Website: www.festivaldeguitarras.com.ar

The game of polo

Argentine Open

Polo was introduced to Argentina by the British and has become a major national sport. Argentina is home to the world's best players, most of whom travel to England or the US in the winter to earn their living and return to Buenos Aires to compete in the most gruelling tournament of the year, the Argentine Open. The teams - which are often dominated by the big polo families of the Heguys, Merlos and Pieres - play a series of eight-chukka matches to a packed crowd at the Palermo stadium. For more information contact the Buenos Aires Tourist Information Centre on (0)11 4372 3612.

Venue: Palermo Stadium; Date: 13-15 December 2008, TBC; Time: 4.30pm, weekends only