The aim is to showcase emerging artistic talent through official matches, bringing culture to new audiences. OM Domínguez, winner of the Sonora 2025 Festival, 'Rebel Free Souls', singer-songwriter Liane, and several urban dance groups will headline the first artistic performances on the central court and in the fan zone.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2031 and Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria have signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of bringing together sport and culture in an initiative that seeks to highlight the island's creative potential and reinforce its position as a cultural benchmark in Europe.

This agreement provides for the implementation of a series of artistic activities that will take place during CB Gran Canaria's official games, turning the sports venue into a multidisciplinary stage open to music and local contemporary creation. The initiative aims to bring culture to new audiences, generate innovative experiences, and demonstrate that Gran Canaria is a cultural powerhouse yet to be discovered.

The mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias, accompanied by the councilor for Culture, Josué Íñiguez, the councilor for Sports, Carla Campoamor, and the team from the LPGC'31 Technical Office, visited the center court of the Gran Canaria Arena on Tuesday, February 3, where they were welcomed by the president of CB Gran Canaria, Sitapha Savané. The mayor highlighted the important moment that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's bid to become European Capital of Culture is experiencing, which "continues to consolidate itself, in this case, with the support of one of the main sports entities in the city and on the island."

Defense of the LPGC'31 project in Madrid
Carolina Darias took advantage of the occasion to announce the date of the next milestone in the candidacy. On March 10, a team of ten people will defend theGeography Rebellionproposal in Madrid before a European jury. The Ministry of Culture will announce the cities that pass the first phase of the selection process at a press conference on March 13. "We are now officially a candidate city. On March 10, we will defend an exciting project in Madrid, a collective project to aspire to be the cultural epicenter from the margins of the European Union. And what better ambassador than sport for culture to find that space," said the mayor.

"This is a very important agreement for us," said CB Gran Canaria president Sitapha Savané. "We want every game the team plays to be a spectacle, beyond the spectacle of basketball itself. Today, people demand 'sportainment'. When we saw what the City Council was promoting through its bid to become European Capital of Culture, we saw it as an opportunity to give all this local talent the chance to perform in front of more than 6,000 people and, at the same time, introduce urban culture to an audience that may not have direct access to it," he added.

Emerging talent on the Arena court
As part of this collaboration, several emerging artists from the Gran Canaria music scene will perform live at the yellow team's matches, bringing a diversity of styles and creative ideas. The first names confirmed are OM Domínguez, winner of the Sonora 2025 Festival, who will perform at halftime during tomorrow's game, Wednesday, February 4, between Dreamland Gran Canaria and La Laguna Tenerife, part of the Basketball Champions League 25-26.

The young artist, accompanied by his band, The Village Band, and a dance troupe specializing in urban dance styles, directed by artist and producer Gabriel Crowty, will offer an immersive and purely urban experience, full of emotion. "This is an incredible opportunity. We are excited. Furthermore, we believe it is a very coherent agreement, because culture and sport are the two pillars of hope; and the project proposed by the bid gives us the opportunity to perform in front of our people and represent values that coincide with our own," said the young artist from Gran Canaria.

Urban music for the fan zone
Rebel Free Souls, a young soul and funk band from Gran Canaria, will entertain fans for an hour in the fan zone on the esplanade of the Gran Canaria Arena before the ACB league game against Baskonia on Sunday, February 8. And Gran Canaria singer-songwriter Liane, finalist in the latest edition of the Sonora Festival, will be the musical project representing the richness and diversity of young talent on the island, also in the fan zone, one hour before the big game on March 8, when Dreamland GC will take on Real Madrid.

With this alliance, both entities reinforce their commitment to the cultural and social development of the region, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of spaces where sport and culture coexist to generate a positive impact on citizens. The bid for European Capital of Culture 2031 thus continues to expand its network of strategic partnerships with key players in the island's fabric, while CB Gran Canaria consolidates its role as a platform for cultural dissemination beyond the realm of sport.

This initiative is part of a cultural program that aims to put Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the European cultural map, highlighting local creativity, emerging talent, and the island's ability to offer innovative, high-quality cultural events.