If something catches the attention of Salamanca when passing by some bars in the center, it is its prickly pears singing and toasting to the sound of the music, attracting the gaze of tourists and curious onlookers who usually come to the place to enjoy these improvised ‘mini-events’.
On this occasion, it will not be only the Salamanca prickly pears that will star in these shows, but seven other groups will meet in the capital of Tormes with the XX Contest of the National Circuit of University and District Tunas 2026.
For charitable purposes, everything allocated will go to the IBSAL in Salamanca, more specifically to a project on breast cancer, turning the event not only into a display of history and culture, but also solidarity for research purposes.
The events have already begun this Friday, April 17, with an institutional event at the Salamanca City Hall that has served as a prelude to the party that Salamanca will experience these days, both in its streets and at the Hospedería Fonseca. As the Tuna Femenina of the University of Salamanca explained in their day, the first goal is to organize this national contest that is now celebrating its 20th year at the service of the compasses of history, thus showing the songs of each of the groups.
Hundreds of tunos gather in Salamanca in the XX Contest of the National Circuit of University and District Tunas 2026
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Anass Alvarez
The Tuna Universitaria of Cuenca, the District Tuna of the University of the Balearic Islands, the Tuna of the University of León (male and female), the Tuna Femenina of the University of León, the Tuna Universitaria of Plasencia, the Tuna Universitaria of Salamanca, the Tuna Universitaria of Santander and, of course, the organizing tuna, the Tuna Femenina of the University of Salamanca, attended the Salamanca call. In addition, they have indicated that commandos from other cities have joined the event who will not participate in the contest but who will fill the charro streets with life and robes.
Starting at 7:30 p.m., a parade has been organized throughout the capital of Tormes where 300 participants will play music and cheer up people from Salamanca and the curious. Likewise, this contest is the start so that starting next year the Tuna Femenina of the University of Salamanca can participate in this contest.
This Saturday, April 18, the contest will take place at the Hospedería Fonseca, with entry for five euros until capacity is reached.
The mayor of Salamanca receives the prickly pears from all over Spain
The mayor of Salamanca, Carlos García Carbayo, has shown his support for this initiative, indicating that “we are happy that you are here”, in addition to having received the support of councilors such as Carmen Segín and Ángel Fernández Silva, councilors of Celebrations and Traditions, on the one hand, and councilor of Culture and Tourism, on the other, respectively.
On the other hand, Carbayo himself has not forgotten to mention the Salamanca Tech Summit held in the capital of Tormes, remembering the technological employment that has been created in recent years, highlighting the municipality itself and the national and international protection gained in recent years. Likewise, he explained the importance of music in the Salamanca municipality with the number of concerts that take place each year, in addition to the conservatories and the Municipal School of Music of Salamanca.
The Tuna Femenina of the USAL has thanked the Salamanca City Council for its support. Regarding them, it was created in 1994 and since then they have proudly carried the USAL shield throughout Europe, arriving next September to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Peru.
The first came at the XI “Ciudad de Plasencia” Contest, held on the 6th and 7th, where it won the award for Best Parade. Just two weeks later, she repeated her success at the XIII International Contest “Ciudad de Algeciras”, on the 20th and 21st, winning the award for Most Original Song, with the performance of “Inés, Inesita, Inés”.
