Festival Mundial del Arpa
Free Paraguayan harp concerts in Asunción theatres, with harpists from Paraguay and around the world.
What it is
The harp is the instrument most closely tied to Paraguayan music, and this festival celebrates it with free-admission concerts on Asunción stages such as the Municipal Theatre, the Manzana de la Rivera and the Tom Jobim Theatre at the Brazilian Embassy. It is organized by Arpistas Paraguayos Asociados with support from the National Culture Secretariat and other institutions. The 2024 edition (17th) paid tribute to Lorenzo Leguizamón on the centenary of his birth and included the launch of a score book at the Harp Museum; in 2020 the 13th edition went online because of the pandemic. For the 19th edition, in October 2026, a national call for harp-led musical projects was opened.
What to see and do
- Free concerts in Asunción theatres
- Tributes to great harpists, such as Lorenzo Leguizamón in 2024
- Open call for new harpist-led projects
- Activities at the Harp Museum
Tips
Get to the theatres early: entry is free and halls fill up.,Check the schedule on the festival's and the National Culture Secretariat's social media.,If the instrument interests you, add a visit to the Harp Museum.
Dates may shift to the nearest weekend.
What to see
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Palacio de López (Palacio de Gobierno)
The palace Carlos Antonio López had built for his son, now the seat of the executive branch overlooking the bay.
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Panteón Nacional de los Héroes y Oratorio de la Virgen de la Asunción
The domed shrine where the great names of Paraguayan history rest, watched over by soldiers in full dress uniform.
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Plaza de los Héroes y calle Palma (centro histórico)
The main square and downtown's shopping street: handicrafts, a Saturday street fair and buildings that tell a century of stories.
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Museo Casa de la Independencia
The colonial house where Paraguay's independence was plotted on the night of May 14, 1811.
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Two public holidays for the 1811 independence: flags, ceremonies, sopa paraguaya and chipa guasu all over the country.
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TraditionAsunción y todo el país, VariosResearched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.