The most LGBT-friendly festivals
Bilbao BBK Live in the summer, BIME in autumn-winter, MTV Europe Music Awards in November… No matter when you come: It is always festival time in Bizkaia!
Bizkaia has a great soundtrack all year round. In July there is Bilbao BBK Live in Mount Kobetas, Bilbao – one of the top music festivals in Europe.
Autumn is the season of BIME, including BIME Pro – a professional event at Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Barakaldo –, BIME Live – bringing the latest trends in shows by renowned artists and international DJs – and BIME City – filling the city’s most iconic music venues with free shows.
Also in autumn, Bilbao is playing host to the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) for the first time this year. It will be at BEC on 4 November, with a great live concert at San Mames stadium on the eve.
Open-minded and friendly
Bizkaia likes you just the way you are; here you are free to be yourself
In Bizkaia’s music festivals and shows, one thing is sure: quality. There are music genres and styles for all and sundry, from Bilbao BBK Live to BIME to the MTV Europe Music Awards late in the year… Pump up the volume!
Bilbao BBK Live is a leading festival in the international music scene. Its stage in Kobetamendi (Mount Kobetas) has hosted concerts by the world’s top bands: Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Chemical Brothers… Thousands of people gather at Mount Kobetas for the festival every year. In addition to the concerts, there are food trucks offering the best of street cuisine. The organisers do everything in their power for the experience to be unforgettable. Also, you will meet lots of interesting people with a common interest: music.
BIME is the autumn festival in Bizkaia. It comes in three different versions: Pro, Live and City. BIME Pro is an event for professionals in the music industry. BIME Live offers concerts and DJ sessions. Finally, BIME City comprises a series of free concerts in Bilbao’s most popular venues. In six years, BIME has become a reference in music events. In 2017, BIME Live was granted the Fest Award for Best Tech-based Festival.
Last but not least, this year Bilbao is playing host to the MTV Europe Music Awards on 4th November, preceded by an enthralling concert that will be held at San Mames stadium the day before. Before this, however, there are a zillion concerts and shows for you to enjoy. What are you waiting for?
How to get there
Gastronomy
Where to eat
Eating well is easy in Bilbao. In the centre of town – in the Casco Viejo (Old Town) or the Ensanche –, there are many bars and restaurants where you can have delicious pintxos (counter snacks) or invigorating dishes, delivering traditional Basque flavours and modern twists. Michelin-starred signature restaurant or pintxo-pote (bar-hopping for snacks and drinks)? Make your pick!
In the vicinity of BEC, in Barakaldo, you will find several restaurants offering special menus or fast food options for a quick meal between concerts.
Accommodation
Where to sleep
In the area of BEC, in Barakaldo, there are several hotels where you can spend the night. However, the exhibition centre is very close to Bilbao (only 10km), which can be reached by either bus or underground from there. In the capital city, you fill find a wider range of hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, and boarding houses.
If you are coming for Bilbao BBK Live, there is a campsite 3km from the festival grounds. It can hold as many as 12,000 people. There is also a site for ‘glamping’, that is, camping with glamour. It features all the amenities of a hotel: electricity, beds and linen, buffet breakfast… In any case, there is a bus to central Bilbao after the concerts, so you can stay in town too.