The Plaza Grande hosted the event that marks the start of the patron saint festivities, with a dual proclamation that reviewed five centuries of history and paid tribute to the anonymous people of Guía.
Guía lit up this Friday for the Virgin Festival 2026 with a proclamation that united history and emotion in the year of the municipality's V Centenary. The Plaza Grande, packed to the brim and adorned for the occasion, was the stage for an event that aimed, above all, to honour the collective memory of the people of Guía.
The honour of opening the festivities fell to Sergio Aguiar Castellano, the official chronicler of the municipality, and Javier Estévez Domínguez, a geographer, urban planning worker at the Town Hall, and writer. Together, they crafted a dual narrative that combined documentary rigor with the evocation of personal experiences, managing to move an audience that recognised itself in each memory.
The presidential table included the mayor of Guía, Alfredo Gonçalves Ferreira; the councillor for Culture and Heritage, Julián Melián Aguiar; and the parish priest of the main church, José Luis Rodríguez Guerra. Also present were members of the municipal corporation, representatives from other administrations, former proclaimers, and honourable guests.
Before handing over to the proclaimers, Julián Melián Aguiar took the floor to welcome the attendees and introduce those responsible for delivering the proclamation. The councillor highlighted the trajectory of both and their close ties to Guía, emphasising the wisdom of having two deeply knowledgeable voices about the history and essence of the municipality to inaugurate such significant festivities.
During their speech, Estévez and Aguiar guided the audience through some of the most relevant events in Guía's five centuries of history. Through documented facts, they painted a historical map of the municipality's evolution from its foundation to the present day, in a journey that served to highlight local heritage and identity.
But the proclamation was much more than a history lesson. It was also an exercise in shared memory: the proclaimers evoked names, faces, and memories of men and women who, from anonymity, represent the idiosyncrasy of Guía. People who are part of the human landscape of the municipality and who remain alive in the memories of generations of Guía residents. A narrative that the audience recognised as their own, on a night when the Plaza Grande became a meeting place between the past and the present.
The mayor, Alfredo Gonçalves Ferreira, closed the institutional event with a speech full of gratitude towards all the generations "that have made Guía what it is today". In his words, the Virgin Festival is "a legacy that is renewed each year; it is a celebration that reminds us that Guía is a town that has never stopped believing in itself". He also thanked "those who instilled in their children, us, the love, respect, and values that come with being from any corner of Guía".
The final touch was provided by the singer Thania Gil, who offered a musical repertoire that capped off a night full of symbolism and emotion. With this event, Guía ushers in a Virgin Festival that, in 2026, takes on special historical relevance as it coincides with the commemoration of the 500 years since the municipality's foundation.
The celebrations will continue in the coming days with a wide programme of religious, cultural, and recreational events taking place in various locations around the town. Residents and visitors can consult the complete programme on the Town Hall's website and on the information boards set up in public spaces.
The Plaza Grande will once again be the epicentre of the festivities, as it has been for centuries, and high participation is expected in all scheduled events. The Virgin Festival of Guía is one of the most deeply rooted events in the northwest of Gran Canaria, and this year the celebration takes on special significance as it marks the fifth centenary of the municipality's foundation.
The organisation has planned a special security and mobility arrangement to ensure the smooth running of the events, with traffic cuts around the Plaza Grande during peak hours. Attendees are advised to use public transport and to follow the instructions of municipal services.
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