Asunción is known to be a city with great accessibility to cultural spaces. Furthermore, Paraguay’s capital has a plethora of theatres to attend cultural events and activities. While you can go to the Arlequin Theatre to attend plays, or go to the Municipal Theatre to see the orchestra, with many multipurpose theatres, Asunción has more to offer. Much more.
Nations like France, Spain, Japan, the United States, and Brazil have funded theatres in Asunción to boost cultural events. These efforts enhance arts accessibility while showcasing each country’s culture. Various activities take place in these venues. Asunción also features other multipurpose theatres, providing more opportunities for people to experience Paraguayan artists’ work.
Here is a list of all the multipurpose theatres offering cultural events in Asunción, divided by categories.
Nations’ theatres
Alianza Francesa: The French Alliance of Asunción is more than a theatre; it is a cultural space to celebrate French language and culture. There are French Alliances almost everywhere in the world – sponsored directly by the French government – and Asunción has one. While its premiere role is to promote la langue de Molière (a common way to refer to the French language), the theatre offers performances in Spanish as well, without a “Franch connection”.
This cultural space is located on Mariscal Estigarribia, between Brazil Avenue and United States Avenue. For reference, bars Voüdevil and Die Mannschaft are located around.
Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar: The Cultural Centre of Spain has the same mission as the French Alliance for France: to promote Spain, and Spanish. While they do have space for music and plays, the centre also displays arts and hold small conferences.
The Cultural Centre of Spain Juan de Salazar is located in downtown Asunción, at the corner of Luís Alberto de Herrera and Tacuarí.
Centro Paraguayo-Japonés – CPJ: The Japanese-Paraguayan Centre was created with the help of the Japanese government in 1988. The centre has dedicated itself to social education, academic activities and holds multiple cultural events and activities, including plays and concerts.
The centre is located on Domingo Portillo, in the Madame Elisa Alicia Lynch neighbourhood. This cultural space is close to Julio Correa Street, in between Santisima Trinidad Avenue, and Dr. Felipe Molas López Avenue.
Teatro de las Américas – CCPA: The Theatre of the Americas of the American-Paraguayan Cultural Centre offers multiple plays, concerts, and conferences. The educative side takes a major part of the resources of the CCPA, like the CPJ above. They are sponsored by the United States government.
The theatre is located at the entrance of downtown Asunción, between Spain and Mariscal López Avenue, and between United States and Brazil Avenue.
Teatro Tom Jobim: The Tom Jobim Theatre serves the Brazilian and Lusophone community of Paraguay. The theatre is part of the official Cultural Mission of Brazil (MCdB). They are presenting musicals and other cultural events, and sometimes hold conferences to create bridges between Brazil and Paraguay.
The theatre is located in the neighbourhood of Ciudad Nueva, at the corner of Peru and Mariscal López Avenue.
Multipurpose theatres
Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera: This Cultural Centre is one of the most important ones in Asunción. Manzana de la Rivera hosts multiple cultural events, such as painting and photography exhibitions, but also plays. One of the recent plays performed there was Grease, al estilo Paraguayo.
Located downtown very near to Paraguay’s Presidential Palace in downtown Asunción, is on Ayolas Street. Find Manzana de la Rivera on Instagram.
Espacio E: This space is used for all scenic and visual arts, which includes plays, concerts, and dance. French dancer Laura Guy, interviewed by The Asunción Times, was performing at the Espacio E in 2025.
This space is located downtown, on Estrella Street, close to Colón Avenue. For reference, Espacio E is very near the Palmaroga Hotel.
Gran Teatro José Asunción Flores – Teatro del Banco Central: This is a multipurpose theatre part of the office of the Central Bank of Paraguay. Concerts, plays, ceremony and conferences can be held in this venue. For example, the last cohort of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnical University (UPTP) held their graduation ceremony there.
This theatre is located on Russian Federation street at the corner of Augusto Roa Bastos, in the Las Lomas neighbourhood.
Teatro Guaraní: This cultural space is a multipurpose area used for plays, music (mostly classical), shows for children, conferences, ceremony, private, and other cultural events. In the past, the theatre was also used to crown Miss Paraguay.
The Teatro Guaraní is located at the Hotel Guaraní. In downtown Asunción, the theatre is at the corner of Route PY 01 and Oliva, metres from the four plazas.
See you at the theatre!
These are the key venues for cultural events in Asunción, beyond plays and music. While they host these too, their focus is on conferences, art exhibitions, dances, and more. Now you are aware of all the significant places in Asunción for cultural events! See you at a multipurpose theatre!
With the collaboration of Sol Orrabalis, another writer of The Asunción Times.
