From 21 to 30 August, Asunción will celebrate Guarania Week 2026 with cultural activities dedicated to one of Paraguay’s most distinctive musical traditions. The programme centres on 27 August, National Guarania Day. The date honours the birthday of José Asunción Flores, the composer who created the genre in 1925.
What is Guarania?
Guarania is a Paraguayan musical genre created by José Asunción Flores in Asunción in 1925. This style developed from Paraguayan musical traditions, particularly the polka. But Guarania introduced a slower tempo, syncopated rhythms and a more intimate, reflective character. The genre frequently uses the Guaraní language and explores themes of love, nostalgia, everyday life, and identity.
Guarania Week 2026 brings different activities around National Guarania Day. The programme seeks to preserve and promote the genre through music, education, and tourism. Many events are free, although some require prior reservations or have an admission fee.
Guarania Week 2026 full programme
Friday 21 August
The week opens with several activities at Manzana de la Rivera, including visits to the Municipal José Asunción Flores Museum and the Municipal Museum of Paraguayan Harp from 08:00 to 16:30. Visitors can also see the sculptures of Flores and Manuel Ortiz Guerrero at Patio Leonor from 08:00 to 20:00.
The photographic exhibition “José Asunción Flores, creator of Guarania”, featuring 26 restored images documenting the composer’s life, will be open from 08:30 to 19:00 at Sala García Lorca.
At 16:00, CHACATOURS will offer a guided tour of La Chacarita, departing from Turismo Asunción Chaca Tours on Manuel Gondra. This tour will go on until 30 August, honouring the place where Flores was born.
Saturday 22 August
The programme continues with the photographic exhibition “José Asunción Flores en Rusia 1953–1959” at Centro Cultural del Puerto and the Flores and Ortiz Guerrero sculptures at Manzana de la Rivera.
At 10:00, “Chacarita: Art and History” will offer a guided cultural tour of Ricardo Brugada. Children aged six to 12 can also take part in “The Magic of Folklore”, a drawing and painting workshop at Centro Comunal San Jerónimo.
CHACATOURS will run tours at 10:00 and 16:00, while the Flores photographic exhibition will be open from 16:00 to 20:00.
The day concludes at 20:30 with a special performance of “Guarania”, a theatre work based on the books of Antonio Pecci and directed by Nelson de Santaní, at Municipal Theater Ignacio A. Pane. Admission is free with prior reservation.
Sunday 23 August
At 10:00, CHACATOURS will continue its guided tours through La Chacarita.
Monday 24 August
The day features exhibitions, museum visits and performances across the city. “Poetry and Music in the Guarania”, a didactic concert by the National Congress Symphony Orchestra under Diego Sánchez Haase, will take place at 10:00 at El Cabildo Cultural Centre of the Republic.
At 20:00, Municipal Theater Ignacio A. Pane will host the 27th Tribute to the Guarania, celebrating the genre’s musical heritage and Paraguayan cultural identity. Admission is free.
Tuesday 25 August
At 10:00, the Ensamble Folclórico de la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional will perform Guaranias in Guaraní at the National Congress Library.
Wednesday 26 August
The day begins at 07:00 with Explore Asunción – Guarania Edition, a cultural heritage exploration through Asunción’s historic centre.
At 19:00, “Guarania Viva: From Tradition to the Centenary” will examine the genre’s legacy and contemporary expressions at Escuela Musical Miranda.
At the same time, the Casa Bicentenario de la Música will host “Indigenous themes in the work of José Asunción Flores: from Ahendu Nde Sapucai a Ñanderuvusu”, a conference by Nicolás Ramírez Salaberry.
Thursday 27 August – National Guarania Day
At 10:00, A Tribute to the Great José Asunción Flores will feature the Asunción Municipal Chamber Orchestra at Plaza José Asunción Flores y Manuel Ortiz Guerrero.
At 12:30, the National Symphony Orchestra Folk Ensemble will present “The Guarania performs at the Hotel Guaraní” at Hotel Guaraní Asunción.
The main evening event will be “Celebrating Guarania”, a 20:00 concert at the Grand Theatre of the Central Bank of Paraguay. The performance will honour both Guarania and its creator, with audiovisual material produced by Graphic Design students from ISBA.
Friday 28 August
At 15:00, “A talk on Guarania”, led by National Symphony Orchestra director María Victoria Sosa, with Antonio Pecci and the OSN Folkloric Ensemble at Manzana de la Rivera.
At 16:45, “Guarania Sunset Tour” will take visitors through Asunción and its musical heritage. The tour departs from SENATUR at 17:00 and costs ₲15,000 (approximately US$2).
At 19:00, Centro Cultural del Puerto will host “The Port Comes Alive”, a free concert by ONAMP featuring some of the best-known Guaranias.
Meanwhile, Bicentenary House of Music will host “Flowers, an immaterial genius”, presenting a new biography of José Asunción Flores.
At 20:30, Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pane will present “Flecha, between Flores and Guaranias”, featuring singer Ricardo Flecha and emblematic Guaranias alongside works by newer composers. Tickets cost ₲50,000(approximately US$8).
Saturday 29 August
Saturday brings Guarania into the streets with “Palmeando with Guaranias”, from 11:00 to 23:00 on Palma Street.
From 15:00 to 23:00, the Port Cultural Centre will host the 4th edition of the Folcloreando Festival. A concert cycle celebrating Paraguayan popular music.
Sunday 30 August
The final day of Guarania Week 2026 includes the continuing exhibition of musical instruments from José Asunción Flores’ period with the Police Band at the Bicentenary House of Music.
At 10:00, CHACATOURS will offer its final listed tour of La Chacarita.
