- UNESCO CREATIVE CITY OF MUSIC 2019

When Llíria Goes Beyond Music

For more than 2,000 years, music has been the language through which the people of Llíria communicate. Century-old bands, 30 unique venues, 170 events a year. Since 2006, Llíria has been part of a network of over 350 cities worldwide committed to creativity as a driver of sustainable development. A network where Llíria is not merely a member: it is a benchmark.

Llíria music
UNESCO Creative Cities
Logo City of Music Llíria
— MUSICAL HISTORY

A story that has never ceased to

resound

From the Iberian Dance Kalathos to the International Conducting Competition, Llíria has forged Spain's most remarkable musical ecosystem over the course of 2,000 years.

3rd Century BCE

Dance Kalathos

Iberian ceramics from the 3rd–2nd century BCE discovered in Llíria—the earliest documented musical representation in Valencian history.

In 25 Years

Over 3,000 Musicians Trained

The Llíria Professional Conservatory of Music—with 30 full-time faculty members—has graduated more than 3,000 students, 53% of whom are women.

1997

Pioneers in Music Education

In 1997, Llíria founded Spain's first educational center to integrate music into primary education. A pedagogical revolution that the world was slow to emulate.

20% Musicians

One of the European Cities with the Most Musicians per Capita

20% of its residents play an instrument. It is not just a statistic: it is a way of life.

Training and Professionalism

Over 1,400 Professional Musicians Worldwide

Trained in Llíria, they perform today in orchestras, wind bands, and conservatories across Spain, Europe, and all five continents.

Heritage and Music

30 Venues Where History and Music Embrace

1st-century Roman baths, 13th-century Gothic churches, century-old auditoriums. 11,000 indoor seats. No other city can offer this.

2018

Valencian City of Music — by Unanimous Political Acclaim

In 2018, Les Corts Valencianes granted this distinction with unanimous support from all political parties. Music unites where politics divides.

2019

UNESCO Creative City

In 2019, Llíria joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, specifically designated as a Creative City of Music.

Budgets

10% of the Municipal Budget Dedicated to Music

Llíria doesn't just celebrate music: it funds it. More than 10% of the municipal budget is allocated to the music sector every year.

UNESCO Creative City

An International Network of Sister Cities

As a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Llíria collaborates with cities across five continents: Bogotá, Daegu, Granada, Vienna, and over 350 cities in the global network.

Musical Groups

Music as an Engine for Social Inclusion

For two centuries, Llíria's musical societies have integrated all social groups—including the most vulnerable—through the universal language of music.

UNESCO Logo
Valencian City of Music
Mediterranew Musix Logo
Llíria City of Music Logo

- MUSIC SCHEDULE

Llíria comes alive

365 days a year

Conductor

YEARS OF MUSIC

RESIDENT MUSICIANS

PROFESSIONALS

EVENTS/YEAR

Wind musicians

- HISTORY AND MUSICAL EDUCATION

A city of

musicians,

the fact that

explains everything

Before exploring festivals and creative initiatives, one must understand the foundation that makes them possible: 1 in 5 residents of Llíria has musical training and actively participates in the city's cultural life, whether as an amateur or professional musician.

This percentage—remarkable for any city in the world—is the result of two centuries of systematic musical education through musical societies, the conservatory, and the integrated educational system. When one out of five neighbors plays an instrument, music ceases to be mere entertainment to consume and becomes a spoken language: in homes, in the streets, at festivals, and in cafés.

It is upon this human foundation that all of Llíria's creative projects flourish. These are not imported initiatives: they stem from within, from a community that has expressed itself through music for generations.

“We have witnessed the resilience and solidarity of our network in action in Llíria, Spain, a UNESCO Creative City of Music”

Audrey Azoulay · Director-General of UNESCO · 3rd UNESCO Creative Cities Network Meeting, Beijing

- CIDO · INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The most singular conducting

competition

in the world

Held in a UNESCO Creative City of Music, the Llíria CIDO discovers and champions young orchestra conductors from around the globe. Three editions, winners from three continents.

3rd CIDO 2025

Jaehyuck Choi

South Korea 2025

2nd CIDO 2023

Brian Liao

Taiwan / United States 2023

1st CIDO 2021

Levente Török

Hungary 2021

- THE MUSICAL FABRIC

Six societies,

two centuries of

history

The musical societies are not mere ensembles: they are pillar institutions that have shaped life in Llíria for two centuries. Each boasts its own history, style, and character—all sharing one common language: music.

FOUNDED IN 1819

Ateneu Musical -Banda Primitiva
Spain's oldest civilian band. Honorary Directorship held by Plácido Domingo.

FOUNDED IN 1947

Agrupació Musical Edetana
Chamber orchestra and plucked string ensemble. Founded by a professor from the Spanish National Orchestra.

FOUNDED IN 1993

Banda UDP Llíria
45 musicians, 650+ concerts. A European model for active aging through music.

FOUNDED IN 1903

Unió Musical de Llíria
70 first international prizes. Conducted by Zubin Mehta in 2013.

FOUNDED IN 1956

El Micalet Plectrum Orchestra
Concerts at Palau de la Música, Palau de les Arts, and Paris. Medal of Honor from the Royal Academy of San Carlos.

FOUNDED IN 1997

Grup de Danses El Tossal
Their mission is not merely to perform folklore, but to revive it. Every piece in their repertoire has required rigorous research, documentation, and painstaking choreographic reconstruction.

UNESCO Creative City of Music

Llíria City of Music

· Institutional and Cultural Portal
· Llíria City Council

UNESCO Creative Cities