This weekend, La Liga returns to San Mamés with Athletic Club-Real Betis Balompié. And it does so with the city in the final stretch of Aste Nagusia (Bilbao’s fiestas), which, as it does every year, will fill the Bizkaian capital with hundreds of events (August 25-27).
Events in Bilbao between August 25 and 27, 2023
A match at San Mamés during Aste Nagusia is always special. This year, Real Betis Balompié will visit ‘the Cathedral’ during Bilbao’s Semana Grande. Thousands of supporters will come to the stadium to cheer on the Lions to a win, and they will do so dressed in their Athletic kits. If you still haven’t got yours, why not visit one of our four Athletic Club shops.
Roar like a lion to cheer on the team. And do so with The Lion Experience so that you can enjoy the match in the best seats in the ring with the exclusive gastronomic service and get access to the areas reserved for the players before the match, experience the post-match atmosphere in the mixed zone and press room and meet a player from the first team in person.
The Lion Experience includes these services:
- Location in the VIP ring with gastronomic service included.
- Welcome pack.
- Visit the team’s dressing room and tunnel before the players arrive.
- Watch the arrival of the two teams at the stadium.
- Enjoy the pre-match warm-up on the pitch.
- Get access to the press room to follow the post-match press conference live.
- Meet and greet with a first team player in the mixed zone.
Find out more about The Lion Experience: more information.
Museums
If you visit Bilbao this weekend, you will be able to enjoy Aste Nagusia, an incomparable festival with a wide range of events. You can visit some of the Bilbao’s many museums, such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Artistic Reproductions, the Maritime Museum and the Basque Museum, where the Bilboko Erraldoiak (Bilbao’s giants who take to the streets every morning for parades during Aste Nagusia) are on display.
Also open is the Athletic Club Museum, which contains more than 1,000 original objects and videos that will give you an insight into the heart and soul of Athletic Club and will also allow you to take a Tour of San Mamés to have a closer look at the inside of ‘the Cathedral’ of football. It is a unique way to find out what Athletic Club stands for and delve into its history. Without doubt, it is one of the best family activities if you are in Bilbao. Book your ticket for the Athletic Club Museum.
Concerts
During Aste Nagusia, there are a number of concerts in every part of Bilbao and in its many txoznas (stands set up during fiestas). Some of the most important venues will also have live performances during this period. For example, on Friday 25, Kafe Antzokia will host the duo Laguna Goons y Dadabe, and the following day, Viva Belgrado and Etxekalte.
You can also enjoy a large number of free concerts in different parts of the city, such as Esne Beltza (Friday 25) and Marlon (Saturday 26) in Abandoibarra.
Theatre
Meanwhile, the Arriaga Theatre will host performances of the play ‘Los Chicos del Coro, el Musical’ on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Finally, the Campos Elíseos Theatre will stage different shows this weekend, such as the comedy show ‘Misery Class’ by Goyo Jiménez and ‘Miércoles que parecen jueves’, written by Juan José Millás.
