Guitarricadelafuente is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in 2026, having released one of the defining Spanish albums of the past decade, Spanish Leather, and starring in the epic film La Bola Negra, which has garnered major Oscar buzz after winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The 29-year-old has also earned praise from critics and audiences for his turn as Sebastián, not just his first role in a major film, but his first acting role, period.
Guitarricadelafuente’s Music Career
Guitarricadelafuente is, first and foremost, a pop star. And a damn good one at that. On Friday, during the finale of his “Spanish Leather World Tour” in Madrid, he proved once again that not only can you have it all, but you can also invite thousands of people along for the ride. At least for one night. The stage at Movistar Arena seemed deceptively simple, with the band in the background and the rest of the space left open for Guitarricadelafuente to use as his playground.
The singer wasted no time in setting the mood for the night by kicking things off with “Full time papi,” the single that paved the way for the album’s massive success. Besides being an indisputable banger, the song also foregrounds another theme that has run through the album and his overall career: queerness. Because besides being a pop star and, now, a leading man, Guitarricadelafuente is also a queer icon.
A Night to Remember
The show, for the most part, was built around Guitarricadelafuente‘s charisma and stage presence. The constant wardrobe changes, the onstage camera tracking his every move and facial expression for the crowd to stare at in awe, all contributed to a night that had it all. In some instances, as during the performance of “Poses,” that playfulness reached a fever pitch as the singer stripped off his shirt and danced on the sand as the arena lost its collective mind.
There is, however, much more going on in a Guitarricadelafuente concert than eye candy. Before becoming the star he is today, it was his compositions and heartfelt lyrics that made him a darling of the local indie circuit. And the show left enough room for stripped-down acoustic performances of classics like “Guantanamera” and “Mil y una noches,” accompanied by the voices of those who have had his back since the early days.
A Political Statement
Guitarricadelafuente made a point to dedicate “La Puerta del Sol” to those who have been camping out for a week in the heart of Madrid, demanding solutions to the housing crisis. The dedication laid the groundwork for a more overtly political intervention later in the show, when multimedia artist Samantha Hudson appeared via video from the camp itself, calling on attendees to join Saturday’s housing protest and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
It was a fitting addition to a night that had it all, even a couple of nods to the singer’s burgeoning acting career. Midway through the show, Guitarricadelafuente stepped onstage with a trumpet slung over his shoulder, a nod to Sebastián, his character in La Bola Negra. He then performed “La Nieve,” the song he co-wrote for the film, as scenes from the movie played on the screens behind him.
A Fitting End to the Tour
The show eventually came to an end with two drastically different songs, fitting for a night that had alternated so fluidly between spectacle and musicianship, between the pop star and the small-town songwriter. First came “BABIECA!,” the song that has spearheaded Guitarricadelafuente‘s crossover to the US, leading him to perform it on stages like Tiny Desk and Jimmy Kimmel Live. On Friday, the song’s pent-up energy and eventual outburst turned the arena into an all-out party, complete with confetti cannons.
Once the song ended, the singer embraced his band and crew, a fitting end to a tour that had taken him across three continents over the course of nearly a year and a half. But the crowd refused to let him leave and Guitarricadelafuente, ever the showman, delivered one last song, a throwback acoustic version of “Sixtinain.” Just him, his guitar, and the chanting faithful to close out the show.
The tour finale doesn’t mean the singer will be taking time off. In fact, chances are we’ll be seeing plenty of him in the next few months, especially as awards season nears. “La Nieve” is a strong contender for Best Original Song, raising the possibility that we might even see him performing live come Oscar night. Turns out, even Guitarricadelafuente can’t have it all. Rest, at least, will have to wait.
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