What to Do in Buenos Aires in January: Plans, Culture, and the Outdoors

Arthaus stands out for its creative and forward-thinking proposals: culture that is lived, breathed, and transformed. In a short time, this space has positioned itself as one of the most interesting artistic hubs in the city. Its architecture and urban setting create a kind of concrete jungle, with a pulse that at times evokes downtown New York. A place to experience and feel art.

In January, it kicks off the year with Fractura expuesta, a group exhibition curated by Silvia Gurfein. The show explores what happens when subjectivity is built from an external gaze. The works do not display intimacy from vanity or logic, but instead work with the idea of “extimacy,” the concept Lacan defines as what is most intimate yet shown outward.

In Gallery 2, through March 15, visitors can see Seguir la corriente, an installation by Eugenia Calvo curated by Sebastián Vidal Mackinson. The exhibition focuses on relationships and the power of being connected. Domestic objects—chairs, clothing, bedspreads, bags—meet and assemble to form unexpected bodies and new alliances that don’t follow the logic of usefulness, but rather the possibility of transformation.

And on the seventh floor of Arthaus, through February, BRUTTO, the digital art exhibition by Indio Solari, continues. A series that combines nature, the human body, spells, devils, and machines in a raw and deliberately dissonant aesthetic. “Brutal” here is not just a form, but a way of narrating the world.

Good to know: Arthaus was founded in late 2022, driven by the creative vision of Andrés Buhar. One of its highlights is a magnificent rooftop with views of Buenos Aires’ iconic domes.

Where: Bartolomé Mitre 434, CABA – Tuesday to Sunday, 1–8 pm. Free admission.

Candlelight has established itself as one of Buenos Aires’ most unique experiences—and January is no exception. This series of live concerts presented by Fever was created in 2019 with the goal of democratizing access to classical music.

Now a global phenomenon (present in more than 150 cities worldwide), it has something special here: an almost magical ability to turn any moment into a cinematic scene. The formula? Stunning venues, thousands of lit candles, and musical curation that reinterprets the classical (and not-so-classical) with a contemporary twist. An intimate and elegant reinvention that always surprises.

The proposal invites audiences to rediscover music from a different perspective: iconic corners of Buenos Aires illuminated by a warm, dim, almost magical light, where string instruments create a cinematic atmosphere. Candlelight also supports and hires talented local musicians, with the mission of bringing live music experiences to ever-wider audiences.

In January, there are tributes to contemporary Argentine artists like Spinetta and Soda Stereo, as well as classic tangos. And of course, timeless favorites such as 80s Rock Anthems, Metallica, Queen, The Beatles, Ennio Morricone, and much more.

A sensory, immersive experience like no other.

Good to know: Doors open 45 minutes before the show, and seating is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within the selected section at purchase. It’s best to buy tickets in advance—popular tributes sell out quickly. Check available dates.

Where: Concerts usually take place in iconic venues such as Palacio Paz, Teatro Margarita Xirgu, Centro Asturiano de Buenos Aires, and Auditorio San José.

January is a great month to explore San Telmo. Not only because there are fewer people on the streets—making it easier to discover every corner at a relaxed pace—but also because the neighborhood has its own energy that’s felt even out of season and beyond weekends. It’s summer in the city.

San Telmo reinvents itself without losing its essence: it preserves its roots, its old architecture, and those cobblestone streets that feel like a true time tunnel.

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On Sundays, the famous antiques fair takes over Defensa Street and Plaza Dorrego: antiques, art, live music, crafts, and a unique mix of tourists, locals, collectors, and the curious. But San Telmo offers much more than the Sunday ritual.

The San Telmo Market, dating back to 1897, is open Tuesday to Sunday and is a must-see, constantly reinventing itself with antiques, design, unique objects, and an increasingly interesting food scene.

Good to know: With just 1.2 km², San Telmo is the smallest neighborhood in the City of Buenos Aires.

Where: Plaza Dorrego, Humberto 1º 400.

A proposal combining classic cinema and live music outdoors arrives in a natural setting with free admission. Save Saturday, January 17: Nosferatu (Germany, 1922), by F. W. Murnau, will be screened with live musical accompaniment by Leo Sujatovich alongside the duo Kapai, formed by cellists Karmen Rencsar and Pablo de Nucci.

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During the summer, Malba Puertos and Fundación Medifé invite audiences to three gatherings featuring essential films from the silent era of cinema history. It’s not just for cinephiles: it’s culture, history, and a different (and memorable) way to experience film. If it rains, the event is rescheduled for the following day at the same time.

Good to know: Nosferatu was born as a (very) loose adaptation of Dracula. After a lawsuit by Bram Stoker’s widow, a court ordered its destruction—but the film survived. Condemned to disappear, it escaped its fate and, a hundred years later, remains a foundational work of German Expressionism and a cornerstone of horror cinema.

Where: Alisal, Puertos, Av. de la Bahía 160, Belén de Escobar.

It’s one of those getaways that never disappoint. Originally a Delta dock, today Puerto de Frutos is an open-air riverside market where wicker and wooden crafts, décor, furniture, regional products, flowers, and food options for every craving coexist. Everything in one place, perfect for wandering without rush and spending the whole day. (As Kevin Johansen would say: “Then to El Tigre to buy lots of mimbre…”)

Just steps from Parque de la Costa, Aquafan, and the Delta Municipal Fair, the plan can easily be extended.

Good to know: Open daily—Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; weekends and holidays, 10 am to 7 pm.

Where: Sarmiento 160, Tigre.

In Buenos Aires, culture doesn’t take vacations. And among so many proposals, cultural centers like El Recoleta continue to surprise with exhibitions worth visiting in their own right. One not to miss: Políticas del sabor, a group exhibition curated by Larisa Zmud that brings together contemporary art and community kitchens as practices of imagination and resistance. Drawing from collective experiences in different countries and works by artists from various eras, the exhibition proposes thinking of cooking as a political, poetic, and caring space.

Art, feminism, and community practices intertwine to imagine sustainable ways of living, where optimism becomes a form of resistance and cooking turns into a way of thinking, caring for, and transforming the commons.

Good to know: The CCR also houses a renowned music research lab, a research and publications center, and an artist residency.

Where: Junín 1930.

Jigoku Producciones presents an event at Centro Galicia, occupying three floors filled with themed stands featuring k-pop, kawaii, anime, and gaming aesthetics. There will be tournaments, trivia, fan dancers, and a cosplay contest, in a day designed for both fans and the curious. The event takes place on January 11, from 12 pm to 8 pm. A free proposal packed with music, activities, contests, great food, and family-friendly experiences.

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During the event, there will be more than 300 themed stands with posters, prints, figures, collectibles, and clothing, as well as a main stage with special performances, cinema mode, challenges with prizes, and raffles throughout the day. An ideal plan to fully embrace the city’s summer vibe.

Good to know: Don’t miss the exclusive, free classes taught by instructors from K-pop School, Argentina’s first school specializing in k-pop.

Where: Centro Galicia, Bartolomé Mitre 2552.

In January, Buenos Aires dresses in red and gold to celebrate Lunar New Year, enthusiastically welcoming this ancient Chinese calendar festival. The 2026 edition marks the end of the Year of the Wood Snake and the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, with proposals combining music, dragon dances, food, and Eastern traditions in the streets and squares of Belgrano’s Chinatown.

This isn’t a conventional festival with artists on a single stage, but rather a series of open cultural celebrations, with live music, parades, and activities designed for the whole family in public spaces.

Festivities in Chinatown usually begin several days before the main weekend (generally around January 25–26) and continue with cultural activities, fairs, and free shows into early February, becoming a celebration spread over several days.

Good to know: The Year of the Fire Horse symbolizes a time of movement, determination, and intense change, where direct action and independence take center stage.

Where: Av. Juramento / Arribeños.

The date is January 24 at CC Konex, starting at 5 pm, with a summer edition of Festival Nuevo Día featuring two stages, fairs, DJ sets, and six live bands. “In times when everything seems to be breaking apart, music remains the meeting point. We return to remind ourselves why we started and why we continue. This time we believe in generational renewal from a historic place, as a way of thanking our teachers—those who are still here and those who are not,” reads a statement. The festival is known for bringing together emerging bands with well-established artists from the alternative scene. The lineup includes Eterna Inocencia, celebrating 30 years of melodic hardcore; Marina Fages, after her tour with Mi corazón en llamas; as well as WRRN, Cursi no muere, Clamor, and Fuun.

Good to know: Did you know the CC Konex building was constructed in the 1920s and operated for years as an oil factory and warehouse until 1992? It was later acquired and transformed into Ciudad Cultural Konex, now one of the country’s most iconic cultural spaces.

Where: Sarmiento 3131, Abasto.

The South also offers great outdoor options. Between the stadiums of Independiente and Racing lies this vast area with plenty of green space and room to breathe.

It features a soccer-themed playground, a skate park, and urban furniture for relaxing, drinking mate, or having a picnic in the middle of January (with fewer people than usual). There’s live music and a dancing fountains area that adds a visual bonus to the walk.

It’s ideal for running, training, or simply resting under the trees—a perfect meeting point for families or groups of friends. Free admission.

Soon, a gastronomic hub will also be added.

Good to know: There’s a project underway to create the National Football Museum in Avellaneda, declared the National Capital of Football.

Where: Colón 950, Avellaneda.