UARTES Live is the space where music students from Ecuador's University of the Arts present their latest sound projects. This edition, titled New Voices of the Sound Avant-Garde, brings together experimental work from the new generation of Guayaquil musicians. The concert takes place at the Julio Jaramillo Popular Music Museum, the city's tribute to the icon of Ecuadorian "pasillo" music. It's a great pick for anyone following Guayaquil's emerging music scene and looking to discover new talent early, with free admission and an intimate format.

"Art That Unites Us" is the free concert series through which the Municipal Museum brings symphonic music to audiences of all ages. This date features the Guayaquil Youth Symphony Orchestra, made up of young musicians in training, with a program designed for listeners experiencing this kind of music for the first time. It's a great way to spend a Thursday evening in the historic downtown, with no admission cost, inside one of the city's heritage buildings.

"El tigre" is a play designed for young audiences, with two morning performances in the Municipal Museum's performing arts hall. It's part of the free cultural programming the museum runs throughout August, aimed at school groups, families and children. A good pick for a short weekday outing, with a runtime suited to young kids and timing that works well around school or vacation schedules.

Colombian star Sebastián Yatra brings a large-scale Latin pop show to Estadio Alberto Spencer, part of the international concert lineup that has made Guayaquil a regular stop on major tours. The setlist mixes his biggest hits with the stadium-level production his recent shows are known for. It's one of the most anticipated concerts of August in the city, with numbered and general-admission sections on sale through Ticketshow.

Part two of the family workshop "Creatures of the Tropics," where kids and adults create masks inspired by the Ecuadorian coast's wildlife, guided by the National Cacao Museum's education team. The activity is part of the museum's ongoing series on nature and local identity, in a space that blends the history of cacao with hands-on creative projects for the whole family. No need to have attended part one to join in.

"Urban Instant: Geometry, Light and Memory on Panamá Street" is a street photography workshop led by the National Cacao Museum, set along one of the most photogenic stretches of downtown Guayaquil. Participants walk Panamá street learning to read its architecture, light and people through the lens. Aimed at both DSLR enthusiasts and phone photographers, it's a different way to get to know the city's architectural heritage.

As part of the 12th edition of the Guayaquil International Film Festival, the Municipal Museum screens a selection of short films with free admission. The festival, which opened in mid-August at the Centro Cultural Olmedo, extends its program to other cultural venues across the city throughout the month. A good entry point into independent Ecuadorian and international film for anyone who doesn't usually follow the festival circuit.

Catalan performer Pep Bou turns soap bubbles into a wordless visual spectacle, with three performances at Teatro Sánchez Aguilar. "Bullé a Bullé" blends physics, light and stage poetry in a show that works across ages: kids see the bubbles as pure magic, while adults appreciate the technical skill behind every shape. It's one of the most talked-about family shows on the theater's August calendar.

REINAS is a comedy play starring four women who confront their fears, memories and dreams with humor and honesty. Produced by Alvo Bureau, the play runs for a full week of performances at the MAAC. Worth double-checking the exact entrance point before attending: the museum's main building is still undergoing renovation work, so much of its cultural programming currently takes place in outdoor spaces and other halls within the complex.

Acting students from Ecuador's University of the Arts stage Bertolt Brecht's classic on identity, war and circumstance, with three days of performances at the Municipal Museum. It's a chance to see emerging Ecuadorian theater with free admission, part of the ongoing collaboration between UARTES and Guayaquil's cultural venues to showcase student work for a general audience.

An intimate conversation around the memory of Guayaquil's popular music, held in the multipurpose hall of the museum dedicated to Julio Jaramillo. The talk invites reflection on how popular songs end up becoming collective life stories. Free admission, aimed at anyone interested in the city's cultural history more than a live music show.

"El Ecuador que Produce" is a new exhibition from the National Cacao Museum dedicated to the productive sectors that drive the country's economy, told from the perspective of a museum that already frames cacao as a driver of national development. The opening is free and open to the public. The exhibition will remain on view for the following weeks, making it a good option too for anyone who'd rather visit at a quieter moment later in the month.

Another edition of the "Art That Unites Us" series, this time with the Youth Symphony Band in a Saturday morning performance. A short, free plan to kick off the weekend with the family, no advance booking needed. The Municipal Museum opens its performing arts hall for this kind of educational concert, aimed at longtime classical music fans and first-timers alike.

Bboys and bgirls from across the country gather at the Plaza del Artista for a full day of outdoor breakdance battles. El Dojo de Fuego is free to attend and turns one of the liveliest stretches of Panamá street into an open-air dance floor for the whole Sunday. A fun, unconventional alternative for anyone looking for something different from the city's usual cultural circuit.

An afternoon dedicated to traditional Ecuadorian popular music, told through the voice and stories of Hugo Idrovo, part of the museum's ongoing series of talks and musical sessions. La Hora Lila mixes anecdotes, local history and live music in a small-hall format, ideal for fans of pasillo, pasacalle and other traditional coastal Ecuadorian genres.

A tribute to the figures who have trained generations of dancers in Guayaquil, with performances from several of the city's companies and dance schools. The tribute closes out August's dance programming at the Municipal Museum, with free admission and a short gala format aimed at general audiences, not just those already following the local dance scene.

A new exhibition from the National Cacao Museum exploring the ancestral roots of the Ecuadorian coast, closing out the museum's August exhibition program. The opening is free and features contemporary artists working around memory and identity. A good reason to revisit the museum beyond its usual historical tour.

Habitat is Guayaquil's go-to real estate fair, bringing together the country's leading developers and construction companies under one roof at Expoplaza. It's the meeting point for anyone buying their first home, looking to invest, or simply curious about design trends and pricing in Ecuador's current real estate market.

A full night of 80s and 90s merengue at Coliseo Voltaire, built for non-stop dancing from the very first song. Merengue Fest 90s brings together several bands dedicated to the genre, and the dance floor usually fills up fast. Great for anyone who grew up on this music, and for groups of friends looking for a dance-first night out rather than a seated concert.

Guayaquil's International Book Fair brings together publishers, national and international authors, and readers of all ages over several days, with book presentations, talks and parallel kids' activities. It's one of the biggest cultural draws of the second half of the year in the city, and a low-cost family outing built for spending hours browsing stalls.

Horeca Fest is the meeting point for Ecuador's hotel, restaurant and bar industry, with suppliers, equipment, ingredients and the latest trends in the food-service world. While it's primarily aimed at industry professionals, it's also worth a look for curious foodies who want a preview of where Guayaquil's restaurant scene is heading.

A living legend of Latin American ballads takes the stage in a full theater format, with the classic repertoire fans expect and the staging that has defined his recent tours. The concert is aimed at an adult audience who grew up on his music, in a hall built for good sound rather than a stadium-scale show.

The conference that brings together Ecuador's entire banana value chain, from growers to exporters, with technical talks and a parallel trade fair. Ecuador is one of the world's largest banana exporters, and this Expoplaza event has become the sector's main space for discussion and business networking.

Storytelling lyrics and a stadium crowd that knows every word — that's the usual formula for Arjona's Guayaquil shows, and this November date is no exception. The set mixes decades-spanning classics with newer material, in a big-production format designed to close out the city's international concert season on a high note.

Vallenato with a rock 'n' roll soul to dance the year out: Carlos Vives takes the Estadio Modelo stage with a setlist that blends his timeless hits with more recent collaborations. Usually one of the highest-energy, most dance-heavy shows of the whole concert season — a great pick for a big group outing.