June 14 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Jorge Luis Borges (1986–2026), and to commemorate it, Buenos Aires is organizing a series of 100% free activities throughout June and July. Get ready to explore Buenos Aires in the footsteps of Borges and discover a corner of Buenos Aires that feels like London, where you can soak up the Borgesian atmosphere.
Buenos Aires is honoring Jorge Luis Borges in 2026 with a series of talks, guided tours, and musical performances at notable bars, London-style hotels in the Microcentro, and streets that immerse you in Borges’s universe with every step. Here’s the schedule of activities to celebrate Borges in Buenos Aires. Plus, all the activities are free, so if you’re looking for free things to do in Buenos Aires, here are all these suggestions.
The Hotel Londinense in Buenos Aires, where you can breathe in the world of Borges in every corner
If there is one place that perfectly captures the elegant, mysterious, and European essence that so fascinated Borges, it is Claridge’s Bar: carved wood, impeccable British style, and even a grand piano that seem to have come from another era.
This secret corner of Buenos Aires’ Microcentro is the venue for two of the highlights of the Borges series in Buenos Aires this June:
- 📅Friday, June 26 (6:00 p.m.) | Talk: “Women in the Work of Borges”: An opportunity to analyze the role of women in Borges’s narrative.
- 📅Thursday, July 16 (7:00 p.m.) | Musical Show: “Borgesian Milongas”: A great plan for after work, featuring Ariel Pirotti (pianist and director of the UNA Tango Orchestra) alongside Lautaro Mazza. You’ll hear the milongas that Borges wrote, set to music by Astor Piazzolla, Aníbal Troilo, and Carlos Guastavino.
If you have time, this hotel straight out of London— —is the perfect spot to stop by a little early, order a vermouth or a coffee, and feel like you’re in the golden age of Buenos Aires. Admission is free, but it’s best to arrive early to secure a spot.
Borges in Buenos Aires: Talks and Music at Iconic Notable Bars in Buenos Aires
The tributes to Borges marking the 40th anniversary of his death will take place throughout San Telmo and Monserrat:
📍At Café La Poesía (Chile 502, San Telmo)
📅Friday, June 12, 6:00 p.m.: Buenos Aires and Borges. Stories of Courage on the Shores. Led by Susana Sassano, a talk exploring the mythical Buenos Aires of gangsters and knife-wielders that Borges immortalized in his early stories.
📍London City (Av. de Mayo 599, Monserrat)
📅Thursday, June 18, 6:00 p.m.: Introduction to the life and literature of Borges. Journalist and writer Daniel Mecca explores how Borges became a universal legend.
Saturday, June 20, 7:00 p.m.: Musical performance “Para las seis cuerdas. “ Gabriela Elena lends her voice and guitar to Borges’s milongas.
📍El Colonial (Av. Belgrano 599, Monserrat)
📅Friday, June 19, 5:30 p.m.: Buenos Aires through Borges. A talk by Daniel Vega filled with anecdotes, fun facts, and the real-life settings that inspired his stories.
Guided walking tours: Borgesian Paths in Buenos Aires
If you love urban walks and photo safaris, there are two free walking tours that let you walk the same sidewalks that Jorge Luis Borges once walked:
👉Tour 1 (San Telmo and Monserrat): Thursday, July 23, 3:00 p.m.
Starting point: Former National Library (México 564).
Itinerary: Passing by the SADE, the corners of Bolívar and Chile, Bolívar and Venezuela, and ending at the bars El Colonial, El Querandí, Tortoni, and Plaza Dorrego.
👉Tour 2 (Retiro and Plaza San Martín): Tuesday, July 28, 3:00 p.m.
Starting point: Confitería Saint Moritz (Maipú 994).
Itinerary: A walk through the Galería del Este, Galerías Pacífico, the Borges Cultural Center, his birthplace, and Plaza San Martín.