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Culture shoots up its budget to 574 million and approaches 2% of the Generalitat
The Department of Culture is increasing its resources by 41% compared to 2023 and will allocate more than 226 million to grants and subsidies to strengthen the Catalan cultural fabric.
Catalan culture will face 2026 with the highest budget in its history. The Department of Culture of the Generalitat will have 574 million euros, a figure that represents an increase of 41% compared to the 2023 accounts and that places cultural spending above 1.8% of the Generalitat's overall budget.
The Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández, has described the new accounts as "ambitious and long-term", highlighting that the budget increase is "unprecedented in Catalonia" and that it will allow the deployment of 'robust and determined' cultural policies to guarantee the cultural rights of citizens and promote culture throughout the territory.
The new accounts also include an additional 50 million euros compared to the proposal presented in March. This increase will be mainly used to strengthen the Cultural Facilities and Services Plan of Catalonia, increase investments and consolidate support for municipalities, cultural entities and companies through subsidies.
In absolute terms, Culture will have 168 million euros more than in the last approved budget. The increase exceeds the average growth of all departments of the Generalitat and demonstrates, according to Hernández, “the Government's clear commitment to prioritizing culture”.
One of the most outstanding aspects of the new accounts is the specific weight of subsidies and grants. The Department will allocate 226.3 million euros, 43% of the total budget, with an increase of 37% compared to 2023. This item will strengthen support for the cultural sector, especially for creators, facilities, festivals, companies and local projects.
At the same time, the Government plans to invest 91 million euros in public, own and participated cultural facilities and projects, which represents an increase of 32% compared to the last accounts. The aim is to expand universal access to culture and consolidate a more territorially balanced cultural network.
The new budgets also seek to advance towards the goal of cultural spending reaching 2% of the Generalitat's budget before the end of the legislature, as set out in the Cultural Rights Bill currently being processed in Parliament.
The Department's strategic lines for 2026 will focus on guaranteeing cultural rights, promoting arts and culture within the educational field, strengthening cultural heritage, promoting artistic creation and consolidating digital and audiovisual culture in a globalized context.
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