The Department of Culture and Language Policy will have the highest budget in its history: EUR 413.7 million
The first Vice-President and Councillor for Culture and Linguistic Policy, Ibone Bengoetxea, has today presented to the Basque Parliament the draft budget of his department for 2026, which provides for a budget of EUR 413.7 million, 5.5% more than in 2025, the highest budget in the history of the department.
TheFirst Vice-President of the Basque Government and Adviser for Culture and Linguistic Policy, I bone Bengoetxea, today presented to the Basque Parliament the draft budget for 2026 of his department bere, which provides for a budget of EUR 413.7 million , whichis 5.5% more than in 2025.
Bengoetxea has stressed that the main objective of the Department is "to increase the sense of community in Basque society, deepening cultural identity and sustainable human development." He has added that, in the current context, "it is more necessary than ever to feel part of a collective, to preserve our well-being and to invest in what helps us to be who we are."
Bengoetxea has listed four strategic priorities :
* Support for artists and creators . This section will have 50.5 million, 10.7% more than this year.
* Cultural heritage: EUR 37.9 million, an additional 5.4%.
* Promotion of the Basque language and its social use: 93.5 million are raised, 6.1% more than now.
* Sport, physical activity and welfare: 14.9 million euros.
With a view to next year, the Councillor has mentioned initiatives such as the 27% increase in aid for calls to strengthen the entire value chain of the professional sectors of culture, the 40% increase in the budgets allocated to the audiovisual sector, the creation of the Digital Heritage Laboratory, the strengthening of the Basque Observatory of Culture or the 9.2% increase in the subsidy for HABE.
Culture
The area of culture will have 86.6 million euros (+8.5%) in 2026 to strengthen the Basque cultural system and recognize the work of artists, creators and producers. 50.5 million euros (+10.7%) will be used to support artists at all stages of their work, from creation to international dissemination through grants, invitations and awards.
Cultural heritage
This section will receive EUR 38 million (+5.4%) for the modernisation and expansion of museums, the digitisation of collections and the preservation of the Basque cultural heritage, "guaranteeing access to all citizens".
Bengoetxea has also highlighted innovation and digitization, for which he has expressed his intention to create the Digital Heritage Laboratory and to strengthen strategic projects of creativity and digital culture, as well as to promote the eLiburutegia platform.
Euskara
The Language Policy area will have €93.5 million (+6.2%) in 2026 to promote the knowledge and active use of the Basque language. HABE will receive €64.5 million (+9.2%) to "strengthen free learning, improve the conditions of teachers and promote online training with INGURA".
The project " Jauzia Gara "(€450,000) also aims to promote the social use of the language, support the Basque language in the field of employment, the integration of immigrants and research, as well as 1.8 million for language technologies, €350,000 for audiovisual content, € 11.7 million for media in Basque and €1.5 million for Euskaltzaindia.
Sport
The Physical Activity and Sport area will have 15 million euros to strengthen its commitment to healthy, inclusive and egalitarian physical activity .
EITB
EITB will have funding of 201.4 M €(1.7M €more) .
Etxepare Basque Institute
The budget for the Basque Etxepare Institute is 4.6 million euros , 402,000 euros more than in 2025 (+9.6%), "to continue projecting the Basque language and culture into the world through cultural diplomacy, and to make the Basque Country a global cultural reference by promoting exchanges and international presence ".
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