On 30 September 2026, Euskadi opened the new performing arts season at Muxikebarri in Getxo. Vizelehendakari and Minister for Culture and Language Policy Ibone Bengoetxea introduced the campaign ANTZERKIYA! which aims to bring audiences back to theatres and performance venues. According to the government, more than 2,000 performances featuring over 1,200 different productions and more than 1,000 participating companies are planned for 2026/27; the forecast is for more than 500,000 spectators. Around 40 per cent of the performances are to be in Basque (Euskera), and around 60 per cent are by companies from Euskadi.
The inter-institutional network SAREAis central to the season’s planning. The government describes SAREA as a coordination tool that systematically links programming, production, touring and audience engagement. Established in 1993, the network currently brings together 68 venues in 59 municipalities across the Basque Country and aims to ensure stable, diverse programming close to the public. Bengoetxea praised collaboration between institutions, venues and the arts scene as a key factor in making productions viable and keeping cultural offerings close to local communities.
As an example of the planned circulation of productions, the government cited the Circuito Concertado. This process brings venues and companies together before the start of the season to agree touring arrangements and provide certainty for planning. For 2026, the administration reports 15 completed tours across 49 SAREA venues, with a total of 284 performances and a contract value of more than 1.2 million euros. This represents a 14 per cent increase on 2025. The aim is to strengthen the financial foundations of projects and make it easier to access funding instruments.
Around 100 representatives from municipalities, venues, companies and associations attended the opening in Getxo. The government is clearly relying on cooperation and predictable structures through ANTZERKIYA! and SAREA to increase the reach and quality of the performing arts in the Basque Country. Statements about employment, ticket revenues or sustainable audience growth are currently forecasts by those responsible, not results that have already been achieved.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).