For decades it was the headquarters of Banco Santander on the waterfront Paseo de Pereda, though from 8 September, it's welcoming the public as Faro Santander, a new arts centre that His Majesty King Felipe VI formally inaugurated on the eve of its opening.

From Bank to Beacon

The Pereda Building has reinvented itself many times over. Its story began in the late eighteenth century, and it served as a hotel and a sailing club long before the bank moved in during the 1920s. Its best-known feature came in the 1950s: a monumental arch joining its twin wings, topped by four sculpted figures. The arch has since become one of the most photographed sights on Santander's seafront.

The latest chapter has been shaped by British architect Sir David Chipperfield, the 2023 Pritzker Prize laureate. His approach respects the building's heritage while opening up its interiors to visitors for the first time. Run by the Banco Santander Foundation, Faro Santander, whose name means "lighthouse" in Spanish, is designed as a cultural meeting point for locals and international visitors alike.

Surrealism, Mexican Modernism and More

The centre opens with three headline exhibitions. 

The first draws on the bank's own art collection, while the second is dedicated to modern Mexican art from the renowned Gelman Santander Collection, running until 10 January 2027.

For British visitors, The Symptomatic Surreal: Leonora Carrington (until 31 January 2027) offers a particularly compelling link. The Lancashire-born artist spent a troubled period in Santander in 1940, and the city left a lasting mark on her life and work. The exhibition explores that connection, while elsewhere in the building, an immersive installation reveals the building's past, and a dedicated space showcases emerging artists supported through the centre's creative grants programme.

A Festive Welcome

While entry is free for everyone until 17 September, the opening fortnight is packed with talks, family activities and live music, and on Saturday 12 September a free open-air festival will fill the gardens outside. 

The festival brings together local Cantabrian musicians and ends with the building's façade lit up after dark. On the upper floors, a rooftop terrace and restaurant serve seasonal Cantabrian cuisine with panoramic views over the bay.

Planning a Visit?

From 18 September, Faro Santander will open daily from 10am to 8pm, except on Tuesdays (public holidays aside). Adult tickets are €14, and under-18s go free. Audio guides can be accessed on visitors' own phones at no extra cost, and daily guided tours are also available. Full details and bookings are available at www.farosantander.com.

Well connected to the UK by ferry, Santander is fast becoming one of northern Spain's most rewarding city breaks. Faro Santander joins the striking Centro Botín a short stroll along the seafront, and together they add fresh cultural appeal to a city already celebrated for its golden beaches, Belle Époque elegance and outstanding food scene.

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office's PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.

At the centre of the celebration is PRIMADA, a landmark exhibition taking place inside the Cathedral from May to October 2026, presenting more than 350 masterpieces spanning paintings, sculpture, codices and liturgical objects. The exhibition route will cover over 2,000 square metres through key spaces of the Cathedral and will include works by El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini and others, drawn from more than fifty public and private collections.

A major component of the anniversary will be a comprehensive programme of restoration works designed to preserve and enhance the Cathedral’s artistic legacy for future generations. Key projects include the restoration of El Transparente, the Juan de Borgoña paintings, medieval stained glass, sculptures and liturgical ornaments in the Cathedral. Additionally, the conservation of the historic realejo organs and choir carillons will represent an investment of €60,000 across four months.

The Jubilee Year will also introduce a range of accessibility and cultural initiatives, including a partnership with ONCE to ensure accessible routes for the Cathedral’s Lúmina experience and a new Cathedral Youth Orchestra, reflecting the celebration’s commitment to community engagement. In addition, the International Musicology Symposium, scheduled from 8 to 10 October 2026, will bring together leading scholars to explore the Cathedral’s musical heritage.

The Jubilee will officially open on 25 October 2026 with the ceremonial opening of the Puerta de Reyes, followed by a rich calendar and underscoring the Cathedral’s enduring role as a centre of spirituality and culture within Spanish history.

For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

‘Paysage Miró’ at Fundación Miró Mallorca

This summer, the Fundación Miró Mallorca - based where Joan Miró lived from 1956 up until his death in 1983 - will host the "Paysage Miró" exhibition as part of an ambitious collaborative project. The exhibition, focusing on the importance of chance encounters and fortuitous coincidences in Joan Miró’s work, will be presented simultaneously at the Fundació Miró Mallorca, the Lonja de Palma, the Es Baluard Museum, and the Casal Solleric. This jointly curated exhibition will feature works from the Fundació’s collection alongside renowned pieces from institutions such as the Reina Sofia Museum, the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA). The exhibition will explore how influences from nature, poetry and music enriched his art, showcasing key pieces not only by Miró but also from his contemporaries and inspirations.

Find out more here: https://miromallorca.com/en/

The Espai Cor opens with debut exhibition ‘Ple al buit’ by Mallorcan sculptor Joan Cortés

Palma saw the Espai Cor open its doors for the first time on 15 January 2025. The new cultural space has been inaugurated with an exhibition by Mallorcan sculptor Joan Cortés, titled ‘Ple al buit’, which will remain open to the public until 13 April 2025. Cortés, originally from Pollença and with a career spanning over four decades, is considered one of the most prominent artists in the Balearic Islands. The inaugural exhibition at Espai Cor brings together sculptures and prints from Cortés’ four-decade career. ‘Ple al buit’ marks the beginning of cultural activity in the new venue, designed to become an artistic meeting point in the city.

Find out more here: www.palmacultura.es

Hauser & Wirth Menorca to Reopen its Doors on Isla del Rey in Spring 2025

Hauser & Wirth Menorca is a renowned gallery combining art, education and conservation on the natural setting of Isla del Rey, an island in Mahon harbour. The museum is set to reopen its doors in Spring 2025 following its most successful season yet from May to October 2024, during which it welcomed over 76,000 visitors. Now with its fifth season looming large, the art centre is hoping to go one step further with a programme packed with contemporary art, events and hands-on educational workshops for children and adults alike. The venue comprises eight galleries housed in a repurposed 18^th-century naval hospital, complete with an outdoor sculpture trail featuring works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Joan Miró, a garden designed by Piet Oudolf, and an on-site Cantina restaurant serving seasonal and local produce.

Find out more here: www.hauserwirth.com/locations/25040-menorca/

CAN Art Fair Returns to Ibiza in June 2025

The Contemporary Art Now (CAN) Art Fair will be returning from 25 -29 June 2025 at Ibiza’s FECOEV fairgrounds to mark the commencement of Ibizan Art Week. The prestigious event, now in its fourth edition, brings together a wide range of emerging and established artists from around the world to provide a platform for them to showcase innovative works across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art. Visitors can expect to explore the evolving world of modern artistic expression through a curated selection of galleries, alongside an array of exhibitions and interactive installations.

Find out more here: https://contemporaryartnow.com/en/

Es Baluard Announces Four New Exhibitions for 2025

Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, renowned for its innovative collection of thought-provoking art in the heart of Palma, is set to open four exciting new exhibitions in 2025. Eugenio Dittborn: Airmail Paintings (31 January – 15 June) features the Chilean artist’s powerful works that blend painting and collage on materials sent via airmail, reflecting themes of exile and memory. José Fiol: The Green Fog (31 January – 4 May) explores the natural world through rich, abstracted green tones, evoking mystery and transformation in the landscape. Nachleben: Painting as Conceptual Art (31 January – 6 July) challenges traditional notions of painting by fusing conceptual art with symbolic imagery and materiality, inviting viewers to engage with the evolving nature of the medium. Lastly, Jessica Stockholder: Cardinal Directions (31 January – 24 August) presents an immersive installation that explores the intersections of physical and conceptual boundaries.

Find out more here: www.esbaluard.org/