Museo del Prado's 'Prado. Siglo XXI' Exhibition Reflects on 25 Years of Transformation

The Museo del Prado in Madrid presents 'Prado. Siglo XXI', an exhibition that turns the institution itself into subject and object of reflection, following the path of its bicentennial show in 2019. Curated by Alfonso del Palacio and Elena Cenalmor, the exhibition reviews a selection of pieces acquired over the last quarter century, alongside evolutions in museography, spaces, education, restoration, and publishing. Key milestones since 2000 include the 2003 law granting the museum legal autonomy, the 2007 expansion by Rafael Moneo, and the pandemic-era 'Reencuentro' series. Javier Solana, president of the Board of Trustees, called these 25 years extraordinarily positive. The museum now opens 49 more days per year than in 2000, its Friends Foundation membership has multiplied by eleven to over 40,000, and its collection has grown by 14,200 works. The exhibition features nearly 100 works, including Pieter Bruegel the Elder's 'The Wine of the Feast of St. Martin', Velázquez's 'Ferdinando Brandani', and Goya's 'La condesa de Chinchón'. It is divided into four chronological sections (Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, 18th century and Goya, Contemporary) and includes a model of future expansions: the Salón de Reinos (opening 2028) and the Campus Prado. Director Miguel Falomir hopes the expansion will alleviate visitor numbers, which have doubled since 2000. The exhibition runs from June 9 to September 27, 2026.