ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza to Open Second Madrid Venue for Contemporary Art

institutional · 2026-09-16

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid is set to unveil a new venue dedicated to a contemporary art collection gifted by Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza and her family. This donation comprises over 180 pieces from the TBA21 Collection, established in 2002, with a total worth of €16 million. Additionally, approximately 180 works valued at €10 million will be provided on long-term loan. Featured artists include Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramović, John Akomfrah, Monica Bonvicini, and Candice Breitz. The new location will be situated at Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil, undergoing renovations by the Spanish government. An architectural competition will commence early next year, aiming for completion by around 2031. The museum currently displays the collection of Francesca's father, acquired by the Spanish government for $350 million in 1993.

Key facts

  • The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza will open a second venue in Madrid for contemporary art.
  • Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza and her heirs will donate more than 180 works worth an estimated €16m free of charge.
  • The donated works come from the TBA21 Collection, founded by Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza in 2002.
  • A long-term loan of around 180 additional works, valued at around €10m by Phillips, is part of the deal.
  • Artists represented include Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramović, John Akomfrah, Monica Bonvicini, and Candice Breitz.
  • The new venue will be at the Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil on Calle Duque de Medinaceli in Madrid.
  • The Spanish government will refurbish the building and cover running costs; an international architectural competition will launch early next year, with completion around 2031.
  • Plans for contemporary art shows were shelved in 2008; a four-year agreement with TBA21 was signed in 2019 after a 2018 John Akomfrah exhibition.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
  • TBA21
  • Phillips
  • Spanish government
  • Prado
  • Ministerio de Hacienda
  • Dirección General del Patrimonio del Estado
  • Centro Memorial de las Víctimas del Terrorismo
  • Ministerio del Interior
  • Centro de Estudios Históricos
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
  • Junta para Ampliación de Estudios
  • Ministerio de Cultura
  • Centro de Producción y Residencias Artísticas de Tabacalera
  • Museo del Prado
  • Museo Reina Sofía
  • Gobierno de España
  • TBA21–Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary
  • TBA21–Academy
  • exibart.com
  • Prado Museum
  • TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary
  • Ocean Space
  • Organismo
  • Convivial Living Lab
  • Victims of Terrorism Memorial Centre
  • Kunsthaus Graz
  • FAD Magazine
  • C3A Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía
  • Barbican
  • Bildmuseet
  • The Institute of Contemporary Art | Boston
  • Museu Coleção Berardo
  • Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Park Avenue Armory
  • exibart.es
  • Colección TBA21
  • Revista de Arte - Logopress
  • Plataforma de Arte Contemporáneo
  • TBA21 Foundation
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Foundation
  • Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil
  • Palacio de Villahermosa
  • Reina Sofía Museum
  • Artlyst
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation
  • El Pais
  • ARTnews
  • MALBA
  • House of Representatives
  • Ministry of Culture
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Directorate General of State Heritage
  • Ministry of the Interior
  • Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
  • Ministerio de Finanzas
  • Centro Memoriale per le Vittime del Terrorismo
  • Ministerio dell'Interno
  • Centro di Studi Storici
  • Consiglio Superiore per la Ricerca Scientifica (CSIC)
  • Tesoro
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza family
  • Artnet

Locations

  • Madrid
  • Spain
  • Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil
  • Calle Duque de Medinaceli
  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Vitoria
  • Palacio de Hielo
  • Palacio de Villahermosa
  • Tabacalera
  • Graz
  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Portland
  • Jamaica
  • Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil de Madrid
  • Córdoba
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Umeå
  • Sweden
  • Boston
  • United States
  • Lisbon
  • Portugal
  • Moscow
  • Russia
  • New York
  • Vitoria-Gasteiz
  • Palacio de Hielo y del Automóvil
  • Beirut
  • Lebanon
  • Literary Quarter

Sources

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