Spanish Art Galleries Strike for VAT Reduction

The Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries in Spain, comprising 125 galleries, has announced an unprecedented joint closure from February 2 to 7, 2026, to protest the government's failure to reduce the VAT on art from 21% to a rate aligned with most European countries. The strike, scheduled just one month before the ArcoMadrid fair, includes a three-month cessation of all free collaborations with public and private museums and cultural centers. The galleries demand implementation of EU Directive 2022/542, which allows reduced VAT for cultural goods. Italy recently lowered its rate to 5% and Portugal to 6%, putting Spanish galleries at a competitive disadvantage. The protest follows the 'Iva cultural, Ya!' campaign launched in December 2025 in Madrid, which gathered over 1,500 artist signatures. The galleries argue that contemporary art is treated as a commercial rather than creative sector by the coalition government of PSOE and Sumar, facing higher taxation than music, performing arts, and cinema. If Culture Minister Ernst Urtasun does not respond adequately, further extreme measures may be taken ahead of ArcoMadrid.