ARTERNATIV Journey
Santander, Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Madrid Art Week
From February 26 to March 4, 2027
Journey
Designed to fit before ARCO Madrid 2027, this is a curated program conceived to create meaningful dialogues and direct engagement with Spain's contemporary art scene.
The program starts in Santander, Cantabria, followed by two days in the Basque Country to visit Bilbao and San Sebastián before heading to Madrid for ARCO. Each encounter has been carefully selected to offer privileged access to the most significant cultural spaces, figures and conversations shaping Spain's art world today.
Blending institutional access with the intimacy of private collections and studios, the experience moves between Spain's most important museums and the spaces that exist outside them: experimental venues, collectors' homes and artist-led environments. Each visit will be personally led by museum directors, chief curators or specialist guides.
In Santander, expect a private visit to the newly opened Faro Santander, as well as a curated visit to Centro Botín, designed by Renzo Piano. We will also visit Naves de Gamazo, former port warehouses transformed into an exhibition space, followed by an aperitif in a private collection.
In Bilbao, the programme includes private visits to the Guggenheim Museum and the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, alongside private collections and the recently opened Alkar Collection, one of the Basque Country’s significant collections of contemporary art.
In San Sebastián, we will visit Santa Clara Island to explore Cristina Iglesias’s Hondalea, as well as Chillida Leku, private collections and other cultural spaces. The journey is completed by a Culinary Experience shaped by the city’s celebrated culinary tradition.
In Madrid, the itinerary includes ARCO with VIP access, exhibitions opening that week at the city’s leading museums and institutions, private collections, artist studios and galleries, together with encounters with figures from Madrid’s art scene.
What you will see
Spain is experiencing one of its most dynamic moments in the art scene, with a new generation of internationally prominent artists and a growing network of galleries, collectors, and independent spaces. From the Basque Country, with its strong sculptural tradition, to Madrid and ARCOmadrid, the country has established itself as a key hub for contemporary art.
Discover the local art scene through its leading cultural institutions, from Museo Nacional Reina Sofía to TBA21, Fundación Juan March and Matadero Madrid. The itinerary also includes galleries across Madrid, revealing the many layers of its artistic identity.
Entering an artist studio means stepping into the place where the work is still taking shape. Materials, sketches and works in progress reveal how the work is conceived, while direct conversation with the artist offers insight into their ideas, references and methods.
Beyond the traditional art circuit, the programme offers exclusive access to selected private collections. These visits create space for unhurried conversations in an intimate setting, bringing us closer to the people shaping the city’s contemporary art scene today.
More than just a fair
Over recent years, ARCOmadrid has cemented its position as far more than Spain's premier contemporary art fair. It has evolved into an essential strategic bridge connecting the European and Ibero-American art markets. The fair remains unmatched in providing top-tier Latin American galleries, artists, and curators a prominent European platform, fostering cross-continental dialogue.
Included
Not included
We will send you the planned visits, travel conditions, and all practical information.
Complete the form at the bottom of this page. Our team will send you the available information and answer your questions.
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The detailed program will be shared once visits, encounters, and the itinerary are confirmed.
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