The Department of Euskera, Culture and Sport of the Foral Council of Bizkaia has unveiled its budget for 2027, totalling 73,096,000 euros, a 3.86% increase compared to the previous year. Leixuri Arrizabalaga, the councillor for Euskera, Culture and Sport, stated that "investing in euskera, culture, and sport is investing in the future of Bizkaia." She emphasised that these are not three separate policies, but rather three strategic tools for building a more cohesive, active, inclusive, and identity-committed Bizkaia.
Budget allocation
The budget is allocated as follows: 8,932,000 euros for euskera; 47,485,400 euros for culture and heritage; 11,538,000 euros for sport; and 5,140,600 euros for general services.
Promoting euskera
The Foral Council continues to focus on promoting the use of euskera in various sectors, including digital, informational, business, and recreational areas. The budget includes 3,824,000 euros for leisure activities and 940,000 euros for the digital environment. Additional allocations consist of 440,000 euros for the socio-economic sector, 70,000 euros for youth initiatives, and 55,000 euros for its presence in sports. Internal plans for euskera within the administration will receive 550,000 euros, while local administration language plans and participation in euskera usage forums will be supported with 894,000 euros. The budget also includes 447,000 euros for promoting the Bizkaiera dialect through various organisations and 110,000 euros for production in euskera. Among the planned projects is "Zu ere euskaldun," aimed at introducing euskera to migrants, with an initial allocation of 30,000 euros.
Cultural and heritage initiatives
The culture and heritage budget amounts to 47,485,400 euros, covering cultural projects, artistic creation, heritage conservation, and museums. This includes 2,118,000 euros for cultural collaborations and projects within the region. Funding for artistic excellence will total 670,222 euros, with 235,000 euros allocated for promoting performing arts and 200,000 euros for visual arts. The internationalisation of local talent will receive 325,000 euros, while 2,665,000 euros is earmarked for industrial, artistic, archaeological, and ethnographic heritage, as well as the Foral Archive. Additionally, 1,511,000 euros will support social education programmes and equipment, with the Bizkaia museum network receiving 24,715,000 euros.
Inclusive and diverse sports
Arrizabalaga noted that 2026 marked the year of Kirolur, following Bizkaia's designation as a European Territory of Sport. This initiative has strengthened the region's sports network and laid the groundwork for its future. The sports budget for 2027, amounting to 11,538,000 euros, aims to maintain the previous year's objectives, focusing on an open sports system with opportunities for all. The sports sector will allocate 810,000 euros to promote women's active participation and 35,000 euros for the use of euskera in sports. It also includes funding for training technical staff and over 150,000 euros for adapted sports. The school sports programme, Eskola Kirola, will continue to be a priority, with 3,033,000 euros allocated to increase participation and sports modalities.
General services funding
Finally, the budget reserves 5,140,600 euros for general services that support the department's activities. This allocation covers administrative processing, legal and economic oversight, personnel management and contracting, as well as IT applications through the Foral IT Plan.
