Javier Bonet, the first deputy mayor and councillor for tourism, culture, sports, and municipal coordination, has announced the budgets for his department for the year 2027. The cultural policies budget remains unchanged from the previous year at €6,539,100, focusing on strengthening Palma's cultural fabric, supporting creators and organisations, enhancing public access to culture, and continuing efforts to preserve and promote the city's cultural and historical heritage.
Significantly, funding for the Castell de Bellver will increase from €176,000 to €324,000, aimed at advancing the museumisation of the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat's rooms. The budget for the Casal Solleric will also see an increase, exceeding half a million euros to €502,646, to enhance the quality of its exhibitions and operational functionality.
Can Balaguer will receive €160,000, with €63,537 allocated to the Centre d’Interpretació de la Ciutat, a project designed to coordinate and provide a comprehensive view of the various municipal heritage sites. In the performing arts sector, the budgets for the municipal theatres Xesc Forteza and Maruja Alfaro - Mar i Terra will be bolstered, with €338,362 earmarked for maintenance and operations, and €217,600 for artistic programming.
Continuing initiatives such as Palma Dansa, Palma Clàssica, Cançons de la Mediterrànea, and Cultura Popular will be supported, along with the ongoing programme Cultura als Barris, which has a budget of €48,500. Resources for the Jazz Palma festival will increase to €78,000, while the Pop Rock competition will receive €72,000 to further support local and emerging musical groups.
One of the most notable increases is for the Municipal Band of Music, which will receive €402,500, including an additional €250,000 for instrument acquisition, alongside regular expenses and artistic contracts. This funding aims to enhance the artistic and social project of the band, coinciding with its 60th anniversary.
The budget also reaffirms its commitment to cultural creation through the Premis Ciutat de Palma, which will be funded with €225,000. Additional support will be provided to festivals and cultural entities, including the Atlántida Film Festival, Art Palma Contemporani, and the Nit de l’Art, among others.
A significant focus will be placed on the municipal library network, with a budget of €279,500 to promote reading, update bibliographic collections, and ensure the operation of facilities that meet community needs.
In terms of tourism, the city council will maintain its contribution to the Fundació Turisme Palma 365 at €1,548,000, which will cover investments in renewing equipment and furniture in tourist information offices.
The sports budget for 2027 aims to improve municipal sports facilities, enhance support for sports entities and athletes, and continue the creation and renovation of sports equipment in the city. Key projects include the comprehensive renovation of the Germans Escalas sports centre, which will address pool repairs and structural interventions, as well as the redistribution of changing rooms and gym facilities to improve functionality.
Progress will also continue on the Son Moix athletics track project, with plans to tender part of the works in 2027. In Sant Jordi, upgrades will be made to the sports court, including the addition of two new paddle courts, a calisthenics area, and a multi-sport court, along with improvements to electrical installations and drainage systems.
Another significant investment will be the establishment of a covered sports facility for hockey at Verge de Lluc. The project to remodel changing rooms at municipal football fields will also continue, with the next phase involving interior measurements of each facility, to be executed over three phases from 2027 to 2029.
The budget allocates €890,000 for grants to non-profit sports entities, supporting event organisation, elite and women's sports, school sports, adapted sports, and individual athletes from Palma competing at the national level. This funding will cover the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons.
The Fira de l’Esport will receive €100,000, significantly more than the €18,150 initially allocated in the 2026 budget. This event, which has been revived after 13 years, aims to bring together federations, clubs, gyms, and sports entities around participatory activities promoting physical activity.
Additionally, the budget includes €200,000 for ongoing maintenance contracts to ensure the repair, conservation, and conditioning of sports facilities, as well as plans to acquire new machinery and equipment for municipal gyms to enhance available resources.
