An institutional delegation from the Ajuntament de Palma has attended the inauguration of Art Cologne 2026, which showcases the work of 16 galleries and 17 artists associated with the Balearic Islands. The archipelago has its own stand at the world's oldest contemporary art fair, supported by the regional government, the Mallorca Council, and the Palma City Council to promote the upcoming second edition of Art Cologne Palma, scheduled to take place at the Palau de Congressos from 1 to 4 April.
The delegation is led by Javier Bonet, the first deputy mayor and councillor for Culture. The event, inaugurated on Thursday in the German city of Cologne, features a dedicated stand for the Balearic Islands. The delegation also includes key figures from major institutions, such as Llorenç Galmés, president of the Mallorca Council; Pedro Vidal, the regional secretary for Culture and Sports; and Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta, the general coordinator of Culture and Tourism for Palma.
By participating in this prestigious art fair, the Balearic representation aims to promote the new edition of Art Cologne Palma. The Balearic stand, which will be open until 8 November, is located at the Koelnmesse GmbH venue in Cologne and features 16 galleries and 17 artists connected to the Balearic context. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the regional government through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports, the Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics (IEB), the Mallorca Council, and the Ajuntament de Palma.
The stand showcases a total of 18 works including painting, ceramics, sculpture, and paper works by notable artists such as Rafa Forteza, Julia Panadès, José Fiol, Aina Albo Puigserver, Robert Ferrer Martorell, Rafael Bestard, Bernardí Roig, Alejandro Javaloyas, Olmo Sard, and Joan Cortès. The participation has been coordinated by the Art Palma Contemporani gallery association, marking their second consecutive appearance at Art Cologne.
Additionally, coinciding with the first day of Art Cologne, the Balearic delegation attended an institutional event featuring the German Federal Government's Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Wolfram Weimer; Gerald Böse, president and CEO of Koelnmesse, the fair's organising entity; and representatives from the organisation including Sebastian Rosito, Daniel Hug, and Benjamin Agert.
