Art Madrid'26 – A cultural cycle to reflect upon the history of LGTBIQ activism

 

 

Although nowadays talking about the LGTBIQ collective is usual and, fortunately, many social boundaries regarding the understanding, adapting and integration of the group have been overcome, the truth is that a large lack of awareness on the nature of the transgender problem does still exist. Actually, we no longer talk of LGTB, but of LGTBIQ, in order to include within this acronym a reality that is not new, but that only recently has started to be understood and attended by the society together.

 

 

 

 

The initiative puts together the work of activists, artists and researchers in a program that offers workshops, exhibitions, cinema, music and performances. But the cycle also wants to document the changes that happened in the collective awareness, the political treatment and the cultural construction in regard to this group since the democratic Transition. The goal is to go deeper into the visibility of the collective with a historic perspective to understand its diversity from a sociological and political dimension, and what has been its evolution in the past forty years.

 

 

 

 

The program was displayed in three main locations: the Centro Cultural Conde Duque, CentroCentro and Matadero Madrid. Fefa Vila Núñez was the artistic curator of the project, which is framed within the activity World Pride 2017 of the city council of Madrid.

Precisely during these days, the Cineteca of Matadero Madrid hosts the projection of the documentary “Talking back. Memorias transfeministas queer/cuir”. This work focuses on understanding this figure, which takes its name directly from English and has developed an evolved meaning beyond the pejorative idea of “weird” linked traditionally to homosexuality.

 

 

 

 

 

And until the 1st of October, the exhibition “Nuestro deseo es una revolución. Imágenes de la diversidad sexual en el Estado español (1977-2017)” will be open at CentroCentro. This project gathers images of the evolution of the LGTBIQ activism since the first claiming manifestation in favour of gays and lesbians rights in 1977.

 

Images are taken from the official site of Madrid City Council.


ART MADRID’ 26: 21 YEARS OF CONTEMPORARY ART


Discover all the information about the artists and galleries participating in the 21st edition of Art Madrid. The catalog features a curated selection of the works presented in this edition, along with the most relevant details of the event, making it an essential tool for engaging with the fair’s key figures and exploring the defining elements of today’s art scene.


In 2026, Art Madrid celebrates its 21st edition, further establishing itself as a leading event within Spain’s cultural sector. From March 4 to 8, the Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles will once again become a meeting point for galleries, collectors, artists, and contemporary art enthusiasts.


Over the past twenty-one years, the fair has evolved into a dynamic and ever-expanding platform, fostering diversity in artistic languages, techniques, and discourses. In this edition, the Galleries Program brings together around 35 exhibitors from more than seven countries, offering a representative overview of the most recent developments in contemporary creation.


The Art Madrid ’26 catalog serves as a key publication for discovering the work of this edition’s galleries and artists —marked by experimentation and a plurality of perspectives— while also documenting the conceptual axes that shape the fair. As part of the Parallel Program, INHABITING THE EPHEMERAL: A Reflection on the “Species” of Spaces proposes a reflection on space, relationships, and shared experience, expanding the understanding of the fair beyond its commercial dimension and highlighting its cultural and experiential significance.


In addition, the catalog presents the initiatives that complete the program, such as the Open Booth dedicated to emerging creation, the Nebrija Space in collaboration with Nebrija University, the Performance Series “Open Infinite. What the Body Remembers,” the One Shot Collectors Program, and the Patronage Program, reaffirming the fair’s commitment to supporting, mediating, and accompanying contemporary art at every stage.

We invite you to discover more about Art Madrid ’26 through the catalog of its 21st edition — a publication that, beyond serving as documentary memory, becomes a cartography of the present artistic moment and an open door to new ways of inhabiting contemporary art.