The Ellas Crean Festival takes place throughout the month of March and until April 7th. A proposal that combines dance, theatre, music, literature and visual arts in an attempt to reflect on the active and producer role of women in the cultural sector.

One week ago the International Women's Day was celebrated all over the world, and our country was an example of the ability to call one of the largest social mobilisations that wanted to question the pre-established gender roles and claim social equality which still is a historical debt.

“Óyeme con los ojos”. María Pagés Company

Around this milestone, many contributions have been generated from the world of the arts, among which "Ellas Crean" stands out. This festival is an initiative of the Institute for Women and Equal Opportunities and the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, which has had the collaboration of more than thirty institutions of the capital to build a solid program where women are the protagonists. The project obeys to a collective clamour that has been growing and increasing in adherents in recent years. According to the Minister of Culture of France "the cultural sector has the duty to be exemplary in terms of equality between men and women", and to this aim, the festival responds, which is now in its 14th edition.

Ana Dévora

From March 1st to April 7th, activities in all disciplines are concentrated and offer a wide range of possibilities for all tastes and trends. In addition to institutional support, the contributions of many national museums to the program stand out and help to enrich the exhibition content with samples that deal with the figure of relevant women and the role of women in the arts from different perspectives, both social and historical.

“Sin ellas no hay futuro” ©Patrick Farrell

In a more contemporary level, the proposals of plastic arts are completed with two photography exhibitions in Conde Duque: "Sur la route", by Ana Dévora, a landscape image that invites to meet again with nature, and "Sin ellas no hay futuro", which portrays the harsh reality that women suffer in contexts of humanitarian crisis, organized by Doctors Without Borders. In addition, the "Tres en suma" initiative, which celebrates its 7th anniversary within the festival, brings together exhibition, performance and poetry in the first two weeks of April.

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.