About this Forum
International Forum of Cultural Observatories 2026 will take place in Bilbao on November 5–6, 2026, as part of the 20th anniversary of the Basque Observatory of Culture of the Basque Government. Over two days of international reflection and dialogue, the forum will bring together experts, institutions, and stakeholders from the cultural sector to examine the strategic role of cultural observatories in today’s context.
The programme is structured around three main pillars:
- Cultural observation in a global context, addressing models, governance, and shared challenges.
- The impact of artificial intelligence and new paradigms in cultural analysis, exploring their ethical and methodological implications.
- Reflection on the public value of culture and cultural rights, focusing on measurement, legitimacy, and future perspectives.
Who is it for?
- Cultural sector professionals
- Public policy makers and government representatives
- Researchers and academics in the cultural sector
- Cultural and creative managers
- Companies and organisations linked to the cultural sector
- Stakeholders interested in the analysis and development of the cultural ecosystem
Why attend?
- To reflect on the current challenges facing the cultural sector
- To learn about international experiences and best practices
- To access strategic knowledge to support decision-making
- To explore the impact of emerging tools such as artificial intelligence
- To build connections with key professionals and institutions
About the Observatory
The Basque Cultural Observatory is an organization established by the Basque Government whose mission is to transform information about culture into knowledge, to study Basque cultural reality, and to analyse the general, sectoral and regional aspects related to culture in its broadest sense.
Over the course of its 20-year history, it has established itself as a leading authority in the generation of strategic knowledge, contributing to the design of cultural policies and the strengthening of the sector through rigorous analysis and the sharing of useful information.