The progressive reopening of the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts began on October 6, 2025. The modern building, built in 1970 and the first Spanish building specially dedicated to contemporary art, reopened after the complete renovation of its 6,000 m². This stage marks the first part of a vast project whose completion is scheduled for June 2026. The operation is part of the “AGRAVITAS” project, designed by architects NORMAN FOSTER and LUIS María Uriarte, which provides for an extension of 6,743 m² and the upgrading of all the facilities.
The work, officially launched in November 2022, was preceded by several planning phases. The project brings together the foster + Partners and LM Uriarte Arkitektura, a associate Basque office, with the support of the three communities of the Foundation which manages the museum: the town hall of Bilbao, the Foral deputation of Biscay and the Basque government. Its budget of 45 million euros is funded by a loan and public subsidies.
The operation includes the renovation and upgrading of the 1970s building standards, as well as the restoration of the 1945 building, with the recovery of its facade and the restoration of the original entry. The basements are transformed into a documentation center. The major element of the project, however, lies in a vertical extension connecting the two buildings.
The progress of the site was however marked by several difficulties. The bankruptcy of a subcontractor in August 2024 led to a delay of about five months, pushing the end of the work. The complete inauguration remains set for June 24, 2026.
View of the architect of the extension project of the Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao, named Agravitas.
© Ute Foster + Partners Ltd. + LM Uriarte Arkitektura SLP
The “Agravitas” project, meaning “weightless”, consists of a volume suspended above historic buildings, offering a diaphanous space of 2,000 m² intended for temporary exhibitions and the improvement of reception and storage capacities. The operation preserves the neoclassical facade of 1945 as well as the architectural qualities of the modern building. “It will be a museum with several architectures”underlines Miguel Zugaza, the director of the museum
The reopening of the renovated building of 1970 makes it possible to accommodate two inaugural exhibitions: “Georg Baselitz. Paintings 2014-2025. Something everywhere “, presenting around fifty works selected by Norman Rosenthal, and” Ataria (BAT) “, a thematic course bringing together emblematic works of the contemporary fund in dialogue with a view of Bilbao dated 1700, the oldest known.
Founded in 1908 and opened to the public in 1914, the museum today retains more than 10,000 works, from the 13th century to the present day, divided into sections of ancient, modern, contemporary and Basque art. He also has an important collection of works on paper. The institution houses the largest collection of Basque art.
