Government authorizes 159 million for arts support until 2030

The Government has authorized the Directorate-General for the Arts (DGARTES) to assume multi-annual expenses up to a maximum amount of 159,397,418 euros for sustained support for the arts, in the quadrennial modality, for the period from 2027 to 2030. The decision is contained in Ordinance No. 380/2026/2, signed by the Adjunct and Budget and Culture Secretaries of State and published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 166, of August 27, 2026.

The ordinance introduces the first amendment to Ordinance No. 532/2025/2, of September 19, which already authorized DGARTES to assume multi-annual expenses within the framework of the renewal of sustained supports. The new legal instrument extends the scope of the authorization to expenses arising from supports to be granted following a new competitive procedure in the same modality, updating the annual and global limits.

Legal Framework

The measure falls under Decree-Law No. 103/2017, of August 24, which establishes the Regime for the Granting of State Financial Support for the Arts. With the revision of this diploma in 2021, the possibility of renewing sustained support, in the quadrennial modality, for another four years without a tender was instituted, with the aim of fostering greater stability and consolidation in the planning of artistic activities.

The renewal procedure for the 2027-2030 period, for supports granted within the quadrennial tenders relating to 2023-2026, has since been concluded. In 2026, DGARTES is still expected to open a new competitive procedure for the granting of sustained support in the quadrennial modality, under the terms of the 2026 annual declaration of supports provided for in Article 8 of the diploma.

Authorized Annual Limits

The authorization of multi-annual expenses is distributed over the four years of the cycle, with increasing annual limits:

• 2027: up to 38,673,600 euros
• 2028: up to 39,447,072 euros
• 2029: up to 40,236,013 euros
• 2030: up to 41,040,733 euros

The diploma was signed on August 17, 2026, by the Adjunct and Budget Secretary of State, José Maria Gonçalves Pereira Brandão de Brito, and on August 18, 2026, by the Secretary of State for Culture, Alberto Fernando da Silva Santos, using powers delegated by Orders No. 8869-A/2025 and No. 9526/2025.

Relevance to the Sector

The update of the expenditure authorization ensures budgetary predictability for artistic entities that depend on sustained State support, covering both the renewal of supports already granted and new contracts resulting from the quadrennial tender. For the cultural sector, the diploma ensures the continuity of public funding for the arts over a four-year horizon, allowing organizations to plan their activities with greater security.

Source: Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 166, of August 27, 2026 (official reference: Ordinance No. 380/2026/2).