Málaga has long dreamed of having its own large concert hall, but until now, the project has only existed on paper. Despite its status and cultural ambitions, the city remains the only major center in Spain without such a facility. That is about to change: local authorities have decided not to wait any longer for support from the central government and will finance the construction through loans.
The total cost of the future hall is estimated at 209 million euros. Mayor Francisco de la Torre insists that the tender for construction work should be announced as early as 2026. The funding will involve the municipality, the Junta de Andalucía, and the provincial administration, but the key issue is the lack of federal funding. The city previously expected to receive 45 million from the state, but those hopes did not materialize.
Financial structure
The financing plan envisions about 109 million euros coming from private investors, with whom preliminary agreements have already been reached. The regional administration will allocate another 25 million, the province 10 million, and the city budget 20 million. However, these figures are not final: authorities hope that partners will be able to increase their contributions to reduce the debt burden.
The plot for construction already belongs to the city. It is located on the San Andrés platform, acquired from the port at the end of 2024 for 9 million euros. This is where the long-awaited concert hall will finally be built, although the project timeline remains uncertain.
A long history of waiting
The idea of building a modern music hall in Málaga first emerged in the early 1990s. At that time, the project was overseen by the socialist Pedro Aparicio, but the 2008 financial crisis scrapped those plans. The initiative was revived in 2017, with hopes that the national government would cover 40% of the costs. However, construction costs have nearly doubled since then, and an agreement with Madrid has still not been reached.
The Ministry of Culture has repeatedly emphasized that it has not made any official commitments to financing the project. Minister Ernest Urtasun stated that the department’s priority is the conversion of the former San Agustín monastery into a state library, with more than 18 million euros already allocated to this endeavor. This allocation has sparked frustration at Málaga’s city hall.
Political disagreements
The Minister of Culture’s decision not to support the project sparked a strong reaction among local politicians. Members of the Partido Popular accused the government of bias against the region. According to them, while 87 million are earmarked for a library in Barcelona, Málaga is left without support. Local officials also cite other infrastructure projects that, in their opinion, receive more attention in Catalonia.
The mayor of Malaga tried to find a compromise by proposing a scheme to the government in which the city would advance the federal share, and Madrid would reimburse the funds in installments over three years. However, none of the appeals to the ministries of culture, finance, and the president’s administration produced any results.
Latest attempts at an agreement
In May 2025, after a meeting in Madrid between the secretary of culture and the mayor of Malaga, there was hope for cooperation. However, just a few hours later, the ministry denied reports of any agreements, stating that the meeting was strictly informational and that no decisions had been made.
The Andalusian authorities also voiced disappointment with Madrid’s position. According to the regional economy minister Caroline España (Carolina España), the central government has “turned its back on Malaga” and shows no interest in the city’s development. As a result, the municipality decided to act on its own despite the challenges.
If you weren’t aware, Francisco de la Torre has served as the mayor of Malaga since 2000 and is considered one of Spain’s most experienced city leaders. Under his leadership, the city has become one of the country’s cultural hubs, attracting tourists and investors. His persistence in pursuing major projects, even without support from Madrid, has been noted several times in the Spanish press. The concert hall has been one of his longstanding priorities, and the recent decision to move forward with credit financing highlights his determination to see the project through to completion.
