A single drop of water will become the emblem of the future CaixaForum Málaga, a forward‑looking cultural center dedicated to science, art, and education. Managed by the la Caixa Foundation, it is slated to open in the second half of 2026.
With an investment of 30 million euros, this CaixaForum will be fully funded by the Foundation. It will be the tenth CaixaForum in the country and the second in Andalusia, joining the likes of Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia (opened in 2022), Zaragoza, Sevilla, Palma, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
The project will sit along the Costa del Sol, a region widely celebrated for its unique character. Isidro Fainé, president of the la Caixa Foundation, spoke at the unveiling in the Hall of Mirrors of the Malaga City Council. He described the center as a facility designed to empower the city, which has drawn admiration across Spain in recent years.
Malaga City Council has long sought this project, notes Elisa Durán, deputy general manager of the foundation. The new center will cover 9,417 square meters in the area near Manuel Azaña Square, beside Andalusia Boulevard and the city’s main entrance. The site sits on the twin parcel of the former Provincial Police Station, which is currently used for parking.
The land has been held by the Malaga City Council since late last year, pending transfer from the regional government. The foundation will manage the site through a direct and free transfer from the City Council. Durán underlined that construction could begin this year after the summer, three years ahead of schedule, following an agreement signed in March of the previous year that sparked some debate and months of careful planning.
For Malaga’s mayor, Francisco de la Torre, bringing CaixaForum to the city places Malaga in the ranks of Spain’s major urban centers alongside Madrid, Barcelona, and Zaragoza. He highlighted that the facility will be a first‑class, distinctive, and iconic cultural venue not only for the Cruz de Humilladero district where it rises, but for the entire city and its surrounding districts.
Conscious of the tight schedule, De la Torre coordinated closely with the City Planning Management team and sent a clear message to streamline the building permit process. He expressed optimism that the project would move forward promptly and that the predictions were on track.
Talent and programming
CaixaForum Málaga will feature two expansive exhibition halls capable of hosting up to six exhibitions per year. Multipurpose rooms will be added on the building’s first floor, with an education area, a cafeteria‑restaurant, and a bookstore on the ground floor. The exterior will include a public garden and spaces designed for outdoor events.
Annual maintenance for the center is projected at 5 million euros, with the la Caixa Foundation covering the total operating cost. The city will bear no ongoing expenses beyond the land value transferred for the project.
While the foundation’s leadership remains cautious about visitor estimates, Elisa Durán referenced the recent CaixaForum in Valencia, which drew nearly a million visitors last year. The goal for Málaga is not only to attract guests but to foster repeat visits. The plan envisions two to three visits per year from each guest, supported by six temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The long‑term aim is to cultivate a lasting cultural habit that brings people back frequently to explore new programming.