The National Prado Museum welcomed a total of 3,209,285 visitors in 2023, a figure that already places the year among the strongest in the museum’s modern history. While 2019 marked a historic peak during the institution’s Bicentennial celebrations, the 2023 tally shows a definitive rebound and a powerful return to pre-pandemic momentum. The museum’s leadership highlighted that the figures surpass the 2019 total, underscoring the continued appeal of Madrid’s cultural landmark.
According to the Prado Museum, the current total surpasses the 3,203,417 visitors recorded in 2019, reinforcing the idea of a robust recovery. The museum director, Miguel Falomir, described this year as definitive in terms of attendance and emphasized that the impact of audience numbers extends beyond raw headcounts. He noted that a large audience contributes to the breadth and reach of the museum’s social media and programming, and reflects a sustained engagement with the institution’s activities across the year.
Falomir stated through the museum’s social channels that a museum’s value is not measured solely by visitors, but by the vibrancy of its programming and the reach of its public. He highlighted that 2023 has been exceptionally productive in both quantity and quality, with a diverse slate of offerings. At the Madrid headquarters alone, eight different exhibitions were presented, illustrating the breadth of the museum’s calendar and its ability to attract varied audiences with distinctive experiences.
Regarding accessibility, the Prado’s figures show that a significant portion of visitors received free admission. Approximately 1.55 million people, representing about 48.2% of total visits, accessed the museum without a charge. The months with the highest attendance in 2023 were April, May, and June, and the calendar year culminated with a particularly strong December, a period that featured the highest influx of visitors on a single day and added up to a total of 14,345 visitors for the month.