Tenerife’s Cultural Sector Faces Crisis as Government Cuts Funding for Major Events

Tenerife’s cultural scene is facing a sustainability crisis that puts long-standing events at risk. According to the Canary Islands Music Industry Association (AIMCA), the proposed 2026 subsidy plan has rejected 55 of the 83 submitted projects, meaning over 66% of applicants will receive no funding from the island’s government.

This comes as the total budget for these grants has been cut by 50,000 euros, dropping to 750,000 euros. The industry association has criticized how these funds are distributed, noting that nearly 38% of the total budget—280,000 euros—is reserved for just four projects. This leaves the rest of the cultural sector, including performing arts festivals, film series, and exhibitions, to compete for the remaining 470,000 euros.

This is part of a growing trend. Over the last three years, 166 out of 252 proposals were rejected due to a lack of funds, despite many receiving high technical scores. Notable events now left without support include the Santa Blues de Tenerife, the La Orotava Short Film Festival, the Tenerife Peñón Fest, the DOCANARIAS International Reality Film Festival, the Canary Islands Alternative Music Festival (FMAC), Soplo de Letras, Canarias Improvisa, and Move Canarias.

Industry leaders point out that other island councils in the archipelago support over 70% of applicants, a much higher rate than Tenerife. Furthermore, AIMCA claims the island administration has failed to honor a three-year-old promise to include the association in the evaluation committee, a move they argue is vital for transparency and fair regulation.

The stakes are high: the cultural sector in the region includes over 60 companies, supports nearly 842 full-time jobs, and generates an estimated 65 million euros in economic impact. To prevent the loss of historic events, the association’s board has requested an urgent meeting with the President of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, and the Minister of Culture, José Carlos Acha, to push for a budget increase and a review of how grants are awarded.