Bilbao Fine Arts Museum Reopens After Norman Foster Expansion

The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum reopened in October with Agravitas, a €45 million expansion by Foster + Partners and Basque architect Luis María Uriarte. The project doubles exhibition space and adds new galleries, a restaurant and a viewing terrace.

Bilbao Fine Arts Museum: What Has Changed

The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum reopened to the public on 6 October 2026, following an official ceremony the previous day. Its new structure, named Agravitas, spans the existing museum buildings, linking the Neoclassical 1945 building with the Modernist extension completed in 1970.

The expansion increases exhibition space to approximately 6,000 square metres, while 8,000 square metres of existing galleries have also been remodelled. A new 1,000-square-metre atrium serves as the main visitor entrance and connects the different exhibition areas. The upper floors contain additional galleries, including space for temporary exhibitions, alongside a restaurant and viewing terrace.

A Collection Beyond Contemporary Art

The museum’s collection spans several centuries, with works by El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Paul Gauguin and Francis Bacon, alongside sculpture by Richard Serra, decorative arts and archaeological objects. Its expanded galleries provide more room for the permanent collection and the temporary exhibition programme.

The reopening also strengthens the museum’s place within Bilbao’s cultural itinerary. The Guggenheim Bilbao is less than a ten-minute walk away, making it practical to visit both institutions in a single day while allowing time for their distinct collections and architectural approaches.

For visitors arriving this week, the Basque government has announced free museum admission from 6 to 13 October 2026. Check the museum’s official website for current opening hours and visitor information.