Reina Sofía Museum sees 9% increase in visitors despite renovations

MADRID.- Madrid’s prestigious Reina Sofía Museum reported a notable 9% rise in visitor numbers to its main headquarters in 2024, signaling a robust recovery and growing public interest despite ongoing restoration works at its Retiro Park venues.

Record Attendance and Revenue Growth

The museum welcomed a total of 1,960,249 visitors last year, up from 2,530,560 in 2023. Specifically, the main headquarters saw 1,537,105 visitors, marking a 9% increase from the previous year’s 1,409,113. Ticket revenue surged by over 15% compared to 2023, underscoring the museum’s financial resilience and appeal.

Manuel Segade, the director of Reina Sofía, expressed his delight at the positive trends. “It is a joy to see that, despite the closure of the Retiro palaces for improvement work, the museum continues to grow, attracting audiences to the permanent collection and its temporary exhibitions. These figures are encouraging for the future work we are already undertaking to improve both the public reception areas and the routes through the buildings, which will soon make the visit more pleasant and attractive for all audiences,” Segade said.

Challenges at Retiro Park Venues

While the main museum thrived, the Crystal Palace in Retiro Park remained closed throughout 2024 for restoration, resulting in zero visitors. The Velázquez Palace also faced challenges, closing its doors for upgrades since September 2, 2024, and attracting only 319,706 visitors compared to 536,425 in 2023.

Engaging Activities and Increased Library Use

Beyond exhibitions, Reina Sofía engaged the community with 62,192 participants in various activities and 41,246 visitors to its library, a significant rise from 27,309 in 2022. The museum’s commitment to accessibility is evident, with 62% of main headquarters visitors enjoying free admission during designated hours or through exemptions for youth, seniors, students, and individuals with disabilities.

Highlighting Significant Dates and Exhibitions

The busiest day of the year was May 18, International Museum Day, attracting 13,089 visitors, including 9,677 at the main headquarters.

2024 also saw Reina Sofía host fourteen temporary exhibitions, eight of which opened during the year. Standout exhibitions included a major retrospective on Antoni Tàpies, celebrating the centenary of the Catalan artist’s birth, and showcases dedicated to Eva Lootz and Soledad Sevilla, the latter running until March 10, 2025.

The museum also featured exhibitions on literary giants Valle-Inclán and Federico García Lorca. "Esperpento: Popular Art and Aesthetic Revolution" explored Valle-Inclán’s literary concepts through the lens of 20th-century art movements, while "In the Moved Air...", curated by philosopher Georges Didi-Huberman, delved into Lorca’s concept of "duende" with works from luminaries like Dalí, Picasso, and Goya. Both exhibitions are set to remain open until March.

Cultural Collaborations and Events

Reina Sofía also played host to numerous cultural figures, including Griselda Pollock, Hito Steyerl, Eileen Myles, Daniel Clowes, and Julie Doucet, enhancing its reputation as a vibrant cultural hub. The museum’s main venue served as the backdrop for events such as Radio 3’s Museum Day celebrations, the ARCOmadrid closing party, and stage performances like "Totentanz – Morgen ist die Frage" by La Veronal.

As Reina Sofía continues to navigate renovations and expand its offerings, the upward trend in visitor numbers and engagement activities highlights its enduring significance in Madrid’s cultural landscape.