Spain’s Hotel ACTUAL 2026: Transforming Hospitality into Immersive Art Spaces

In an exciting intersection of contemporary art and hospitality, the Directorate-General for Culture of the Government of La Rioja, Spain, is launching Hotel ACTUAL 2026 — an experimental art initiative reimagining hotel rooms as personal art exhibition spaces.

Taking place from 2–5 January 2026, the event will see 12 rooms in the FG Hotel Logroño transformed into immersive art installations. Six selected artists, including an international participant and a resident artist, will convert these intimate spaces into creative environments, fostering close interaction between artwork and audience.

Artist Opportunities

• 800 EUR creative grant

• Travel reimbursement (for participants living over 120 km away)

• Free hotel accommodation in a twin room (with breakfast)

• Zero commission sales – artists deal directly with buyers

• On-site technical support including lighting and installation

Who Can Apply?

• 1 International artist

• 2 Spanish artists

• 1 artist from La Rioja

• 1 student from ESDIR (Design School of La Rioja)

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: 1 July 2025

• Results announced: 15 July 2025

• Exhibition period: 2–5 January 2026

Submission Details

• Free to apply

• Open to all mediums

• PDF application (max 10MB), including:

  
  

  • Artist CV (max 3 pages)

  • Concept statement and artwork list (title/medium/size/price)

  • Room layout proposal for a 4×3m hotel room

  • Technical needs (lighting, suspension, etc.)

  
  

Unique Features

• In-hotel residency: Artists stay on site and join roundtable discussions

• Video showcase: Art documentaries looped on LED screen in hotel atrium

• VIP Lounge: Private space for collectors and artist meet-ups

This initiative represents a bold step in decentralising contemporary art presentation — taking it out of traditional gallery spaces and placing it into everyday, lived environments. It blends intimacy, experimentation, and accessibility, creating a unique dialogue between art and hospitality. More details:https://actualfestival.com/hotel-actual/