Seven decades since the Foundation’s founding, a renovated museum, and a free night of opera. The Gulbenkian kicked off its anniversary year in style, and the best is yet to come.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was established in 1956 and has since become one of the country’s most important cultural institutions. This anniversary year will not go unnoticed: there is a program designed to last several months, featuring concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, conferences, and a museum reopening that many people have been eagerly awaiting.
The Museum Is Back
The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum closed its doors in March 2025 for a major renovation: new climate control, lighting, and security systems, and a reorganization of the galleries to restore the spirit of the original design. More than a year later, the reopening is scheduled for July 18. Those familiar with the space will find it different. Those who haven’t been yet now have a good excuse to visit.
The anniversary concert is free
On the very night of the reopening, the Grand Auditorium will host the concert celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Gulbenkian Foundation. The Gulbenkian Choir and Orchestra will come together under the baton of conductor Carlo Rizzi, alongside soprano Sonya Yoncheva, for a program of European opera: Bizet, Puccini, Dvořák, Verdi, among others. Admission is free; tickets can be picked up online, subject to venue capacity (maximum of 2 per person).
Seven Decades in the Spotlight
From July 17 through October 19, you can see the exhibition “Gulbenkian, 70 Years of Posters”: 70 posters from the collection and other graphic materials documenting seven decades of activity in the fields of education, art, and science. Artists such as Marcelino Vespeira, Sebastião Rodrigues, and Jorge Silva are featured.
And after July?
The anniversary program continues. In September, there’s a film series exploring the relationships between music, culture, and society, featuring screenings of *Stop Making Sense* (1984) and *Summer of Soul* (2021), among others. In November, the inaugural conference of the Gulbenkian Institute for Advanced Studies will feature historian David Nirenberg, director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. And the year wraps up with concerts by the Gulbenkian Orchestra in October and December, featuring premieres by Portuguese and international composers.
Useful Information
Museum Reopening: July18 , 2026
Anniversary Concert: July18 , Grand Auditorium — free admission, tickets available online (max. 2 per person)
Exhibition: “Gulbenkian, 70 Years”: July17 –October 19, 2026
Where: Calouste GulbenkianFoundation — Av. de Berna, 45A, Lisbon
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