Centre Pompidou Málaga
Centre Pompidou Málaga stands as the jewel in the crown of Malaga’s thriving cultural scene.
This contemporary art museum represents the first international outpost of the renowned Paris-based Centre national d’art et de culture Georges-Pompidou (the Georges Pompidou National Centre for Art and Culture), marking its first location outside France.
The gallery opened its doors to the public in March 2015, focusing exclusively on contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
The inauguration attracted significant attention, with then-Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and France’s Minister of Culture Fleur Pellerin attending the ceremony to celebrate this important artistic and cultural collaboration between Spain and France.
Multicoloured cube in Malaga port
Centre Pompidou Málaga occupies a prime location within Muelle Uno in Malaga port, a space dedicated to high-quality leisure.
This area has transformed into a space dedicated to high-quality dining, shopping and cultural experiences along the Mediterranean coastline.
The museum’s most distinctive feature is the cube, a spectacular multicoloured glass structure that sits atop the building.
This rainbow-hued glass box has become one of Malaga’s most recognisable landmarks, visible from across the harbour and throughout the city centre.
Exhibitions at Centre Pompidou Málaga
Since opening, Centre Pompidou Málaga has established itself as a major destination for contemporary art in southern Spain.
The museum presents between two and three specially curated temporary exhibitions each year, featuring either themed collections or monographic exhibitions dedicated to individual artists.
Past exhibitions have showcased internationally renowned artists, including Joan Miró’s ‘Obras Sobre Papel 1960-1978’ (Works on Paper 1960-1978).
These temporary displays explore diverse artistic disciplines, including photography, design, architecture and video art, ensuring fresh perspectives throughout the year.
Alongside the rotating exhibitions, visitors can explore the permanent collection, which centres around representations of the human form in contemporary art.
This collection features masterpieces by some of the 20th century’s most influential artists, including Andalusian icon Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo, René Magritte and Alberto Giacometti.
Visiting Centre Pompidou Málaga
Centre Pompidou Málaga ranks among the most visited cultural attractions in Malaga, drawing art enthusiasts from across Andalucía and beyond.
The museum experiences particularly high visitor numbers on Sunday evenings after 4pm, when admission becomes free to the public.
This free admission period offers an excellent opportunity to explore contemporary art without cost, though visitors should expect larger crowds during these hours.
The museum’s waterfront location in Muelle Uno means you can easily combine your cultural visit with a stroll along the port, enjoying the numerous restaurants, cafés and shops in the surrounding area.
For further information, follow the links for details about prices and opening hours.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.