Torrevieja awards contract to manage three cultural venues for €2.77 million

On 2 November 2026, the Governing Board of Torrevieja’s «Joaquín Chapaprieta» Municipal Institute of Culture approved the award of a contract to ESATUR XXI S.L.U. to manage the Municipal Theatre, the International Auditorium and the Floating Museums. The contract is worth €2,776,492, including VAT, for the first year and allows for up to three one-year extensions.

The contract brings together, under a single service, the programming of the two performance venues and technical, maintenance and front-of-house duties. At the Floating Museums, which include the S-61 Delfín submarine and the Albatros III patrol boat, the company will be responsible for opening the venues, access control, ticket offices and visitor information.

The tender was conducted through an open procedure on an urgent basis. ESATUR scored 98.75 out of 100 and submitted the only bid, according to information in the contract file cited in the investigation into the process. Its financial proposal was €2,294,622 before tax.

The base budget was €2,931,882.70, including VAT. The award is therefore around €155,391 below the maximum budget, comparing both figures inclusive of tax. The initial term is one year; with the three possible extensions, the service could run for up to four years.

At the Municipal Theatre, the contract covers a programme of theatre, dance, opera, music, cinema and conferences, as well as management of the venue, technical supervision, cleaning, maintenance and security. The Auditorium will continue to host symphonic, musical and chamber performances, and may also be used for conferences, trade fairs, conventions and professional events.

At the Floating Museums, the service includes specialist staff to assist and guide visitors. The contract provides for guides with higher-education qualifications in history and tourism and language accreditation. The joint management therefore covers both cultural programming and visits to these venues associated with the city’s maritime heritage.

The deadline for submitting bids was 12 June 2026. ESATUR had already been providing the service alongside Mediapro. In 2022, the contract awarded to that joint venture to manage the Municipal Theatre and the Auditorium was worth €2,162,445.14 a year, plus VAT; the new contract also includes the Floating Museums.

The new service will begin once the contract has been formally signed, according to Torrevieja Town Council. The tender documents set 1 September as the start date, or, if signing was delayed, the day after the contract was formalised.

Article produced by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.