La Open Government Week 2026 It has become a key event for bringing public institutions closer to citizens, combining in-person and online activities throughout Spain. Over several days, ministries, agencies, and public entities open their doors to explain what they do, how they do it, and how anyone can participate or exercise their right to information.
Framed within the Open Gov Week Driven by the Open Government Partnership, this week's focus is on transparency, integrity, participation, and accountability. Spain, a member of this partnership since 2011 and a participant in eight editions, reinforces its leading role in open government within Europe with this initiative, showcasing a more accessible and public-service-oriented administration.
A global initiative coordinated from Spain
Open Government Week is part of a global movement which promotes more open and collaborative administrations. It's not just about organizing one-off events, but about fostering a change in institutional culture where citizens have a more active role in public affairs and can better understand how decisions are made.
In Spain, coordination falls to the General Directorate of Public GovernanceThis body, under the Ministry of Finance, collaborates with the Open Government Forum. It promotes the organization of activities throughout the country and encourages both public administrations and civil society to develop initiatives aligned with the principles of open government.
This coordination structure allows ministries as diverse as Industry and Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Culture, and Inclusion to contribute their own proposals. In this way, the week takes on a distinctly cross-cutting character, encompassing everything from foreign policy to metrology, and including cultural heritage and public employment.
The central objective is strengthen trust between citizens and institutions, facilitating access to information, promoting dialogue and showing in a practical way how public resources and services are managed.
Transparency, open data and accountability
One of the pillars of Open Government Week 2026 is the promotion of transparency and open dataAccess to public information in reusable formats is presented as an essential tool for citizens, media, businesses and social organizations to analyze, reuse and disseminate data on the activity of public administrations.
Platforms like data.gob.es They centralize datasets from various public entities and make them available to the public. This availability not only facilitates access but also improves accountability by enabling greater citizen oversight of public policies and resource management.
During these days, many of the scheduled activities include explicit references to the use of public information, advances in electronic administration, and the possibilities offered by digital systems to guarantee a greater institutional opennessThe idea is that access to data should not be something abstract, but a real resource available to everyone.
This approach to transparency is combined with other open government values, such as integrity and public accountability. The Week thus serves as a showcase where institutions explain what they are doing to improve their control, oversight, and communication mechanisms with citizens.
Activities of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism
The Ministry of Industry and Tourism joins Open Administration Week with a varied agenda of events which take place between May 18 and 24. The Undersecretary of the department, in collaboration with different areas of the Ministry, has designed a program that includes open days, specialized seminars, round tables and guided tours.
Participation in these activities is freeHowever, it requires prior registration through the Ministry of Industry and Tourism's portal dedicated to Open Administration Week 2026. This reservation system allows for managing capacity and ensuring better organization of visits and sessions.
One of the highlights are the days of open doors On May 19th and 20th, tours will be offered of the Cuzco Ministerial Complex, a landmark of Brutalist architecture in Madrid. Ministry staff will guide participants through the most representative spaces, explaining both the internal workings and the value of the General State Administration's architectural heritage.
A plan has also been put in place Guided tour of the General Library From the Ministry, on May 20th. This activity showcases the library's main spaces and services, as well as a selection of its most important works. It is an opportunity to learn firsthand how a specialized library of the State Administration operates and what resources it makes available to technical staff and the public.
In the field of document and records managementThe Ministry will present the application online. AthenaThe session will cover the Central Archive's management system. This tool, developed by a multidisciplinary team within the department, is notable for being based on open-source code, publicly available on the Electronic Administration Portal. The session will explain how the application works and its role in modernizing document management.
The programming also includes a round table on employment opportunities The event, scheduled for May 22nd at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism's headquarters at Paseo de la Castellana 160, will explore professional development opportunities for general civil servants within the Spanish General State Administration, with a particular focus on the State Corps of Industrial Engineers and graduates of autonomous agencies specializing in Industrial Property. The event will also be available online.
That same spirit of openness is reflected in a seminar dedicated to the National Industry Congresses Spain's participation as the guest country at the Hannover Messe 2027 international industrial fair will be discussed. This session, organized on May 21 at the Ministry headquarters, will review the history of the congresses since 2017 and provide details on Spain's role in this important international event, which will be held in Germany from April 5 to 9, 2027.
The offer is completed by Guided tours of the Historical Archive from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM), organized on May 19, 20 and 21. During these visits, a selection of original documents is shown, providing a better understanding of the evolution of industrial property in Spain and the work carried out by the OEPM in the protection of trademarks and patents.
Metrology and public policy: activities of the Spanish Metrology Centre
As part of Open Government Week 2026, the Spanish Metrology Centre (CEM) is organizing a series of activities to commemorate the anniversary of the signing, on May 20, 1875, of the Metre Convention Treaty. These events combine technical presentations with the opening of spaces not usually known to the general public.
The CEM has scheduled a specialized seminar Under the title "Metrology: Building Trust in Public Policy Development," various experts address issues such as new legislation in metrology, the infrastructure needed for the deployment of electric vehicles, and the perspectives of both manufacturers and conformity assessors regarding the current regulatory framework.
In addition to the seminar, the following are offered: visits to various laboratories and the museum The event will take place at the Center, where the fundamentals of metrology and its impact on everyday areas such as consumption, industry, and safety are explained. During the ceremony, diplomas will also be awarded to the new staff members of this organization.
Attendance is possible in person, with prior registration through the website of the Spanish Metrology Centre, or online via their official YouTube channel. This allows both professionals and interested individuals to follow the content from different parts of Spain.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its openness to the public
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC) is also participating in Open Administration Week 2026 with a program of activities open to the public and others aimed at specific groups, such as students or professionals involved in international mobility.
La Diplomatic School On May 18, from 12:00 to 14:00 p.m., the embassy is organizing an open house in its Aula Magna, located at Paseo de Juan XXIII, 5. Attendees can learn about the realities of the diplomatic service, the competitive examination process, and find out about the Master's Degree in Continuing Education in Diplomacy and International Relations, as well as the courses, seminars, and conferences offered throughout the year. The event includes a closing discussion and a guided tour of the facilities. Prior registration is required.
The historical Santa Cruz Palace On May 20th, the Ministry will host several guided tours in groups of 30 people, explaining the ceremonies held within its premises and showcasing representative rooms, objects, and works of art linked to the history of the Ministry and the Directorate General of Protocol, Chancellery, and Orders. Although registration for these tours has already closed, the initiative reflects the interest in promoting the institution's heritage.
The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is joining in with activities at its headquarters on Avenida de los Reyes CatĆ³licos, 4. The workshop will be held on May 20. "Cooperation: teamwork"Aimed at the general public and with limited places available on a first-come, first-served basis, the workshop is designed to explain in a practical way how Spanish cooperation works and which actors are involved.
On May 21, also at the AECID, a guided tour of the African collectionThis visit, part of the activities organized to mark Africa Day, brings the public closer to some of the cultural and artistic heritage linked to the African continent that the Agency preserves, contributing to a broader understanding of Spain's foreign policy.
During the same week, the following are organized student visits to the headquarters The Ministry's main office is located at Plaza del MarquƩs de Salamanca, 8. From May 18th to 24th, groups of university students and students from various schools will visit the facilities and learn firsthand about the Ministry's daily work. Among them are students from the Reina Victoria Public School, who will visit on the 19th and 20th, and students from the Master's Program in International Relations at the Comillas Pontifical University, who will visit on May 21st.
The Consular Emergency Division, under the Directorate General for Spaniards Abroad and Consular Affairs, has scheduled for May 20th, at 12:00, a meeting with representatives of economic sectors related to international mobility, especially linked to tourism. This event, held at the Ministry headquarters, serves to explain the work of protecting and assisting Spaniards abroad and to strengthen coordination with key stakeholders in the sector.
That same day a Visit and talk for students of the IES Ramiro de MaeztuFrom 11:30 to 12:30, the session will focus on explaining how the Ministry works and the importance of the European Union. The aim is to familiarize young people with Spain's role in the EU and the relevance of European institutions in daily life.
On May 21, from 9:00 to 11:30, the State Secretariat for the European Union is organizing a information session on job opportunities in the EU institutions. The activity addresses issues related to the European civil service, selection processes, as well as the programs and scholarships offered by the EU, providing guidance to those considering a professional career in this field.
That same day, the AECID hosts a group of conferences on the occasion of Africa DayFrom 16:00 to 18:00 p.m., Professor JosƩ Fenoll, from the Autonomous University of Madrid, will give a talk entitled "The Land of Flying Masks Lives On," focusing on art in Burkina Faso, followed by a discussion. Afterwards, Irene Seco, from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), will present "The Dress of the Priestess of the Sacred Tree," about traditional Ugandan textiles and the development of the country's traditional costume. Both lectures will be held in the Auditorium and are open to the public, and will be complemented by another visit to the African collection.
Taken together, these initiatives have been designed by the AECID, the Diplomatic School, the State Secretariat for the European Union, the Consular Emergency Division and the Directorate General of Protocol, showcasing the diversity of areas within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that are involved in Open Administration Week.
Participation of the National Police and other entities
La National Police The institution is once again participating in Open Government Week as part of its commitment to the principles of the Open Government Partnership. It is carrying out five specific activities aimed at fostering public participation and clearly explaining its role in security and the protection of rights.
These proposals are presented as an opportunity to to bring police work closer to the public, to showcase their transparency mechanisms and publicize the channels for collaboration with civil society. Although the specific details of each activity may vary depending on the police station or locality, the philosophy that inspires them centers on public responsibility, accountability, and institutional openness.
In parallel, other ministries and public bodies are also promoting specific actions, from information sessions to initiatives such as public job offer and sectoral meetings. Participants include departments such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, as well as entities such as Post, who contribute with their own initiatives aimed at improving the relationship with their users.
This ecosystem of activities demonstrates that open government is not just a matter of a single ministerial portfolio, but a shared effort by multiple administrations and organizations seeking to adapt their operations to the demands of an increasingly informed and demanding society.
Citizen participation and open government culture
Beyond specific actions, Open Administration Week aims to consolidate a culture of participation where citizens are not passive recipients, but active participants who ask questions, propose solutions, and hold people accountable. Therefore, many of the activities are designed to create spaces for dialogue and mutual learning between public officials and attendees.
Open days, guided tours, and seminars allow participants to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of institutions and how public policies are implemented. This closer connection helps to dispel the perception of an administration that is distant and overly bureaucratic.
Numerous events promote direct interaction Through question-and-answer sessions, debates, and discussions, citizens are given the opportunity to raise their concerns and suggestions. In this way, the Week also serves to gather input that can guide future improvements in management and institutional communication.
At the same time, the initiative emphasizes the importance of accountability. Explaining decisions, detailing projects, and providing verifiable information become key to improving trust in institutions and strengthening democratic quality.
With all these activities planned, Open Government Week 2026 is shaping up to be an opportunity for both the state administration and other public actors to showcase their progress in transparency, integrity and participationAnd so that citizens can see firsthand what is being done on their behalf. The diverse range of proposals, from visits to historic buildings to technical seminars on metrology or document management, reflects the breadth of a movement that seeks to make institutional openness no longer the exception but a part of everyday public life.