The cultural budget is 9.6 billion kronor, which corresponds to a share of 0.62 percent of the country's total budget for 2026. The cultural share has not been this low in 26 years, according to a review made by Magasin K.
The budget has indeed increased by 3.4 percent since last year, but the increase in the state budget is also larger than usual.
There are enormous parts of society that need reinforcement. We are making enormous investments in culture, but we also dare to prioritize what is important, says Parisa Liljestrand and continues:
Just because you buy a bigger house, it doesn't mean that the food budget also has to increase. You should also remember that culture is financed by several parts of society, at municipal, regional, national, and private levels.
The trade union DIK (the union for culture, communication, and the creative sector) believes, on the other hand, that the budget is a scandal.
"The cultural welfare is constitutionally established, but the government still chooses to dole out small change to a sector that has long been severely underfunded," says union chairman Anna Troberg in a written comment.
The National Archives receive the most
The most money goes to the National Archives, which receive an addition of 95 million kronor next year, among other things to invest in digitization. The high amount is also due to the fact that the National Archives have double rent and will become an emergency authority.
The Opera in Stockholm also receives increased grants, to be able to keep the business going during the time when the opera house is being renovated. Next year, 15 million kronor will be added, followed by 25.3 million kronor for 2027 and 22.5 million kronor for 2028.
The government is also allocating 40 million kronor to strengthened reading promotion through support to public libraries – and gives the same amount for 2027 and 2028.
Money for museums
The budget also adds 700,000 kronor to the House of Dance, for the institution's work with children and young people.
It has been previously known that the budget also adds 7 million kronor per year from 2026 to 2028 to the foundation museums Nordiska museet, Skansen, Tekniska museet, and Arbetets museum.
The dance band tax is reduced from 25 to 6 percent, which can come into force on July 1, 2026. It is expected to reduce tax revenue by 220 million kronor next year, according to the government.
The foundation museums Nordiska museet, Skansen, Tekniska museet, and Arbetets museum's operations are strengthened with a total of 7 million kronor during the years 2026-2028.
The government also wants to allocate 3 million kronor to a preliminary study on a national museum card.
30 million kronor are allocated to an initiative to promote reading in socially vulnerable areas, via Berättarministeriet.
The previous strengthening of compensation and grants to artists with 30 million kronor per year is extended for three years, 2026-2028, to enable more long-term scholarships.
The library compensation is increased by 10 million kronor from 2026.
10 million kronor of the state's support to cultural schools is redirected to a digital project so that children can take part in the cultural school's offerings.
3 million kronor are added in 2026 for the Arts Council to increase the interfaces for the cultural sector and business on issues of broadened financing.
The cost rent for five major cultural institutions will be abolished. The new rental agreements can begin to apply on July 1, 2026, with the exception of the Royal Opera's main building, due to renovations. The government will return with details for implementation.
