From Ibiza’s hippie, hedonistic vibe and Mallorca’s beach culture to slow living on unspoilt Menorca, each of the Balearics has always had its own distinct rhythm. Yet now more than ever, considered agricultural practices are being reinvigorated and the arts dial is shifting, thanks to a raft of rising creatives, producers and forward-thinking land custodians. While much attention this summer will be on the rare total solar eclipse on 12 August – as well as the idyllic sandy beaches and coastal towns these islands are best known for – there are also lesser-known galleries, independent wineries and regenerated fincas hosting artistic classes and wellness workshops, plus world-class music festivals to have on your radar. Here are a few highlights worth checking out for a fresh perspective on the much-adored Spanish archipelago.
Contemporary art
The late Spanish surrealist painter, sculptor and printmaker Joan Miró is the artist most associated with Mallorca, having lived and worked on the island for nearly 30 years (his workshop is part of the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation, open to the public). But more recently, the Balearics as a whole have become a growing presence on the international art scene. In 2021, there was the blockbuster opening of Hauser & Wirth Menorca in a series of restored 18th-century outbuildings belonging to a decommissioned naval hospital, on Isla del Rey, in the port of Mahon. Martin Creed, Cindy Sherman and Eduardo Chillida have all held past solo shows while the 2026 season will headline with Directionless, a group exhibition organised by artist Rashid Johnson who has a long-standing focus on race and identity. This year has already seen the inaugural edition of Art Cologne Palma Mallorca – a contemporary fair where works for sale included a €1.3 million piece by Anselm Kiefer on the Berlin- and Palma-based gallery Kewenig booth – and Contemporary Art Now in Ibiza, held annually each June. In addition, the first Mallorca PhotoFest, a new biennial dedicated to photography and image-making led by Art Palma Contemporani, runs until the end of August.
Independent galleries are also thriving, especially on Ibiza. In Santa Gertrudis, Madrid-based gallery Parra & Romero specialises in works that sit on the boundary between conceptual and minimal – such as Landon Metz’s abstract canvases which will be on display this summer. The village is also home to Estudio Laterna, a gallery and design studio with a dynamic, group painting and sculpture show, Conflux, until the end of September. Head south to the Old Town for In-Between Ibiza which often spotlights artists living on the island, or north to Gathering Ibiza, an outpost of the London original in Sant Miquel de Balansat, where gallery director Mercedes Gómez González showcases work by emerging talents, including promising painter Savannah Harris. Meanwhile art, sculpture and design objects can be seen at Soleille Gallery Ibiza, founded by architect and curator Gabriela Puig Soleille. It is currently hosting a four-month residency of rotating works from Antwerp-based collectible design gallery St Vincents.
Back to the land
Understandably, it’s the Balearics’ coastlines that tend to capture the imagination first. Yet the quieter, wilder interior of each island has its own story too, usually rooted in ancient agricultural traditions. Take Son Moragues, a 500-year-old estate in Mallorca’s UNESCO World Heritage Tramuntana Mountains, which produces organic olive oil from centuries-old groves using passed-down land management practices, but in a modern way (tastings and tours can be pre-booked). Under the SONMO brand, restored looms are used to make wool blankets, while ingredients and materials from the land are turned into botanical gin, preserves and handmade ceramics that are finished with pine and olive-ash glazes. Passionate about connecting craftsmanship, gastronomy and environmental ideas, SONMO co-founder Joe Holles de Peyer also organises a monthly series of cultural talks by innovative thinkers and artisans at its store in Palma.
To the east, Can Cavall Blau is a four-hectare organic farm that produces low intervention wines and an Amargéro aperitif, handmade from bitter oranges in small batches. The farm is open at the weekends for tastings, plus on Sundays, experienced polo players are welcome to join training chukka sessions on the farm’s thoroughbred horses, followed by aperitivo hour. There’s a similar land-first approach at Menorca’s Son Blanc, a sustainably restored finca that has been transformed into a regenerative farm with 14 rooms. The changing weekly programme of experiences, which are open to non-guests, could include pottery workshops, farm tours, sound healing, forest bathing, yoga and communal suppers.
Artisanal wineries
Wine production on these islands dates back to Roman times and sampling the results at a small vineyard can feel like stepping back in time – albeit with a rustic-chic spin on an age-old industry. At Torralbenc on Menorca for instance, which produced its first vintage a decade ago and now has a portfolio of nine bottles to try, there is a farm-to-table Michelin-recognised restaurant ideal for lunch after a guided stroll among the vines and in the cellar. On Mallorca, Finca Macià Batle has been producing its award-winning selection of white, rosé and reds since 1859, although only far more recently has it also earnt a reputation for collaborating with a different acclaimed artist each year on a limited-edition bottle label, including Rebecca Horn, Jaume Plensa and Gilbert & Georges so far.
Balearic beats
Ibiza’s club culture is incomparable. But away from the DJ-led dance sounds, on Mallorca the annual Cap Rocat Festival of contemporary classical music and opera is held inside a 19th-century military fortress, perched on a clifftop above the Bay of Palma. Equally high-calibre, the summer-long Deià International Music Festival spans chamber music, piano recitals and movie-themed concerts. All take place at atmospheric venues including Deià church, a 16th-century monastery and the landmark Son Marroig country estate on the Deià-Valldemossa coast, once the residence of Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria and known for its spectacular sunsets and sea views. And for jazz and soul fans, The Jazz Lounge in Palma is an intimate place to catch live performances by both local talents and international musicians. Whatever your artistic preferences, there’s increasingly something soul-soothing to seek out in the Balearics.
