Maximum Tax Deductions for Sponsoring the 75th Anniversary of the Santander Festival (2026-2028)

Key data

If your company plans to sponsor or donate to the International Festival of Santander in the coming three years, this regulation opens the door to the highest tax deductions allowed by law for patronage. The agreement published on October 26, 2026 in the BOE creates the specific mechanism that makes this benefit possible: the Inter-administrative Commission of the event of exceptional public interest "75th anniversary of the International Festival of Santander".

The key is not just sponsoring: it is doing so in a way that your expenses are certified by this commission. Without that certification, the expense may still be deductible, but not at the maximum level allowed by Law 49/2002 for events of exceptional public interest.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement signed between the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance and the International Festival of Santander Foundation creates an Inter-administrative Commission with a very specific function: to certify that sponsorship and patronage expenses comply with the approved plans for the event.

That certification is the essential requirement for companies and individuals to apply the maximum tax benefits provided for in Law 49/2002. Without it, access to the maximum deduction rate is blocked.

The key elements of the commission's operation are:

• It certifies that the expenses of sponsors and donors comply with the approved plans of the event.
• The favorable vote of the representative of the Ministry of Finance is mandatory to issue any certification.
• The commission operates throughout the validity of the agreement: from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028.
• The financing of the commission is entirely at the expense of the Foundation, with no cost to the General State Administration.

The event is declared of exceptional public interest, a category that activates the maximum tax incentive regime of Law 49/2002. This declaration is what gives meaning to the entire structure: without it, the commission would not exist nor would there be access to the maximum deduction rate.

Economic and operational impact

The impact for companies is fundamentally a tax opportunity, not a cost. Sponsoring an event declared of exceptional public interest allows access to deductions in Corporate Income Tax (or in Personal Income Tax for individuals) higher than those for ordinary patronage.

The operational points you should keep in mind:

• Certification is the critical step. It is not enough to make the expense: the Inter-administrative Commission must validate that this expense complies with the approved plans of the event. If you do not obtain certification, you lose access to the maximum rate.
• The Finance vote is decisive. The representative of the Ministry of Finance has a necessary vote on the commission. This guarantees public control over the certifications issued, but also implies that the process has a real administrative filter.
• Defined time window. The agreement has an expiration date: December 31, 2028. Expenses incurred outside that period cannot be covered by this regime.
• No additional cost to the sponsor for the operation of the commission: the Foundation assumes these costs entirely.

Who does it affect?

• Companies sponsoring or donating to the International Festival of Santander between 2026 and 2028 and wanting to apply maximum deductions in Corporate Income Tax.
• Individuals making donations to the festival and wanting to apply maximum deductions in Personal Income Tax.
• Tax departments and CFOs of companies with cultural sponsorship or corporate social responsibility strategies that include patronage.
• Tax advisors and management firms managing tax planning for clients with cultural sponsorship activities.
• International Festival of Santander Foundation, which assumes the financing of the commission and must coordinate the certification process with sponsors.

Practical example

Imagine your company decides to sponsor the International Festival of Santander in 2027 with a contribution of 50,000 euros. The process to access maximum deductions would be as follows:

1. The company formalizes the sponsorship agreement with the International Festival of Santander Foundation, ensuring that the sponsored activity is included in the approved plans of the event.
2. The Foundation presents the expense documentation to the Inter-administrative Commission.
3. The commission, with the mandatory favorable vote of the representative of the Ministry of Finance, issues the certification that proves the expense complies with the approved plans.
4. With that certification in hand, the company applies in its Corporate Income Tax return the maximum tax deductions provided for in Law 49/2002 for events of exceptional public interest.

Without the commission's certification, the expense could still be deductible under the general patronage regime, but not at the maximum rate that activates the declaration of exceptional public interest. The difference between one regime and another can be significant in terms of effective tax savings.

What should companies do now?

1. Evaluate whether you have or plan to sponsor the Santander Festival between 2026 and 2028. If you already have agreements in place, verify that they are within the validity period of the agreement (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028).
2. Contact the International Festival of Santander Foundation to confirm that your sponsorship or donation is included in the approved plans of the event. Only expenses aligned with those plans can be certified.
3. Request certification through the Inter-administrative Commission. It is the essential step to access the maximum deduction rate of Law 49/2002. Without it, you cannot apply the maximum benefit.
4. Inform your tax advisor that the expense has certification of an event of exceptional public interest, so they correctly apply the deduction regime in Corporate Income Tax or Personal Income Tax.
5. Keep all documentation: sponsorship agreement, expense receipts and, especially, the certification issued by the commission. In case of inspection, it is the proof that proves the right to the maximum deduction.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-22401