Editing Bilbao (section)

== Culture ==
Bilbao was appointed a "City of Design" by [[UNESCO]] in 2014 and has been part of the [[Creative Cities Network]] since then.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bilbao|title=Bilbao {{!}} Creative Cities Network|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221114/https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bilbao|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Theatres ===
[[File:Teatro Arriaga. Bilbao.jpg|thumb|right|The Arriaga Theatre, located by the river in the Old Town]]
The main hall of the city is the [[Teatro Arriaga|Arriaga Theatre]], reopened in 1985 as a municipal venue with a varied repertoire that includes dancing, opera, live music and theatre. Also very active are the Campos Elíseos Theatre and the [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall|Euskalduna Concert Hall]]. Other important venues include La Fundición, dedicated to contemporary dances and theatre; the Pabellón 6, the Sala BBK and the [[Azkuna Zentroa]].

=== Museums ===
[[File:Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (26311230864).jpg|thumb|right|The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]]
Bilbao has more than a dozen museums covering a range of fields including art, science, and sport, which have played a central role in Bilbao being named one of the most creative cities in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bilbao, one of the 9 most creative cities of 2016|date=24 May 2016|url=https://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2016/05/24/howitravel-bilbao-one-of-the-9-most-creative-cities-of-2016/|access-date=6 November 2016|archive-date=1 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901023736/http://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2016/05/24/howitravel-bilbao-one-of-the-9-most-creative-cities-of-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]], part of the [[Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation]], was inaugurated on 19 October 1997 and is work of the Canadian architect [[Frank Gehry]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|url=http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729193312/https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> The museum's permanent collection is centred in the visual arts of the second half of the 20th century and the present, with relevant artworks from [[Richard Serra]] and [[Jeff Koons]], although including as well temporary exhibitions with a more varied nature, like Russian art or engravings from [[Albrecht Dürer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20070626/25753/es/El-Guggenheim-acoge-una-selección-mejores-grabados-Durero |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413185726/http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20070626/25753/es/El-Guggenheim-acoge-una-selecci%C3%B3n-mejores-grabados-Durero |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=Guggenheim Museum to hold a selection of the best engravings of Dürer |last=Labeaga |first=Izaskun |date=26 June 2006 |website=Gara |access-date=20 October 2008 }}</ref>

Another important museum is the [[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Bilbao Fine Arts Museum|url=http://www.museobilbao.com/in/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815094019/https://www.museobilbao.com/in/|url-status=live}}</ref> first established in 1908 and housing a notable collection of Spanish and European work from the 12th century to present times. The collection from before the 20th century is centred mainly around Spanish and Flemish artists such as [[El Greco]], [[Francisco de Zurbarán]], [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], [[Francisco Goya]] and [[Anthony van Dyck]]. The museum also holds one of the best collections of Basque art, with works from the 19th century to present times. It has an eye-catching collection of [[Avant-garde]] art, from the Post-Impressionism of [[Paul Gauguin]] to [[Pop art]] and the expressionism of [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]].

The Basque Museum showcases Basque archaeology and ethnography, and holds frequent exhibitions in the area of Basque history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basque Museum|url=http://www.euskal-museoa.org/es/hasiera/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731183129/http://www.euskal-museoa.org/es/hasiera|archive-date=31 July 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The museum building itself is part of the heritage listing ''[[Conjunto histórico]]''. The city also has several specialised museums, like the Maritime Museum Estuary of Bilbao (''Bilboko Itsasadarra Itsas Museoa''), located next to the [[Estuary of Bilbao]], which holds ships and other collection related to the region's fishing and shipbuilding culture, being particularly relevant the ''Carola'' crane, last remaining element of the [[Euskalduna]] shipyard that existed where the museum now stands.

Other relevant museums are the Biscayan Archeological Museum (''Arkeologi Museoa'') which holds important collections related to the region's prehistory,<ref name="Bilbao museums">{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/es/rutas-museos/ |title=Routes and Museums |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=8 September 2018 |archive-date=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615125911/http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/es/rutas-museos |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Diocesan Museum of Religious Art (''Eleiz Museoa''), both located in the [[Casco Viejo]] quarter.

=== Music ===
[[File:Bilbao - Euskalduna 6.JPG|thumb|right|The Euskalduna Concert Hall]]
The [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall|Euskalduna Concert Hall]] is home to frequent musical performances and it is home of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra (''[[Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa]]'') and the opera season programmed by the ABAO (Bilbao Association of Friends of the Opera). The Arriaga Theatre is frequently the host of numerous musical events, other notable stages include the Philharmonic Society of Bilbao (chamber music) and Bilborock (pop and rock music). The city hosts many different musical festivities, often funded by the city hall. Due to its scope, it is especially relevant the [[Bilbao BBK Live]] festival, which has been celebrated every year since 2006 and focuses on Basque, Spanish and international pop and rock music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Noticia_FA&cid=1279180717991&language=es&pageid=3000075248&pagename=Bilbaonet/BIO_Noticia_FA/BIO_Noticia |title=Bilbao BBK Live, international reference for live, open-air music |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=4 July 2018 |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao municipal government |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217062416/http://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Noticia_FA&cid=1279180717991&language=es&pageid=3000075248&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Noticia_FA%2FBIO_Noticia |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the opening of the [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|new San Mamés Stadium]] in 2013, it has been often used as an open-air concert venue, the first ever concert being one from the American band [[Guns N' Roses]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benito |first=Carlos |date=30 May 2017 |title=Guns N'Roses Concert in Bilbao |url=http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/culturas/musica/201705/30/este-primer-gran-concierto-20170530171250.html |work=El Correo |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222056/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/culturas/musica/201705/30/este-primer-gran-concierto-20170530171250.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other relevant music festivals include the ''Bilbao Distrito Jazz'' and the ''Bilbao Ars Sacrum'', the latter dedicated to [[religious music]].

Bilbao is the birthplace of famous composer [[Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga]], who lived his formative years in the city before moving to Paris at age 15. Also native from Bilbao were the [[soprano]] singer Josefa Cruz de Gassier and Natividad Álvarez, nicknamed ''Nati, la bilbainita'' (Spanish for "Nati, the little one from Bilbao") a dancer and [[castanets]] player who achieved national fame in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |last=Álvarez |first=Itsaso |date=16 February 2016 |title=The bilbainita who triumphed with the castanets |url=https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201602/16/bilbainita-triunfo-castanuelas-20160215134651.html |work=El Correo |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185158/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201602/16/bilbainita-triunfo-castanuelas-20160215134651.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Also relevant is the Bilbao Choir Society (''[[Sociedad Coral de Bilbao|Bilboko Koral Elkartea]]''), established in 1866. Important musical bands coming from the city include rock band ''[[Fito & Fitipaldis]]'', Basque [[Folk music|folk]] band ''[[Oskorri]]'' and folk-pop band ''[[Mocedades]]''.

Bilbao hosted the [[2018 MTV Europe Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20181105/452736870981/mtv-ema-2018-bilbao-actuaciones.html|title=Las mejores actuaciones de los MTV Europe Music Awards 2018|date=5 November 2018|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524091928/https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20181105/452736870981/mtv-ema-2018-bilbao-actuaciones.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Festivals and events ===
{{see also|Aste Nagusia}}
[[File:Larunbata20-87-bilbokokonpartsak.jpg|thumb|right|''Marijaia'' and the ''{{lang|es|konpartsak}}'' during the ''Aste Nagusia'', with ''[[Gigantes y cabezudos]]'' in the background]]

Bilbao hosts several regular festivals and events. The most relevant is the Big Week of the city (''[[Aste Nagusia]]''), celebrated annually since 1978 and lasting nine days. It is the city's main festival, attracting over 1,500,000 people every year.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.elcorreo.com/aste-nagusia-bilbao/aburto-balance-positivo-20180826133531-nt.html
 |title        = Aburto hace un balance 'muy positivo' de Aste Nagusia y cifra en cuatro las agresiones sexuales
 |language     = es
 |work         = El Correo
 |date         = 26 August 2018
 |access-date  = 26 August 2018
 |archive-date = 27 August 2018
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075326/https://www.elcorreo.com/aste-nagusia-bilbao/aburto-balance-positivo-20180826133531-nt.html
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> The festivities begin on the first Saturday before 22 August, and during those nine days the city hall organises a series of cultural events of diverse kind, including concerts, stage plays, [[Basque rural sports]] and [[Spanish-style bullfighting|bullfighting]], as well as nightly firework displays. The festivities begin with the ''chupinazo'' or ''txupinazo'', which is the launch of a small rocket, and the reading of a proclamation by the festivities' herald. The central point of the festivities is the place around the ''txosnas'', where the different ''[[Comparsa|konpartsak]]'' are reunited, organised by neighbourhood associations as well as cultural, social and political groups. The symbol of the festivities is ''Marijaia'', a large doll which is burned during the last day of celebrations.

Beyond the main festivities of the ''Aste Nagusia'', the city also celebrates some minor festivities, many of them religious in nature, such as [[Agatha of Sicily|Saint Agatha]] on 5 February, the celebrations of [[Our Lady of Begoña]] on 11 October, the Day of [[Thomas the Apostle]] on 21 December and the Christmas festivities, centred around the figure of [[Olentzero]]. There are also festivities in the different neighbourhoods and districts which are celebrated locally, such as the ''Fiestas del Carmen'' in Santutxu and Indautxu, ''Fiestas Santiago'' in Bilbao la Vieja, ''Fiestas San Ignacio'' in San Inazio and ''Fiestas San Roque'' in Arxtanda and Larraskitu.

The city also hosts the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film under the commercial name of Zinebi. It was first held in 1959 under the name International Festival of Ibero-American and Filipino Documentary Film of Bilbao, with the goal of being complementary to the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]]. Since 1981 it is organised by the city hall and takes place in the Arriaga Theatre. Bilbao is also the host of the SAIL in Festival, a yearly event centred exclusively around sailing, which brings together international representatives of this sport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kulturklik.euskadi.eus/evento/2018022111025172/sail-in-festival-2018/kulturklik/es/z12-detalle/es/ |title=SAIL in Festival 2018 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=kulturklik |date=21 February 2018 |publisher=Basque Autonomous Government |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185603/http://www.kulturklik.euskadi.eus/evento/2018022111025172/sail-in-festival-2018/kulturklik/es/z12-detalle/es/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{see also|Basque cuisine}}
[[File:Bacalao Vizcaina (Marugán).jpg|thumb|right|Biscayan-style cod]]
Traditional Bilbao dishes are centred around products from the sea and the estuary, such as [[European eel|eels]] and [[Atlantic cod|cod]]. For the most part Bilbao shares its original gastronomy with that of the province of [[Biscay]], including dishes such as ''bacalao al pil pil'' (cod fish cooked with olive oil, garlic and guindilla peppers), ''bacalao a la vizcaína'' (salted cod with Biscayan sauce, mostly made of ''choricero'' peppers and onions), ''merluza en salsa verde'' (hake fish with [[green sauce]]), ''chipirones en su tinta'' ([[Squid as food|squid]] served with [[Cephalopod ink|its own ink]]), ''morros a la vizcaína'' (beef snouts with Biscayan sauce), ''revuelto de perretxikos'' (scrambled eggs with mushrooms) and desserts such as ''canutillos de Bilbao'' (puff pastries filled with custard or chocolate), ''[[Pantxineta]]'' (puff pastries filled with custard and almonds), [[rice cake]]s and ''bollos de mantequilla'' (butter buns).

Bilbao, as other [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque]] cities, is known for a variety of appetizers and snacks, being prominent among them the ''[[Pincho|pintxos]]'', which are typically eaten in bars and that consist of small slices of bread on top of which is placed an ingredient or mixture of ingredients, generally of many different types and usually including elements typical of Basque cuisine. Other snacks include ''rabas'' (fried or battered calamari rings, usually served with lemon slices), [[Spanish omelette]] (omelette made with eggs and potatoes, sometimes including onions and peppers), ''{{lang|es|txampis}}'' (stuffed mushrooms), ''triángulos'' (Bilbao-style sandwiches),<ref>{{cite news |last=Basabe |first=Nere |date=27 November 2013 |title=Culto a los triángulos de Bilbao |url=https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2013/11/19/actualidad/1384888329_411290.html |work=El País |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185119/https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2013/11/19/actualidad/1384888329_411290.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''gildas'' (one or more olives, a ''guindilla'' pepper and an anchovy joined together with a toothpick).

As for beverages, typical from the region is the ''[[txakoli]]'', a [[white wine]] usually drunk as an [[Apéritif and digestif|apéritif]]. Biscayan ''txakoli'' (''[[Bizkaiko Txakolina]]'') is a protected {{Lang|es|[[Denominación de origen]]}} for the white wine produced in the province of Biscay and it is usually served in Bilbao. Also typical are [[cider]], ''[[patxaran]]'' ([[sloe]]-flavoured liqueur) and [[Rioja (wine)|''Rioja'' wine]].

There are many restaurants and bars who serve these dishes and beverages, especially around the [[Casco Viejo]] quarter. ''[[Txoko]]s'' are also a very popular institution in Bilbao, as in other Basque cities and towns. Bilbao, and the province of Biscay as a whole, is one of the spanish cities with a greater number of recognized restaurants by the gastronomic guides, among them several Michelin-starred restaurants.

=== Language ===

The Spanish language is the most used language of the city, followed by the [[Basque language]], which is local to the region. The presence of Basque in the city is less prominent than in other municipalities of the region, such as [[Bermeo]] or [[Lekeitio]]. In 1986, the bilingual Basque-speaking population represented about 28% of the total. However, the number of Basque speakers has experienced a continuous increase since, reaching a figure of 37% in 2001.<ref name="Basque language">{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/euskera.pdf |title=Linguistic competence of the Bilbao population older than 5 years. |author=<!--Not stated--> |year=2001 |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=20 October 2008 |archive-date=1 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001170837/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/euskera.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> More than half of the Basque speakers were younger than 30 and lived in the districts of Deusto, Begoña and Abando.<ref name="Basque language" />

According to the data from the 2016 census, the population older than 2 years old registered in the municipality of Bilbao who speaks Basque fluently represents 29% of the total population, while those who can speak it with difficulty represent around 19.95% of the total. Finally, those who cannot speak or understand the language represent the remaining 51.06% of the census.

{| class="wikitable left" style="text-align:right;"
|+Evolution of the Basque-speaking population<ref name="Basque language" /><ref>"Linguistic competence in the capitals", in ''[http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/argitalpenak/es_6092/adjuntos/MAPAcast.pdf 4th Social-Linguistic Map. 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605100618/http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/argitalpenak/es_6092/adjuntos/MAPAcast.pdf |date=5 June 2014 }}''. [[Basque Government]] (2009).</ref>
!Group!!1981!!1986!!1991!!1996!!2001!!2006!!2011!!2016
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Bilinguals''''': Able to understand and speak both Basque and Spanish||23.430||33.181||34.429||49.519||51.302||80.903||78.727||97.287
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Passive bilinguals''''': Able to understand Basque but cannot speak it, while able to understand and speak Spanish||47.288||63.598||65.925||66.797||71.189||63.404||96.774||67.004
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Spanish monolinguals''''': Unable to understand or speak Basque, only Spanish
||296.703||266.045||255.210||229.336||212.485||190.483||166.869||171.441
|- style="background:#efefef;"
|align=left|'''Population'''||'''367.421'''||'''362.824'''||'''355.564'''||'''345.652'''||'''334.976'''||'''334.790'''||'''342.370'''||'''335.732'''
|}