The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) & Ministry of Culture (MoC) jointly issue a Press Release on the Palestinian National Culture Day

 

To mark the Palestinian National Culture Day on March 13^th, PCBS presents the status of cultural institutions in the West Bank during 2025.

The cultural institution is an institution that includes items (tools and equipment) used for arts, crafts, recreational, and sport activities that promote and preserve culture and facilitate the practice of cultural activities in a broad sense.

The number of cultural centers operating in the West Bank slightly decreased in 2025 compared to the previous year

The number of cultural centers operating in the West Bank decreased from 492 cultural centres in 2024 to 489 cultural centres in 2025.

 

Distribution of Cultural Centers Operating in Palestine by Region for Selected Years

 

*: The data shown do not represent the period of the Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip.

 

The number of cultural activities in the West Bank decreased in 2025 to 4,279 compared to the previous year; 5,788 activities during 2024.

 

Training courses continued to rank first among cultural activities held in cultural centres (about 69% of the activities).

 

Percentage Distribution of Activities Held in Cultural Centres Operating in Palestine by Type of Activity for Selected Years

 

* : Data include activities held in cultural centers in Gaza Strip for the first half of the year

**: Data include the cultural centers in the West Bank only.

99% of participants participated face-to-face in the cultural activities in the West Bank

In 2025, about 251 thousand persons participated in the cultural activities of the operating cultural centers in the West Bank which responded (about 248 thousand participants participated in cultural activities held face-to-face (about 99%)); about 2 thousand participants participated in cultural activities that were held online.

Distribution of Participants in Cultural Activities Held in the West Bank by Method of Holding the Activity, 2025

 

The number of museums visitors in the West Bank decreased by 39% during 2025 compared with 2024

There were 26 museums in the West Bank during 2025, four of them did not respond.

Distribution of Museums Operating in Palestine by Region for Selected Years

*: The data shown do not represent the period of the Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip.

 

The number of visitors to museums in the West Bank that provided data reached about 49 thousand visitors in 2025: 88% were Palestinians and 12% of them are from other nationalities. Results showed that the largest number of visitors was in April with about 8 thousand visitors, while the lowest number was in February with 2 thousand visitors. 

 

Distribution of Museum Visitors in Palestine by Region for Selected Years

* : Data include museum visitors in Gaza Strip for the first half of the year

 

The number of Theater Plays in the West Bank increased during 2025 compared with 2024

There were 15 operating Theaters in the West Bank during 2025, one of them did not respond.

 

Distribution of Theaters Operating in Palestine by Region for Selected Years

*: The data shown do not represent the period of the Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip

 

306 plays were performed in the West bank in 2025; out of which 204 plays were for children, 45 plays were for adults and 57 plays were for both children and adults. There were about 33 thousand Theater attendees, where the highest number was in December with about 6 thousand attendees, while the lowest number was in January with 835 attendees only.

Distribution of Theater Plays in Palestine by Region for Selected Years

* : Data include theater plays in Gaza Strip for the first half of the  year

Notice for users: (..): means data are not available.

 

In 2025, the Ministry of Culture also implemented a range of cultural activities in Palestine and the diaspora, which were as follows:

 

Ø  West Bank:

1.       During the year 2025, the Ministry of Culture implemented 1,600 events and activities in various governorates.

2.       Organizing 9 cultural conferences.

3.       Launching 7 competitions and prizes.

4.       Organizing 26 local show in literature and arts.

5.       The State of Palestine's participation in 7 international book shows.

6.       Publishing 10 literary works.

7.       Organizing 7 arts festivals.

8.       Updating the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which now contains 89 heritage elements.

9.       Registering new heritage elements such as Koffiyeh, Nool, and Hebron date on the ISESCO list.

 

Ø  Gaza Strip:

The Ministry of Culture Gaza Strip played an important role in developing the cultural infrastructure, and launching a number of initiatives, it implemented 30 cultural events and activities.

 

Ø  Cultural Fund:

·         Launch of 10th round of Cultural Fund grants in southern, and northern governorates, 37 cultural projects were supported, the value of the project support amounting about $243 thousands.

·         Launching an exceptional round for the southern governorates (Gaza Strip), 22 cultural projects were supported with a value of $107 thousands.

·         Support for furnishing Tubas Cultural Palace with a value of $100 thousands.

·         Signing support agreement of a €700 thousands with Ministry of Finance to support the cultural sector, funded by the European Union.

** The Sources:

1.     Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 2026. Database of Comprehensive Survey on Cultural Centers, Museums and Theaters in the West Bank, 2025. Ramallah-Palestine.

2.     Ministry of Culture 2026. Directorate of Planning & Project Management. Database of Administrative Records, 2025. Ramallah – Palestine.