The new regulation, published in the Diário da República (Official Gazette), brings major changes to how the sector is supported. The most important change is an annual adjustment for four-year financial support, which will now be linked to the inflation rate.

This adjustment, which cultural stakeholders have requested for a long time, will apply to renewals starting in 2027. The adjustment is based on the year-on-year change in the Consumer Price Index for the previous September, as determined by the National Statistics Institute (INE), and is capped at 2%.

There is a transitional rule for organisations from the 2023–2026 cycle. It ensures that the 125 entities eligible for renewal in 2027–2030 will receive the adjustment. At the same time, there is a financial cap of €450,000 per beneficiary for total support in 2026.

The legislation also expands the list of supported disciplines. Comic books, traditional arts and crafts, and digital arts are now included, along with fields like architecture, visual arts, design, photography, new media, contemporary circus, street arts, dance, music, and theatre.

The new law creates three specific funding programs. One supports emerging creators and debut works, helping young people with artistic training start their careers. Another, the External Cultural Action program, focuses on internationalisation, mobility, and cooperation in the CPLP region. The third program supports the Portuguese Contemporary Art Network (RPAC), aiming to strengthen visual arts, spread cultural activities across the country, and reduce regional differences.

The new rules also introduce criteria for territorial differentiation. This means minimum funding amounts or quotas can be set by geographic area to help promote national cohesion.

The new model gives priority to applications from organisations that offer permanent jobs and take steps to prevent workplace harassment and violence. The Council of Ministers approved these changes after a public consultation. At the same time, the 2027–2028 call for applications under the Sustained Support Program has been rescheduled. The program’s total budget is €39.2 million.