Panama’s Ministry of Culture has launched a new mobile application designed to serve as a central hub for the country’s cultural events. The MiCultura app, introduced on February 11, 2026, aims to connect both residents and international tourists with a comprehensive calendar of activities. Officials stated the digital platform addresses a critical need for organized information to boost cultural participation and support the creative sector’s economic impact.
The free application aggregates listings for exhibitions, cinema, workshops, competitions, festivals, forums, creative markets, and folkloric events. Arianne Benedetti, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture of Panama (MiCultura), led the presentation. She emphasized the project’s role in making Panama’s cultural offerings more visible and accessible to a growing number of visitors.
“Visitors find the tours, but they do not find the markets, the gastronomy fairs, or the theater plays because they do not know where to look for them nor do they have the necessary information to organize their days,” Benedetti said. [Translated from Spanish]
Benedetti linked the app’s launch directly to a surge in tourism, noting Panama increased its visitor numbers from 1.9 million to 2.8 million in the latest reporting period. This growth creates a pressing demand for a reliable, up-to-date cultural guide. The development of the MiCultura application required an investment of approximately thirty-five thousand dollars.
Data Collection and Economic Impact
Beyond simple event listings, the platform is engineered to gather valuable data on public interests. Ministry officials plan to use this information to demonstrate the financial weight of the cultural sector. This data-driven approach is intended to secure stronger institutional and financial support for creative industries by quantifying their contribution.
Benedetti explained the app will help showcase the economic movement generated by the artistic and cultural economy. The initiative represents a strategic move to formalize and highlight the value of cultural production. It provides metrics that were previously difficult to compile from disparate sources.
“The beauty of this is that it also gives us data to know who is searching and what they are searching for, whether it’s theater or folklore. This will allow us to show the economic movement generated by the artistic and cultural economy,” Benedetti stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The app’s operational model marks a significant shift in how cultural programming is managed. For the first time, the ministry will not be the sole source of content. Instead, it will empower local promoters and creators to directly upload and manage their own event listings, provided they have a set date and location. This decentralized approach aims to make the agenda cultural more dynamic and comprehensive.
Empowering Creatives and Next Steps
A core objective of the MiCultura app is to serve as a direct promotional tool for cultural entrepreneurs. Artisans and event managers can now create and promote their gatherings without waiting for formal institutional contracts. A group of artisans, for example, can organize a local market, list it on the app, and immediately reach an engaged audience.
This functionality addresses a common barrier for small-scale cultural operators who lack marketing resources. By democratizing access to a national platform, the ministry hopes to stimulate more grassroots cultural activity. The success of this feature will depend on widespread adoption by the creative community.
Panama’s government is clearly betting on technology to strengthen cultural diffusion and dynamize the creative economy. The MiCultura app arrives as a key component of a broader strategy to enhance the nation’s cultural infrastructure. Its launch coincides with ongoing efforts to promote tourism in Panama beyond its traditional canal-centric attractions.
Vice Minister Benedetti framed the application as more than just a digital tool. She described it as a gateway to information that can unite events with audiences across the country. The ministry will now focus on driving downloads and encouraging cultural promoters to populate the platform with vibrant, current content. Its effectiveness will be measured by user engagement and the subsequent growth in event attendance nationwide.