Mudec museum tender in Milan receives no bids

The public tender organized by the City of Milan to find a new manager for the Mudec (Museum of Cultures) has ended without any offers. The bidding process, which closed on September 28, sought a concessionaire for an eight-year period with an estimated total value exceeding 84 million euros.

The tender covered an integrated management model including exhibition programming, maintenance, and commercial services such as catering, the bookshop, and parking. The current operator, 24 Ore Cultura, which has managed the museum since its opening in 2015, chose not to participate in the new tender. Their existing contract is set to expire in March 2027.

Industry operators raised concerns regarding the economic and financial sustainability of the proposed plan. Specifically, doubts were expressed about the disproportion between projected revenues and expected operating margins, given the business risks involved in managing the entire complex. The City of Milan must now evaluate administrative options to ensure management continuity beyond 2027.