# Madrid Ideas Festival sponsorship controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/madrid-ideas-festival-sponsorship-controversy
> Updated: 2026-09-30T01:06:20.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Participants of the Festival de las Ideas de Madrid, including film director Rodrigo Sorogoyen, demanded that the Círculo de Bellas Artes remove the German insurance company Allianz as a sponsor. The movement was driven by allegations that Allianz is a cooperating entity with Israel and is “complicit in the killings in Gaza.”

Following threats of a boycott from approximately thirty participants, Allianz withdrew its sponsorship from the event. In response to the controversy, the Mayor of Madrid, Martínez Almeida, accused the organizers of censorship and suggested that the city council might reconsider its support for the festival.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-30: Madrid Festival participants demand removal of Allianz sponsorship

Participants at the Festival de las Ideas de Madrid are demanding the Círculo de Bellas Artes remove Allianz as a sponsor due to the company's ties to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madrid-festival-participants-demand-removal-of-allianz-sponsorship

### 2026-09-23: Allianz withdraws sponsorship from Madrid Ideas Festival

Allianz has withdrawn its sponsorship from the Festival de las Ideas de Madrid following boycott threats from participants over the company's ties to Israel.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/allianz-withdraws-sponsorship-from-madrid-ideas-festival-1

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Cite as: Madrid Ideas Festival sponsorship controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/madrid-ideas-festival-sponsorship-controversy