After ten years of absence, the country is once again placing its artistic habits and consumption under the microscope. The Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) has officially launched the 2025–2026 National Culture Survey, a large-scale study designed to update the “snapshot” of Costa Ricans’ cultural behavior.

This study is considered a vital tool for the design of public policies, as it makes it possible to understand how, where, and on what the population invests its time and resources in terms of entertainment, education, and the preservation of traditions.

Institutional and Technical Support

The implementation of this survey has the full backing of the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ), under the technical and methodological direction of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). This strategic alliance ensures that data collection meets the highest standards of statistical rigor and international comparability.

The project is driven by the MCJ’s Culture and Economy Unit and is supported by the various institutions affiliated with the Ministry, with the aim that the final results serve as a basis for better distribution of public resources allocated to the sector.

Scope and Research Topics

Data collection, which began its field phase at the end of 2025 and continues through the first quarter of 2026, includes visits to more than 6,200 households across the national territory. The main areas of inquiry include:

• Consumption Habits: Attendance at cinemas, concerts, theaters, and museums.
• Identity and Traditions: Knowledge and practice of traditional cuisine, legends, and local festivities.
• Digital Culture: Use of social media, music streaming consumption, video games, and internet access as a cultural medium.
• Artistic Training: Formal and non-formal education in arts and crafts.

Safety for Citizens

Given the presence of surveyors in communities, the MCJ has emphasized that all personnel are properly identified with official ID badges, institutional vests, and electronic tablets for data collection.

Authorities remind the public that the information provided is confidential and protected by national law under statistical secrecy, and is used solely for overall analysis purposes. Citizens may verify the identity of surveyors by calling the official number 2220-4101.

Toward a Data-Driven 2026

Preliminary results of this major national consultation are expected to be presented by mid-2026. With this data, Costa Rica will be able to answer fundamental questions about the democratization of culture and the effectiveness of current programs, ensuring that the national budget aligns with the real needs of the country’s diverse regions.