Institutions closed abruptly on 9 September and remained closed on 10 September; after negotiations behind closed doors, they reopened on 11 September. It was created in 2015, under the ministry of culture, to centralise cultural policy after years under the ministry of education. Budget cuts—including a projected 20% reduction for INBAL in 2026 —along with longstanding structural issues, have weakened the ministry of culture. On September 9, the culture ministry announced an increase in museum fees for 2026, sparking controversy before clarifying that it will apply only to non-residents and INAH sites. “There is a talent drain from INBAL due to excruciating working conditions impacting physical and mental health,” says a source who experienced such conditions firsthand.