This decision by the municipal government, led by María José Catalá, has been described by Compromís councilor, Pere Fuset, as a new episode in the deteriorating relationship with Valencia's creative sector. According to Fuset, the council has chosen to turn its back on the Valencian design community, denying them representation and participation in a key process for the city's image.
“"The government of María José Catalá has definitively decided to turn its back on the Valencian design sector and exclude its representatives, denying them representation and participation."
This controversy is not new. In the summer of 2025, the management of the Gran Fira's graphic image drew criticism from entities such as ADCV, APIV, and ComunitAD, who denounced the lack of communication and guarantees in the process. A second similar episode occurred with the selection of the Fallas 2026 poster, when the City Council also modified the jury's composition, replacing sector professionals with representatives of Fallas groups and profiles designated by the council itself.
These situations reflect a growing estrangement between the council and design professionals, who have demanded greater respect for technical criteria and the participation of their entities. Fuset added that the current PP and Vox government is completing a deliberate exclusion operation, which he considers "revenge" for the sector's demands. This policy, according to the councilor, has already had consequences, with a significant drop in the participation of designers, illustrators, and publicists in graphic image calls for Valencia's festivities.
“"It is very serious that a Valencia that has been World Design Capital has, in such a short time, with PP and Vox in government, marginalized its own professionals."
