The Commission sets out the next chapter for the European Capitals of Culture following more than 40 years of success

The European Commission is renewing and strengthening the framework for the European Capitals of Culture beyond 2033, applying the lessons learnt from more than forty years of experience to the next generation of the programme.

The aim is to simplify the selection process, strengthen the long-term legacy and sustainability planning, and facilitate joint applications from groups of cities, including cross-border partnerships. It will also strengthen citizen and youth participation and place greater emphasis on inclusive and sustainable urban development.

With the support of the EU’s Creative Europe programme, four decades of Capitals of Culture have demonstrated the many benefits that a year in the spotlight can bring to a city, ranging from new cultural spaces and creative opportunities for communities and artists to stronger local networks and international visibility.

In the capitals assessed between 2013 and 2022 alone, the programmes recorded 38.5 million visitor attendances, with a typical capital hosting around 1,000 to 1,200 cultural activities during its year as Capital of Culture. In the cities awarded the title, visitor numbers increased by an average of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent.

A European cultural success story since 1985

Launched in 1985, the European Capitals of Culture initiative began with Athens and has since travelled through cities, regions and outlying areas across Europe.

Since its inception, there have been 85 holders of the European Capital of Culture title. Oulu (Finland) and Trenčín (Slovakia) currently hold the title, with Évora (Portugal) and Liepāja (Latvia) set to follow in 2027.

What lasts beyond the year of the title?

Across Europe, the initiative’s legacy has taken various forms. Lille 2004 helped transform former industrial spaces into a network of cultural venues and created the ongoing momentum for Lille3000. Aarhus 2017 involved all 19 municipalities in the Central Denmark Region, creating a regional cultural partnership that continued after the title year.

In Košice, former barracks and neighbourhood buildings were transformed into cultural spaces thanks to its 2013 title. More than a decade later, the organisation established by the city continues to manage 13 cultural centres. And in Leeuwarden-Fryslân, the 2018 title gave rise to Arcadia, a recurring cultural programme across the entire province, with another edition planned for 2028.

These experiences form the basis for the next framework: planning earlier for the long term, extending beyond a single city, involving more people and facilitating collaboration between cities and regions.

Reaching beyond Europe

Over the years, the programme has expanded beyond the borders of the European Union. Under the new proposal, third countries participating in or associated with the Creative Europe programme will be eligible to compete for the title from 2034 onwards.

Next steps

The Commission’s proposal will now be negotiated in parallel in the European Parliament and the Council, with a view to reaching agreement on a final text by mid-2027.

 

More information: European Commission