Guimarães is considered the birthplace of the Portuguese nation, the site where the country was founded in the 9. century. The programme consisted of four elements – city, community, thought and arts, with approximately 600 cultural events.

The theme for Maribor's European Capital of Culture was "pure energy", referring to the fact that the region covered most of Slovenia's energy resources and it was linked to Maribor's aim to build up energy in the coming years leading to a cultural explosion in 2012.