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Designated European Capitals of Culture

    European Capitals of Culture have already been designated until the title year 2027 and they are as follows:

    • 2024: Bad Ischl (Austria), Tartu (Estonia) and Bodø (Norway)
    • 2025: Chemnitz (Germany) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
    • 2026: Oulu (Finland) and Trenčín (Slovakia)
    • 2027: Liepāja (Latvia) and Évora (Portugal)

    Ongoing competitions for future Capitals of Culture

    Competitions are running for title-years 2028 and 2029.

    2028 competitions

    In 2028, 3 cities will hold the title of European Capitals of Culture in the Czech Republic, France and in an EFTA/EEA country, a candidate country or a potential candidate to EU membership. The competition started in August 2021 in the Czech Republic, and in December 2021 in France and for cities from non-EU Member States.

    Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic held its pre-selection meeting on 12-14 October 2022, with 2 cities short-listed:

    • Broumov
    • České Budějovice (Budweis)

    The final selection meeting will take place between 29 and 30 June 2023.

    EFTA/EEA country, a candidate country or a potential candidate

    The pre-selection meeting for the competition between cities in an EFTA/EEA country, a candidate country or a potential candidate took place on 16 December, with the following 2 cities short-listed:

    • Budva
    • Skopje

    The final selection meeting will take place between 19 and 20 September 2023.

    France

    France had its pre-selection meeting between 28 February and 3 March 2023, with 4 cities short-listed:

    • Bourges
    • Clermont-Ferrand
    • Montpellier
    • Rouen

    The final selection meeting in France will take place between 11 and 13 December 2023.

    2029 competitions

    In 2029, Poland and Sweden will both host a European Capital of Culture. Poland published its call in October 2022 and plans to have its pre-selection meeting in October 2023. Sweden published its call in December 2022 and will convene its per-selection meeting in early 2024.

    How to apply

    Competitions are organised at the national level with the publication of a call for submission of applications by the responsible authority (usually the national Ministry of Culture).

    This new framework was amended in September 2017 by another Decision of the European Parliament and the Council.

    This decision makes it possible for cities in EU candidate countries, potential candidates  or members of the European Free Trade Association party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (so-called EFTA/EEA countries) to hold the title in 2021, 2024, 2028, 2030 and 2033.

    These cities are selected through an 'open competition', meaning that cities from various countries may compete with each other.

    Cities wishing to hold the European Capitals of Culture title should await the announcement of a competition in their own country, and then complete and submit a bid in response to the call for applications published.

    List of European Capitals of Culture

    Select a year

    How to display the capitals

    Results: 21 results
    2028

    Czech Republic, France and EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries and potential candidates

    European Capitals of Culture 2028

    2027

    Latvia and Portugal

    European Capitals of Culture 2027

    Liepaja, 2027 European Capital of Culture in Latvia
    2026

    Oulu and Trenčín

    2026 European Capitals of Culture in Finland and Slovakia.

    2025

    Chemnitz and Nova Gorica

    2025 European Capitals of Culture in Germany and Slovenia

    2024

    Bad Ischl, Bodø and Tartu

    2024 European Capitals of Culture in Austria, Norway (EFTA/EEA country) and Estonia.