Designated European Capitals of Culture
European Capitals of Culture already designated:
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2026
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2027
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2028
- Budweis / České Budějovice in the Czech Republic
- Skopje in North Macedonia
- Bourges in France
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2029
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2030
Ongoing competitions for future Capitals of Culture
Competitions are running for 2031:
2031 competitions
In 2031, two cities will hold the title of European Capitals of Culture:
- one in Malta: competition started in October 2025
- one in Spain: competition will start in February 2026
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
Malta, Spain
2031 European Capitals of Culture in Malta and Spain.
Leuven, Larnaka and Nikšić
2030 European Capitals of Culture in Belgium, Cyprus and Montenegro.
Lublin and Kiruna
2029 European Capitals of Culture in Poland and Sweden.
České Budějovice, Bourges and Skopje
2028 European Capitals of Culture in Czechia, France and North Macedonia.
Liepāja and Évora
2027 European Capitals of Culture in Latvia and Portugal.
Oulu and Trenčín
2026 European Capitals of Culture in Finland and Slovakia.
Chemnitz and Nova Gorica
2025 European Capitals of Culture in Germany and Slovenia.
Bad Ischl, Bodø and Tartu
2024 European Capitals of Culture in Austria, Norway (EFTA/EEA country) and Estonia.
Elefsina, Timișoara and Veszprém
2023 European Capitals of Culture
Esch, Kaunas and Novi Sad
2022 European Capitals of Culture in Luxembourg, Lithuania and Serbia (candidate country).
Galway and Rijeka
2020 European Capitals of Culture in Ireland and Croatia.
Matera and Plovdiv
2019 European Capitals of Culture in Italy and Bulgaria.
Leeuwarden and Valletta
2018 European Capitals of Culture in the Netherlands and Malta.
Aarhus and Pafos
2017 European Capitals of Culture in Denmark and Cyprus.
Donostia-San Sebastián and Wrocław
2016 European Capitals of Culture in Spain and Poland.
Mons and Plzeň
2015 European Capitals of Culture in Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Riga and Umeå
2014 European Capitals of Culture in Latvia and Sweden
Košice and Marseille-Provence
2013 European Capitals of Culture in Slovakia and France.
Guimarães and Maribor
2012 European Capitals of Culture in Portugal and Slovenia.
Tallinn and Turku
2011 European Capitals of Culture in Estonia and Finland
Essen, Pécs and Istanbul
2010 European Capitals of Culture in Germany, Hungary and Turkey (third country).
Linz and Vilnius
2009 European Capitals of Culture in Austria and Lithuania.
Liverpool and Stavanger
2008 European Capitals of Culture in the United Kingdom and Norway (third country).
Luxembourg and Sibiu
2007 European Capitals of Culture in Luxembourg and Romania.
Patras
2006 European Capital of Culture in Greece.
Cork
2005 European Capital of Culture in Ireland.
Genoa and Lille
2004 European Capitals of Culture in Italy and France.
Graz
2003 European Capital of Culture in Austria.
Bruges and Salamanca
2002 European Capitals of Culture in Belgium and Spain.
Porto and Rotterdam
2001 European Capitals of Culture in Portugal and the Netherlands.
Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Helsinki, Kraków, Prague, Reykjavík and Santiago de Compostela
2000 European Capitals of Culture in France, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Iceland and Spain.
Weimar
1999 European Capital of Culture in Germany.
Stockholm
1998 European Capital of Culture in Sweden.
Thessaloniki
1997 European Capital of Culture in Greece.
Copenhagen
1996 European Capital of Culture in Denmark.
Luxembourg
1995 European Capital of Culture in Luxembourg.
Lisbon
1994 European Capital of Culture in Portugal.
Antwerp
1993 European Capital of Culture in Belgium.
Madrid
1992 European Capital of Culture in Spain.
Dublin
1991 European Capital of Culture in Ireland.
Glasgow
1990 European Capital of Culture in the United Kingdom.
Paris
1989 European Capital of Culture in France.
West Berlin
1988 European Capital of Culture in Germany.
Amsterdam
1987 European Capital of Culture in the Netherlands.
Florence
1986 European Capital of Culture in Italy.
Athens
1985 European Capital of Culture in Greece.
