The new cultural capitals of Europe next year will be Timisoara in Romania, Elefsina in Greece, and Veszprém in Hungary. This year they will receive the relay from the means of Esch (Luxembourg), Kaunas (Lithuania), and Novi Sad (Serbia).
Currently, the European capitals of culture until 2026 are known. Next year it will be Bad Ischl in Austria, Tartu in Estonia, and Bude in Norway. The German city of Chemnitz and the Slovenian Nova Gorica will become the cultural centers of Europe in 2025.
Next year there will be two cultural capitals of Europe – Oulu in Finland and Trencin in Slovakia. The Latvian city of Liepaja is awaiting an official decision from the national authorities that it will host guests in 2027. Portugal has to choose another cultural capital of Europe in the same year from among the candidates Aveiro, Braga, Évora, and Ponta Delgada.
The European Capital of Culture initiative, created in 1985, puts culture in the spotlight of European cities through year-round financial support for cultural and artistic events.
Its purpose is to show the richness and diversity of Europe’s cultures, support the contribution of culture to the development of cities, popularize them, encourage tourism, and provoke both residents and all Europeans to feel a sense of belonging to a shared cultural environment, explains the press service of the European Commission.