Oulu and Trenčín will be the European Capitals of Culture in 2026

The cities of Oulu in Finland and Trenčín in Slovakia have been designated as European Capitals of Culture 2026, set to host cultural events supported by the European Commission throughout the year and to receive the Melina Mercouri Prize.

The European Union has announced that Oulu and Trenčín will hold the title of European Capitals of Culture in 2026, in an initiative that combines cultural policy with local development and the promotion of European diversity.

In short:

Oulu and Trenčín are the European Capitals of Culture 2026.

Oulu will officially open the program in January 2026, Trenčín in February.

Both cities will receive the Melina Mercouri Prize, worth 1.5 million euros.

The initiative is supported through the Creative Europe program.

According to the European Commission, the year 2026 will bring two new European Capitals of Culture, located in different regions of the Union. Oulu, in northern Finland, and Trenčín, in western Slovakia, will host cultural programs throughout the year aimed at highlighting European cultural diversity and the role of culture in the development of local communities.

The cultural program of the city of Oulu, which will be inaugurated from January 16 to 18, 2026, is built around the theme "Cultural Climate Change" and addresses global challenges such as climate change and community resilience. Through this theme, the city aims to stimulate reflection on how culture is created, lived, and shared in a Nordic region.

Trenčín will officially open its year as European Capital of Culture from February 13 to 15, 2026, with a program centered on the theme "Awakening Curiosity." The initiative aims to create connections between the past and the future, as well as between heritage, imagination, and reality, by involving local communities and the general public.

The European Commission has announced that the two cities will receive the Melina Mercouri Prize, worth 1.5 million euros each, funded through the Creative Europe program, as recognition of the quality of preparations for the cultural year.

The initiative of the European Capitals of Culture is one of the longest-standing cultural policies of the European Union, having been launched 40 years ago. The title is awarded annually to cities that use culture as a tool for social cohesion, urban regeneration, and economic development, contributing to the strengthening of European identity through long-term impactful cultural projects.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/oulu-si-trencin-vor-fi-capitalele-europene-ale-culturii-in-2026