View source for Place:European Capital of Culture

{{Short description|Cities recognized by the European Union as culturally significant for Europe}}
[[File:European_Capital_of_Culture.svg|right|thumb|The logo used by European Commission for European Capital of Culture]]
A '''European Capital of Culture''' is a city designated by the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. Being a European Capital of Culture can be an opportunity for a city to generate considerable cultural, social, and economic benefits, and it can help foster urban regeneration, change the city's image, and raise its visibility and profile on an international scale. Multiple cities can be a European Capital of Culture simultaneously.

In 1985, Melina Mercouri, Greece's Minister of Culture, and her {{wipe|France}} counterpart Jack Lang came up with the idea of designating an annual City of Culture to bring Europeans closer together by highlighting the richness and diversity of European cultures and raising awareness of their common history and values.

The Commission of the European Union manages the title, and each year the [[Organization:Council of the European Union|Council of Ministers of the European Union]] formally designates European Capitals of Culture: more than 40 cities have been designated so far. The current European Capitals of Culture for 2024 are Tartu in Estonia, Bad Ischl in Austria and Bodø in {{wipe|Norway}}.

== Selection process ==
[[File:Melina Mercouri (1985).jpg|thumb|150px|Melina Mercouri]]
An international panel of cultural experts is in charge of assessing the proposals of cities for the title according to criteria specified by the European Union.

For two of the capitals each year, eligibility is open to cities in EU member states only. From 2021 and every three years thereafter, a third capital will be chosen from cities in countries that are candidates or potential candidates for membership, or in countries that are part of the European Economic Area (EEA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014D0445&from=EN |date=3 May 2014 |access-date=24 November 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221010255/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014D0445&from=EN |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/sites/creative-europe/files/capitals-culture-candidates-guide_en.pdf |title=European Capitals of Culture 2020 to 2033 — A guide for cities preparing to bid |publisher=European Commission |access-date=24 November 2017 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603064047/https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/sites/creative-europe/files/capitals-culture-candidates-guide_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>– an example of the latter being Stavanger, {{wipe|Norway}}, which was a European Capital of Culture in 2008.

A 2004 study conducted for the Commission, known as the "Palmer report", demonstrated that the choice of European Capital of Culture served as a catalyst for cultural development and the transformation of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Robert |title=European Cities and Capitals of Culture |url=http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/documents/ecoc/cap-part1_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405174502/http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/documents/ecoc/cap-part1_en.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2015 |website=ec.europa.eu}}
Study prepared for the European Commission</ref> Consequently, the beneficial socio-economic development and impact for the chosen city are now also considered in determining the chosen cities.

Bids from five {{wipe|United Kingdom}} cities to be the 2023 Capital of Culture were disqualified in November 2017, because the UK was planning to leave the EU before 2023.<ref name="BBC-42095477">{{cite web|title=Brexit blow to UK 2023 culture crown bids|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-42095477|website=BBC News|access-date=23 November 2017|date=23 November 2017|archive-date=26 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326214722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-42095477|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
The European Capital of Culture programme was initially called the European City of Culture and was conceived in 1983, by Melina Mercouri, then serving as minister of culture in Greece. Mercouri believed that at the time, culture was not given the same attention as politics and economics and a project for promoting European cultures within the member states should be pursued. The European City of Culture programme was launched in the summer of 1985 with [[Place:Athens|Athens]] being the first title-holder.<ref>Kiran Klaus Patel, ed., The Cultural Politics of Europe: European Capitals of Culture and European Union since the 1980s (London: Routledge, 2013)</ref> In 1999, the European City of Culture program was renamed to European Capital of Culture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History – UNeECC|url=https://uneecc.org/european-capitals-of-culture/history/|access-date=2021-02-25|language=en-US|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717134431/https://uneecc.org/european-capitals-of-culture/history/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== List of European Capitals of Culture ==

[[File:Tartu Raekoda 2012.jpg|right|thumb|Tartu (Estonia), the European Capital of Culture for 2024]]
[[File:Bad Ischl and Traun River.jpg|right|thumb|Bad Ischl (Austria), the European Capital of Culture for 2024]]
[[File:Bodø havn 3.JPG|right|thumb|Bodø (Norway), the European Capital of Culture for 2024]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+European Capitals of Culture
! Year !! # !! City !! Country !! Notes/Links
|-
| 1985 || || [[Place:Athens|Athens]] || {{Flag|Greece}} ||
|-
| 1986 || || [[Place:Florence|Florence]] || {{Flag|Italy}} ||
|-
| 1987 || || [[Place:Amsterdam|Amsterdam]] || {{Flag|Netherlands}} ||
|-
| 1988 || || West Berlin || {{Flag|West Germany}}  || [[Place:Berlin|Berlin]] since German reunification in 1990
|-
| 1989 || || [[Place:Paris|Paris]] || {{Flag|France}} ||
|-
| 1990 || || Glasgow || {{nowrap|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}}} ||Glasgow Garden Festival
|-
| 1991 || || [[Place:Dublin|Dublin]] || {{Flag|Ireland}} ||
|-
| 1992 || || [[Place:Madrid|Madrid]] || {{Flag|Spain}} ||
|-
| 1993 || || Antwerp || {{Flag|Belgium}}||
|-
| 1994 || || [[Place:Lisbon|Lisbon]] || {{Flag|Portugal}} ||
|-
| 1995 || || [[Place:Luxembourg City|Luxembourg City]] || {{Flag|Luxembourg}} ||
|-
| 1996 || || [[Place:Copenhagen|Copenhagen]] || {{Flag|Denmark}} ||
|-
| 1997 || || [[Place:Thessaloniki|Thessaloniki]] || {{Flag|Greece}} ||
|-
| 1998 || || [[Place:Stockholm|Stockholm]] || {{Flag|Sweden}}||
|-
| 1999 || || Weimar || {{Flag|Germany}} ||
|-
| rowspan=9| 2000 || || Avignon || {{Flag|France}}|| rowspan=9| The year 2000 was called the millennium year and treated in a special way, in order to emphasize the enduring heritage and contribution of European cities to world culture and civilization. Because of that, nine locations were chosen, including two cities of states that were to join the EU on 1 May 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Association of European Cities of Culture of the Year 2000 – KRAKOW THE OPEN CITY|url=https://www.krakow.pl/krakow_open_city/international_organisations/8370,artykul,association_of_european_cities_of_culture_of_the_year_2000.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=krakow.pl|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301081559/https://www.krakow.pl/krakow_open_city/international_organisations/8370,artykul,association_of_european_cities_of_culture_of_the_year_2000.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| || Bergen || {{Flag|Norway}}
|-
| || Bologna || {{Flag|Italy}}
|-
| || Brussels || {{Flag|Belgium}}
|-
| || [[Place:Helsinki|Helsinki]] || {{Flag|Finland}}
|-
| || Kraków || {{Flag|Poland}}
|-
| || [[Place:Prague|Prague]] || {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|-
| || [[Place:Reykjavík|Reykjavík]] || {{Flag|Iceland}}
|-
| || Santiago de Compostela || {{Flag|Spain}}
|-
| rowspan=2|2001 || || Rotterdam || {{Flag|Netherlands}} ||
|-
| || Porto || {{Flag|Portugal}}||
|-
| rowspan=2|2002 || || Bruges || {{Flag|Belgium}}||
|-
| || Salamanca || {{Flag|Spain}} ||
|-
| 2003 || || [[Place:Graz|Graz]] || {{Flag|Austria}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2004 || || Genoa || {{Flag|Italy}}||
|-
| || Lille || {{Flag|France}}||
|-
| 2005 || || Cork || {{Flag|Ireland}}||Cork Caucus
|-
| 2006 || || [[Place:Patras|Patras]] || {{Flag|Greece}}||
|-
| rowspan=2|2007 || || Sibiu || {{Flag|Romania}} ||
|-
| || [[Place:Luxembourg City|Luxembourg City]] || {{Flag|Luxembourg}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2008 || || Liverpool || {{Flag|United Kingdom}}||
|-
| || Stavanger || {{Flag|Norway}}||
|-
| rowspan=2|2009 || || [[Place:Vilnius|Vilnius]] || {{Flag|Lithuania}}||
|-
| || [[Place:Linz|Linz]] || {{Flag|Austria}}||[https://www.linz09.at/ Linz 2009]
|-
| rowspan=3|2010 || || Essen || {{Flag|Germany}} || Representing the whole Ruhr as Ruhr.2010.
|-
| || Istanbul || {{Flag|Turkey}} ||
|-
| || Pécs || {{Flag|Hungary}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2011 || || Turku || {{Flag|Finland}}||
|-
| || [[Place:Tallinn|Tallinn]] || {{Flag|Estonia}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2012 || || Guimarães || {{Flag|Portugal}}||
|-
| || Maribor || {{Flag|Slovenia}} ||
|-||
| rowspan=2|2013 || || Marseille || {{Flag|France}} || Marseille-Provence 2013 
|-
| || Košice || {{Flag|Slovakia}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2014 || || [[Place:Riga|Riga]] || {{Flag|Latvia}} ||
|-
| || Umeå || {{Flag|Sweden}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2015 || || Mons || {{Flag|Belgium}} ||
|-
| || Plzeň || {{Flag|Czech Republic}} ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2016 || || San Sebastián || {{Flag|Spain}} ||
|-
| || Wrocław || {{Flag|Poland}} || 
|-
| rowspan=2|2017 || || Aarhus || {{Flag|Denmark}} || [http://www.aarhus2017.dk/ Aarhus 2017]
|-
| || Paphos || {{Flag|Cyprus}} || [http://www.pafos2017.eu/ Pafos 2017]
|-
| rowspan=2|2018 || || Leeuwarden || {{Flag|Netherlands}} ||
|-
| || [[Place:Valletta|Valletta]] || {{Flag|Malta}}  || [http://valletta2018.org/ Valletta 2018]
|-
| rowspan=2|2019 || || Matera || {{ITA}} || 
|-
| || [[Place:Plovdiv|Plovdiv]] || {{BGR}} || [http://www.plovdiv2019.eu/ Plovdiv 2019]
|-
| rowspan=2|2020 – April 2021 || || Rijeka || {{HRV}} || [http://www.rijeka2020.eu/ Rijeka 2020]
|-
|  || Galway || {{IRL}} || 
|- 
| rowspan=3|2022 || || [[Place:Kaunas|Kaunas]] || {{LTU}} || [http://kaunas2022.eu/en/ Kaunas 2022]
|- 
| || Esch-sur-Alzette || {{LUX}} || [http://esch2022.lu/ Esch-sur-Alzette 2022]
|- 
| || Novi Sad || {{SRB}} || [http://novisad2022.rs/en/ Novi Sad 2022] ([https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/content/coronavirus-commission-proposes-extension-2020-european-capitals-culture-and-postponement_en Coronavirus postponement])
|- 
| rowspan=3|2023<sup>1</sup> || || Veszprém || {{HUN}} || [https://veszprembalaton2023.hu/en Veszprém 2023]
|- 
| || [[Place:Timișoara|Timișoara]] || {{Flag|Romania}} ||  [https://timisoara2021.ro/ Timișoara 2023] ([https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/content/coronavirus-commission-proposes-extension-2020-european-capitals-culture-and-postponement_en Coronavirus postponement])
|- 
| || Eleusis || {{Flag|Greece}} || [https://2023eleusis.eu/ Eleusis 2023] ([https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/content/coronavirus-commission-proposes-extension-2020-european-capitals-culture-and-postponement_en Coronavirus postponement])
|-bgcolor="#FFFACD"
| rowspan=3|2024 || 1 || Tartu ||{{EST}} || [http://www.tartu2024.ee/en Tartu 2024]
|-bgcolor="#FFFACD"
| 2 || Bad Ischl ||{{AUT}} || [https://www.salzkammergut-2024.at/ Salzkammergut 2024]
|-bgcolor="#FFFACD"
| 3<sup>2</sup> || Bodø ||{{NOR}}|| [https://www.bodo2024.no/ Bodø 2024] 
|-
| rowspan=2|2025 || || Nova Gorica/Gorizia joint bid || {{SVN}} <br /> {{ITA}} || [https://www.go2025.eu/en/ GO! 2025] 
|-
| || Chemnitz || {{DEU}} || [http://www.chemnitz2025.de/ Chemnitz 2025]
|-
| rowspan=2 |2026 || || Trenčín<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trenčín to be the European Capital of Culture 2026 in Slovakia|url=https://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/trencin-to-be-the-european-capital-of-culture-2026-in-slovakia|date=2021-12-10|access-date=2021-12-29|website=europa.eu|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229093203/https://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/trencin-to-be-the-european-capital-of-culture-2026-in-slovakia|url-status=live}}</ref> || {{SVK}} ||  [https://www.trencin2026.sk/ Trenčín 2026]
|-
| || Oulu || {{FIN}} || [https://www.oulu2026.eu/en/frontpage/ Oulu 2026]
|-
| rowspan="2" |2027 || || [[Place:Liepāja|Liepāja]] || {{LVA}} || [https://www.liepaja2027.lv/eng Liepāja 2027]
|-
| || Évora || {{POR}} || [http://www.evora2027.com/ Évora 2027]
|-
| rowspan="3" |2028 || 1|| České Budějovice<ref name="CB-CZ-winner">{{Cite web |title=České Budějovice to be the European Capital of Culture 2028 in the Czech Republic |url=https://culture.ec.europa.eu/news/ceske-budejovice-to-be-the-european-capital-of-culture-2028-in-the-czech-republic|publisher=European Commission |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> || {{CZE}} || [https://www.budejovice2028.eu/en České Budějovice 2028]
|-
| 2|| Bourges<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bourges to be the European Capital of Culture 2028 in France |url=https://culture.ec.europa.eu/news/bourges-to-be-the-european-capital-of-culture-2028-in-france|publisher=European Commission |access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref> || {{FRA}}||[https://www.bourges2028.org Bourges 2028]
|-
|3<sup>2</sup> || [[Place:Skopje|Skopje]] || {{MKD}} || [https://www.skopje2028.mk/ Skopje 2028]
|-
| rowspan=2|2029 || || TBA September 2024<ref name="EU 24-01-2024">{{Cite web |title=Designated European Capitals of Culture |url=https://culture.ec.europa.eu/policies/culture-in-cities-and-regions/designated-capitals-of-culture |work=European Union |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref> || {{POL}} ||shortlisted:<ref>{{cite web |title=Raport z pre-selekcji konkursu o tytuł Europejskiej Stolicy Kultury 2029 |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/kultura/raport-z-pre-selekcji-konkursu-o-tytul-europejskiej-stolicy-kultury-20210 |publisher=Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Poland) |access-date=17 December 2023 |language=pl |date=6 December 2023}}</ref> [https://bb2029.com/ Bielsko-Biała], [https://katowicegzm2029.eu/ Katowice], [https://k2029.eu/ Kołobrzeg], [https://lublin2029.pl/en/ Lublin]
|-
| || TBA || {{SWE}} ||shortlist 21 February 2024<ref name="EU 24-01-2024"/> /<br />potential candidates cities:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweden 2029, only Kiruna and Uppsala are candidates. Why? |url=https://www.ecocnews.com/news/item/582-sweden-2029-only-kiruna-and-uppsala-are-candidates-why |first1=Serafino |last1=Paternoster |work=EcocNews.com |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref> [https://kiruna.se/uppleva--gora/europeisk-kulturhuvudstad-2029.html Kiruna], [https://2029.uppsala.se/ Uppsala]
|-
| rowspan=3|2030 || 1 || TBA || {{CYP}} ||deadline 13 December 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.culture.gov.cy/dmculture/culture.nsf/all/DA08116F26FA6EE6C2258A84002C7172?opendocument |title=Πολιτιστική Πρωτεύουσα της Ευρώπης για το έτος 2030 |website=Cyprus Miinistry of Culture |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2 || TBA || {{BEL}} ||deadline 2 August 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ecoc2030.be/ |title=European Capital Of Culture 2030 Belgium |website=ECOC2030BE |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref> /<br /> potential candidate cities: [https://brussels2030.be/ Brussels]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brussels2030.be/ |title=Let's make Brussels the cultural capital of Europe! |website=Brussels2030}}</ref> [https://www.leuven2030.be/ Leuven],<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.demorgen.be/cultuur/leuven-stelt-zich-kandidaat-als-europese-culturele-hoofdstad-2030-bd3a93cc/| title=Leuven stelt zich kandidaat als Europese Culturele Hoofdstad 2030| work=demorgen.be| date=15 December 2017| access-date=17 December 2017| archive-date=19 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171811/https://www.demorgen.be/cultuur/leuven-stelt-zich-kandidaat-als-europese-culturele-hoofdstad-2030-bd3a93cc/| url-status=live}}</ref> Liège, Kortrijk, [https://visit.gent.be/en/ghent-european-capital-culture-2030 Ghent]
|-
| 3<sup>2</sup> || TBA || TBA || deadline 16 August 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://culture.ec.europa.eu/calls/ecoc-2030 |title=Call for applications for the 2030 European Capital of Culture title for cities in EFTA/EEA countries, in candidate countries and in potential candidates for EU membership |work=European Commission |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|2031 || || TBA || {{MLT}} ||potential candidate cities: Tarxien, Cottonera, Sliema, & Gozo 
|-
| || TBA || {{ESP}} || potential candidate cities: [https://burgos2031.com/ Burgos], Cáceres, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera
|-
| rowspan=2|2032 || || TBA || {{BGR}} ||potential candidate cities: [[Place:Veliko Tarnovo|Veliko Tarnovo]]
|-
| || TBA || {{DEN}} || potential candidate cities: Næstved<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vild plan: Vil gøre Næstved til europæisk kulturhovedstad |date=11 January 2022 |url=https://www.sn.dk/naestved-kommune/vild-plan-vil-goere-naestved-til-europaeisk-kulturhovedstad/ |access-date=8 February 2022 |archive-date=8 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208102643/https://www.sn.dk/naestved-kommune/vild-plan-vil-goere-naestved-til-europaeisk-kulturhovedstad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3|2033 || 1 || TBA || {{NED}} || potential candidate city: Enschede
|-
| 2 || TBA || {{ITA}} ||potential candidate city: [[Place:Turin|Turin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torinoggi.it/2021/04/19/leggi-notizia/argomenti/politica-11/articolo/torino-capitale-europea-della-cultura-nel-2033-il-consiglio-comunale-dice-si-alla-candidatura.html|title=Torino Capitale europea della Cultura nel 2033? Il Consiglio comunale dice "sì" alla candidatura|work=Torino Oggi|date=19 April 2021 |access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421194322/https://www.torinoggi.it/2021/04/19/leggi-notizia/argomenti/politica-11/articolo/torino-capitale-europea-della-cultura-nel-2033-il-consiglio-comunale-dice-si-alla-candidatura.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 3<sup>2</sup> || TBA || TBA ||
|}

<sup>1</sup> The European Capital of Culture was due to be in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}} in 2023. However, due to its decision to leave the European Union, UK cities would no longer be eligible to hold the title after 2019. The European Commission's Scotland office confirmed that this would be the case on 23 November 2017, only one week before the UK was due to announce which city would be put forward.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brady |first=Jon |url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/brexit-destroys-dundees-hopes-european-capital-culture-2023/ |title=Brexit destroys Dundee's hopes of being European Capital of Culture in 2023 |work=Evening Telegraph |date=23 November 2017 |access-date=23 November 2017 |archive-date=23 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123120510/https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/brexit-destroys-dundees-hopes-european-capital-culture-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The candidate cities were Dundee,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lorimer |first=Scott |url=http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/dundee/dundee-sets-sights-on-european-capital-of-culture-bid-1.884745 |title=The latest news and sport from Dundee, Tayside and Fife |work=Evening Telegraph |access-date=25 June 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619100940/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/dundee/dundee-sets-sights-on-european-capital-of-culture-bid-1.884745 |url-status=live }}</ref> Leeds, Milton Keynes,<ref>{{cite web |title=European Capital of Culture |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |url= http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/european-capital-of-culture |website=www.milton-keynes.gov.uk |access-date=12 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606182941/http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/european-capital-of-culture |archive-date=2017-06-06}}</ref> Nottingham and a joint bid from Northern Irish cities of [[Place:Belfast|Belfast]] and Derry and the town of Strabane.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meredith |first1=Robbie |title=NI councils make bid for European Capital of Culture title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40499143 |website=BBC News |access-date=5 July 2017 |date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709131314/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40499143 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<sup>2</sup> A new framework makes it possible for cities in candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, [[Place:Georgia (country)|Georgia]], Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]], {{wipe|Ukraine}}), potential candidates for EU membership (Kosovo) or [[Organization:European Free Trade Association|EFTA]] member states (Iceland, [[Finance:Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]], {{wipe|Norway}}, {{wipe|Switzerland}}) to hold the title every third year as of 2021. This will be selected through an open competition, meaning that cities from various countries may compete with each other.<ref name="EU website">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=6 Feb 2021|title=European Capitals of Culture|url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/content/european-capitals-culture-2026-slovakia_en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302143222/https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/content/european-capitals-culture-2026-slovakia_en|archive-date=2 March 2021|access-date=6 Feb 2021|work=European Union}}</ref>

{{location map+ |European Union |float=center |width=1000 |caption=Locations of European Capitals of Culture.
Green designates current cities; red is for past cities; and blue for future cities. |places=
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=37.966667 |long=23.716667 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Athens|Athens]] |position=right}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=43.783333 |long=11.250000 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Florence|Florence]]|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=52.373056 |long= 4.892222 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Amsterdam|Amsterdam]]|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=52.516667 |long=13.383333 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Berlin|Berlin]] |position=left}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=48.856700 |long= 2.350800 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Paris|Paris]]|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=55.858000 |long=-4.259000 |label_size=75 |label=Glasgow}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=53.347778 |long=-6.259722 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Dublin|Dublin]] |position=left}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=40.400000 |long=-3.683333 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Madrid|Madrid]]}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=51.216667 |long= 4.400000 |label_size=75 |label=Antwerp|position=top}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=59.329444 |long=18.068611 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Stockholm|Stockholm]] |position=left}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=60.389444 |long= 5.33     |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Bergen|Bergen]] |position=left}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=47.066667 |long=15.433333 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Graz|Graz]]}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=48.303056 |long=14.290556 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Linz|Linz]] |position=left}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=51.450833 |long= 7.013056 |label_size=75 |label=Essen}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=41.013611 |long=28.955    |label_size=75 |label=Istanbul}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=46.071111 |long=18.233056 |label_size=75 |label=Pécs}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=59.437222 |long=24.745278 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Tallinn|Tallinn]]}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=41.45     |long=-8.3      |label_size=75 |label=Guimarães}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=48.716667 |long=21.25     |label_size=75 |label=Košice}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=43.2964   |long=5.37      |label_size=75 |label=Marseille}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=47.09296   |long=17.91377    |label_size=75 |label=Veszprém}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=67.2827 |long=14.3751 |label_size=75 |label=Bodø |mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
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{{location map~ |Europe |lat=65.021545 |long=25.469885 |label_size=75 |label=Oulu |mark=Blue pog.svg}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=48.891944 |long=18.036667 |label_size=75 |label=Trenčín |mark=Blue pog.svg}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=56.511667 |long=21.013889 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Liepāja|Liepāja]] |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=top}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=38.571 |long=-7.9096 |label_size=75 |label=Évora |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=48.974722 |long=14.474722 |label_size=75 |label=České Budějovice |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=47.0844 |long=2.3964 |label_size=75 |label=Bourges |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Europe |lat=41.996111 |long=21.431667 |label_size=75 |label=[[Place:Skopje|Skopje]] |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom}}
}}

==See also==
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->
<!-- please add a short description WP:SEEALSO, via {{subst:AnnotatedListOfLinks}} or {{Annotated link}} -->
{{div col|colwidth=30em|small=yes}}
* {{Annotated link |American Capital of Culture}}
* {{Annotated link |Arab Capital of Culture}}
* {{Annotated link |European Green Capital Award}}
* {{Annotated link |European Youth Capital}}
* {{Annotated link |European Region of Gastronomy}}
* {{Annotated link |University Network of the European Capitals of Culture}}
{{div col end}}
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/capitals-culture_en.htm European Capitals of Culture]
* [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006D1622 Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019]
* [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:02014D0445-20171005 Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC]


{{DEFAULTSORT:European Capital Of Culture}}
[[Category:Capitals in Europe| ]]
[[Category:Lists of capitals]]

{{Sourceattribution|European Capital of Culture}}