Oulu in Finland and Trencín in Slovakia are the new 2026 European capitals of culture, set to host cultural events, exhibitions and performances throughout the year.
The European Capitals of Culture are an EU initiative putting culture at the heart of European cities with EU support for a year-long celebration of art and culture, highlighting the richness of our shared European cultures.
The inauguration of Oulu as European capital of culture will take place on 16-18 January 2026. The city’s cultural programme, themed ‘Cultural Climate Change’, addresses current global challenges including resilience against climate change, and how cultural awareness helps to it. The city has the ambition to encourage its audience to rethink how culture is made, experienced and shared in this area.
Meanwhile, Trencín will host its opening event on 13-15 February 2026. With its programme built around the theme of ‘Awakening Curiosity’, the city aims to inspire bridge-building between people, past and future, and between imagination and reality.
For 40 years, the European capitals of culture award has offered cities a chance to celebrate diversity, engage communities and promote local and regional development.
EU Culture Commissioner Glenn Micallef congratulated the 2026 European Capitals of Culture: “We all look forward to experiencing their transformation-driven programmes calling for a Cultural Climate Change and appealing to our Curiosity. Both 2026 European Capitals of Culture fully embrace the value of this flagship initiative and its lasting impact on culture, cities and people across Europe enriching cultural life, connecting people through creativity, and inspiring lasting change through the arts and culture.”
The Commission has awarded the two 2026 European capitals of culture the €1.5 million Melina Mercouri Prize, funded under the Creative Europe Programme, in recognition of the quality of their preparations for the year.
