An independent panel of experts has recommended the Maltese city of Victoria as European Capital of Culture for 2031, set to share the title for 2031 with a city in Spain to be announced in December.
Victoria is Malta’s second city to hold the title, after Valletta in 2018. Through its cultural programme, the city aims to become a European platform for cultural co-creation, ecological awareness and small-island innovation. This is reflected in projects such as Atlas of Liquid Memory, bringing together artists, scientists and communities to explore the sea as a shared ecological and cultural space; CO₂ T₀ O₂ – Reciprocity Pact, encouraging visitors to make sustainable and community-based contributions; and Ġenerazzjoni 31, which combines traditional heritage with digital fabrication and other new technologies.
“Congratulations to Victoria for being recommended as European Capital of Culture 2031 in Malta”. said EU Commissioner for culture Glenn Micallef: “Built around the theme ‘Island of Islands’, Victoria’s bid reimagines Gozo as an archipelago of connected communities, landscapes, and cultural practices. Explored through three different curatorial nodes – Coast, Salt and Waves – the bid captures the many dimensions of islands life, reflecting a strong community spirit and rich cultural heritage, while confronting the hard truths of island life and above all the right of young people to stay and build a future home.”
Created in 1985, the European Capitals of Culture has become one of Europe’s most ambitious cultural projects. It offers cities an opportunity to celebrate diversity, engage communities, and promote local and regional development before, during, and beyond the title year.
The European Commission may award each European Capital of Culture a €1.5 million prize, funded under the EU’s Creative Europe programme. The Commission has recently renewed the framework for the next generations of European Capitals of Culture beyond 2033.
For further information on the European Capitals of Culture go to the Commission’s Culture and Creativity website.
