The Present, Future and Past capitals
In 2010, the cities of Essen (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) share the European Capital of Culture title.
2010: Essen, Pécs and Istanbul
Report of the Selection Panel for the European Capital of Culture 2010
Report of the first monitoring and advisory meeting
Report of the second monitoring and advisory meeting
Essen 2010
Pécs 2010
Istanbul 2010
In 2009, the cities of Linz and Vilnius shared the European Capital of Culture title. You will find all information about the cultural events scheduled in these two cities for 2009 at the following addresses:
- Linz 2009 (Austria)
- Vilnius 2009 (Lithuania)
- Report of the Jury "European Capital of Culture 2009"
Selection for the 2015 title
Belgium and the Czech Republic are entitled to host a European Capital of Culture in 2015. The selection process has started in both Member States : in Belgium, one single city proposed a bid, namely Mons. Following the pre selection meeting on 2° June 2009, the panel pre selected this city ; consequently Mons has to complete its application for the final selection meeting which will be organised in February 2010.The panel's report is available.
Designation of the European Capital Of Culture 2015 - Pre-selection Report 2 June 2009
The pre-selection meeting took place in the Czech Republic on 7and 8 December 2009. Two cities, Plzeň and Ostrava , were pre selected among the 3 proposals. The panel will issue its report in early January. The 2 cities have 7 months to deepen and complete their proposals.
Press release
Selection for the 2014 title
Sweden and Latvia are the two Member States entitled to host the event in 2014.
The pre selection meetings were scheduled in December 2008 in Stockholm and Riga respectively.
4 proposals had been submitted by Sweden (Gävle, Lund, Umeå et Uppsala) and 4 by Latvia (Riga, Cesis, Jurmala, Liepaja) for the 2014 title.
The panel pre-selected 2 cities in Sweden (Lund and Umeå ) and 3 cities in Latvia (Cesis, Liepaja and Riga). The panel assessed the quality of the bids against the criteria mentioned in Decision 1622/2006/EC and issued its reports:
Report pre-selection Sweden 2009 - Report pre-selection Latvia 2009
The final selection meetings in Sweden and Latvia respectively took place mid September 2009. Following these meetings, the panel recommended Umeå in Sweden and Riga in Latvia as European Capitals of Culture for 2014.
- Umeå to be the European Capital of Culture in Sweden in 2014 (IP/09/1324)
- Riga to be the European Capital of Culture in Latvia in 2014 (IP/09/1324 )
The Council of Ministers of the EU will formally designate both Capitals in May 2010.
The panel's reports :
Final Selection Report in Sweden - Final Selection Report in Riga
Selection for the 2013 title
In accordance with the selection process implemented in 2007 for the 2013 and following titles, the selection panel met in September 2008 and recommended the designation of Marseille (France) and Kosice (Slovakia) as the 2013 European Capitals of Culture.
8 proposals had been submitted by France (Strasbourg, Toulouse, Amiens, Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon, Saint-Etienne) and 9 by Slovakia (Trnava, Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Presov, Dolny Kubin, Martin, Bratislava, Trencin, Nitra) for the 2013 title.
The panel pre-selected 4 cities in France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse) and 4 in Slovakia (Nitra, Kosice, Martin, Presov) in December 2007. Then the pre selected cities completed their applications. The panel assessed the quality of the bids against the criteria mentioned in Decision 1622/2006/EC and selected Marseille and Kosice.
The panel issued a report on the proposals for the title in France and Slovakia.
Selection for the 2012 title
On 5th November 2008, the panel met to examine the applications of Maribor and Guimaraes for the 2012 title and recommended both cities to the title .
First monitoring meeting for the 2011 title
The advisory and monitoring panel was convened on 5 November 2008 to give advice on and to take stock of the preparations of the 2011 European Capitals of Culture (Turku and Tallinn) and issued its reports.
Next steps
The European Capitals of Culture 2012 and 2013 will be designated in May 2009 by the Council of Ministers of the EU. The selection panels charged with assessing the candidate cities for the European Capital of Culture 2014 title will meet in December 2008 in Sweden and Latvia for the purposes of pre-selection in these 2 Member States.
