European Commission

Future European Capitals of Culture

The European Capitals of Culture have already been chosen for the years up to 2014.

2011 Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia)
2012 Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia)
2013 Marseille (France) and Kosice (Slovakia)
2014 Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia)

2011: Turku and Tallinn

Chosen in 2007 – in accordance with Decision on European Capitals of Culture 2005-19 – 1419/1999/EC and on the basis of the programme they submitted.

Selection panel’s report on Turku and Tallinn
Their preparations were followed closely throughout by the monitoring and advisory panel
First monitoring and advisory report – issued after panel’s meeting in November 2008
Second monitoring and advisory report – issued after panel’s meeting in April 2010

2012: Guimarães and Maribor

Chosen in May 2009 – in accordance with Decision on European Capitals of Culture 2005-19 – 1419/1999/EC and on the basis of the programme they submitted for the event.

Selection panel’s report on Guimarães and Maribor
Their preparations are being followed closely by the monitoring and advisory panel
First monitoring and advisory report – issued after panel’s meeting in late 2009
Second monitoring and advisory report - issued after panel's meeting in April 2011

2013: Marseille and Kosice

From France, 8 cities submitted proposals – Strasbourg, Toulouse, Amiens, Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon and Saint-Etienne. In December 2007, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse were shortlisted in the pre-selection
From Slovakia, 9 cities submitted proposals – Trnava, Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Presov, Dolny Kubin, Martin, Bratislava, Trencin and Nitra. In December 2007, Nitra, Kosice, Martin and Presov were shortlisted in the pre-selection.
Marseille and Kosice were recommended by the selection panel in September 2008 and officially chosen by the Council of the EU in May 2009 – in accordance with Decision on European Capitals of Culture 2007-2019 – 1622/2006/EC.

Pre-selection report – France
Pre-selection report – Slovakia
Final selection report – France
Final selection report – Slovakia

Their preparations are being followed closely by the monitoring and advisory panel.

Fist monitoring and advisory report – issued after panel’s meeting in late 2010
Second monitoring meeting to be held in Spring 2012.

2014: Umeå and Riga

From Sweden, 4 cities submitted proposals – Gävle, Lund, Umeå and Uppsala. In December 2008, Lund and Umeå were shortlisted in the pre-selection.
From Latvia, 4 cities submitted proposals – Riga, Cesis, Jurmala and Liepaja. In December 2008, Cesis, Liepaja and Riga were shortlisted in the pre-selection
Umeå and Riga were recommended by the selection panel in September 2009 and officially chosen by the Council of the EU in May 2010.

Pre-selection meetings – press release
Pre-selection report – Sweden
Pre-selection report –Latvia
Final selection report – Sweden
Final selection report– Latvia

2015 and beyond

See Competitions for 2015-2019

In autumn 2010, the Commission will launch a public consultation on the future of the European Capitals of Culture beyond 2019. Nothing has yet been decided.
More information on how to take part in consultation – online and at public meetings – will be published on this site soon.