Trenčín - European Capital of Culture 2026

Trenčín at the center of European cultural events

Trenčín will be proud of the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026 as the second European Capital of Culture to be presented in 2026 through the winning project Cultivating Curiosity.

The European Capital of Culture is an initiative of the European Union that has been held annually since 1985. It was founded by the prominent Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri with the aim of European countries, cities and people getting to know each other better and talking together about culture and exchange. At first, this title was held by significant and large cities. The first European Capital of Culture was Athens, later Florence, Madrid, and at the turn of the millennium, as many as nine cities boasted the title, including Prague.

Now every year the European Commission selects two or three cities from different European countries. They have abandoned well-known centers of culture. In recent years, we have seen a shift towards smaller cities, which are searching for their identity thanks to the title.

The European Capital of Culture is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural heritage and creativity of individual cities, but also to support cultural development and innovation, diversity, and the involvement of different population groups. Its essential task is to strengthen a common European identity. This title gives cities the opportunity to become visible on the European and world cultural map and attract tourists, artists and cultural professionals from all corners of the world.

Trenčín 2026

Two countries were designated for 2026, in which cities competed for the title of European Capital of Culture - Finland and Slovakia. In Finland, the city of Oulu won the title. The Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic announced a call for participation in the competition in 2020. Of the eight cities that applied, three passed the first round and reached the final - Nitra, Trenčín and Žilina.

The international expert committee asked all three cities forty-three questions to prepare. The answers to them form the project book of each city, the so-called Bid book. The expert jury evaluated their preparation, presentation and defense of the project. The people from the committee also visited all three cities and got a taste of their plan and potential.

In the competition with Nitra and Žilina, Trenčín prevailed precisely with its strong plan. The expert committee stated in the evaluation report on Trenčín: "The proposed cultural concept is well-grounded in the needs of the city, the region and the inhabitants and has the potential to leave an important lasting legacy in Trenčín. In essence, it demonstrates how a small city in Central Europe can become a truly European city through culture, openness and cooperation - a city in which people will enjoy living and visiting."

The European Capital of Culture is not just an annual festival. It is a project to change the city and the region. The Trenčín one is significantly dedicated to public space and its improvement, offers opportunities for the growth of people from culture, is dedicated to involving the population in city life, and creates connections with Europe.