Oulu and Trencin are Europe’s new Capitals of Culture
Oulu/Trencin (dpa) – The Finnish city of Oulu and the Slovak city of Trencin have been the new European Capitals of Culture since the turn of the year. Oulu, considered the northernmost major city in the EU, and Trencin (German: Trentschin), located around 2,000 kilometers to the south, have thus, among others, succeeded the Saxon city of Chemnitz, which held the title last year together with the Slovenian-Italian twin border city Nova Gorica/Gorizia.
The two cities have each put together an extensive program of events for 2026. In Oulu, the year as Capital of Culture will be ushered in with an opening festival from January 16 to 18, whose program ranges from concerts and acrobatics to car tuning and the Finnish national sport of ice hockey.
In Slovakia, the ceremonial opening will take place from February 13 to 15. The organizers then want to transform the renovated historic old town of Trencin into an open cultural stage full of music, art and social gatherings. The city, just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Vienna, intends to carry the title of Capital of Culture with great pride – and, together with the surrounding region, to inspire both Slovak and foreign guests.
EU cultural initiative
The title of European Capital of Culture may be held each year by two or three cities from different countries of the EU or from closely associated states such as Norway. The EU initiative is intended to highlight Europe’s cultural diversity and to honor the culture and art characteristic of each region.
The first Capital of Culture was Athens 40 years ago. Four German cities have also held the title since then: first West Berlin in 1988, then Weimar in 1999, Essen together with the Ruhr region in 2010, and then Chemnitz in 2025. In 2027 it will be the turn of Liepaja in Latvia and Évora in Portugal. (January 1)
