Oulu, Savonlinna and Tampere proceed in the evaluation process of the European Capital of Culture competition

The European panel of experts has decided that Oulu, Savonlinna and Tampere will proceed in the evaluation process of the competition for the European Capital of Culture 2026. The panel convened at Helsinki Central Library Oodi on 23 and 24 June. The two Finnish members of the panel are Riitta Vanhatalo (D.Phil.) and Kai Amberla (MA).

Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen, who spoke at the event, emphasised the role the cities as advocates of arts and culture and the unique opportunity to bring about major changes in the year of the Capital of Culture:
 

-The title of Capital of Culture is a unique opportunity for cities to create a livelier cultural life. The event can even enable the cities to rejuvenate their image by transforming set ideas about culture and creating interest among a much wider audience of people interested in culture, Minister Kosonen said.
    
The next steps in the process are where the selected cities refine their plans on the basis of the panel's feedback and the jury will then visit the candidate cities in spring 2021.

The name of the European Capital of Culture will be announced in the summer of next year. Another 2026 European Capital of Culture will be selected from Slovakia.

The European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) initiative is the largest and the most widely known action of the European Union in the field of culture. European Capitals of Culture have been designated since 1985.

All 12 members of the panel of experts are presented on the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture  https://minedu.fi/kulttuuripaakaupunki2026 (in Finnish).

Inquiries: Iina Berden, Ministerial Adviser, tel. + 358 295 330 069