Latest EcocNews
Oulu 2026, The Moon Lady’s Garden
An immersive installation by Jakob Kudsk Steensen reimagines the Kivisydän car park beneath Oulu city centre as a virtual world of botanical afterlife. The exhibition runs from 18 September to 30 November. The Kuutar Garden transforms the Botanical Garden of the…
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Cáceres 2031 has selected three artists for its “Rural Labs”
Ksenia Shinkovskaya (Latvia), Séverine Berthias (France) and Kalin Mihov (Bulgaria) will develop artistic residencies in Extremadura within the program promoted by Cáceres' bid for European Capital of Culture Cáceres' bid for European Capital of Culture 2031 continues to advance in…
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EXCLUSIVE. Sylvia Amann,What Remains When the Capital Year Ends
EcocNews is pleased to feature Sylvia Ammann’s article on a specific study of the legacy left by a European Capital of Culture. What remains is a question asked to all European Capitals of Culture. Territorial aspects were so far…
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A Historic Agreement: Europe Puts Culture First
On the sidelines of the European Council some days ago in Brussels, the President of the Republic of Cyprus as the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Presidents of the European Parliament and the European…
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Caceres 2031 celebrates the European Music Day
Nearly one hundred people participated this Sunday in the celebration of European Music Day organized by Cáceres 2031 at the Ateneo de Cáceres. The event brought together people of all ages for a free cultural program that combined music, education,…
Read moreWho we are
Members of the network are European cities, current or former candidates to the European Capital of Culture title.
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Mission
Our mission
Cities are where democracy, inclusiveness and innovation are produced, with culture being a facilitator of this entire ecosystem. More cities with cultural programmes for sustainability mean more power to address European challenges and opportunities;
The mission of the network is to support current and former European Capital of Culture candidate cities to implement culture-led urban development programmes and policies.
Meet our member cities
Members of the network are European cities, current or former candidates to the European Capital of Culture title.
Benefits of becoming a Member
Exchange of information and expertize specific for the needs
Free access to the Network’s capacity building programme for cultural cities
Technical and moral support to face the challenges specific to different phases of ECoC candidacy
Participation in specific programmes and grant application consortia
Participation and support in advocacy campaigns related to culture and urban development
The network facilitates European partnerships, mobility of creators and artworks, engagement of cities and citizens with European issues.
Latest News
Culture Next welcomes five new full members to the network
Culture Next is pleased to welcome five cities as new full members of the network: Victoria (Malta), Oviedo (Spain), Burgas (Bulgaria), Zalău (Romania) and Nijmegen (Netherlands).
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New policy report: Culture as Care
How can culture contribute to healthier, more connected and more resilient European cities? Culture Next has published Culture as Care: Participation, Health and Collective Well-Being in European Cities, a new policy report exploring the role of cultural participation in strengthening…
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(Additional) Open Call for Member Cities to host a Culture Next Thematic Working Groups
This is an open to received intentions to host Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) in 2027 and 2028 addressing the issues of Culture for the Planet and Culture for the Digital Transformation. Call launch date: 2 June 2026 Deadline for…
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