Bielsko-Biała are you ready for Culture Next? We’re excited to announce that registrations are now open for the second Culture Next conference of the year, hosted in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, from 15–17 October 2025, in partnership with the Urban Culture Institute – City of Weaves.
Following a strong summer edition in Leeuwarden, this 15th Culture Next Conference brings the network together under a new and timely theme: “Culture & Wellbeing.” Over two days of exchange, inspiration, and connection, all framed by the forested backdrop of the Beskidy Mountains, we’ll explore how culture can become a true ally for healthier, mindful and more connected communities.
On Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October, representatives from 50 European cities will meet to reflect on how artistic practice, public policy, and cultural participation can actively contribute to individual and collective wellbeing. Our aim is to take a step forward, from evidence to action, from ideas to integration, guided by the vision that culture can be as beneficial to health as doing sports, for example. Day 0 will focus on management meetings and the SDG thing.
The programme will combine keynote talks, case studies, and hands-on experiences, along with curated matchmaking sessions for local and international actors. Participants will also meet local artists and organizations from Bielsko-Biała and the region, discovering first-hand how the city’s cultural and wellbeing strategies take shape on the ground.
Bielsko-Biała, recently named Polish Capital of Culture 2026, continues to build on the legacy of its European Capital of Culture 2029 bid, Weaving Wellbeing. Rooted in the city’s rich textile heritage, this vision connects creativity, health, and social inclusion, a philosophy that will shape the experience of the conference itself.
Registration is open until 2 September 2025.
All logistical details, the agenda, and registration forms are available on the conference page.
