14th Culture Next Conference, 2025
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
8 – 10 July, 2025
The Conference
The 14th Culture Next conference is focused on the theme “Cultural Participation” and gathers representatives from 50 European cities and their young representatives (aged 18–27), together with local artists and cultural organizations from Leeuwarden.
The conference, disguised as this edition’s Cultural Camp, offers an exciting and packed agenda featuring keynote speeches, presentations, and workshops centered around Cultural Participation with a special focus on youth at a European level.
Participants, alongside their chosen youth representatives, will collaborate and exchange insights, working towards shaping effective strategies for successful international cooperation and fostering meaningful cultural dialogues across borders.
The agenda also includes dedicated matchmaking and networking opportunities for all attendees, between both international and local stakeholders. In parallel with the conference, Arcadia, Leeuwarden’s ECoC legacy program, is in full swing with 100 days of artistic and cultural programming. At the heart of both the program and Leeuwarden is Bouwurk, a vibrant community-built oasis, which will be this edition’s hub. The participants are invited to drop in during their free time for a new experience.
The general conference programme is as follows:
8th of July is the pre-meetings day, and the agenda includes management meetings and a further step în the development of the Culture Next initiative to evaluate the impact of culture on the SDGs. In the evening we have the Official Reception.
The conference officially starts on 9th of July, a day open to the general public.
The official program ends on 10th of July, with a schedule centred around network-related sessions, therapy sessions and conversations.
Culture Next
Culture Next is an informal, friendly and relaxed network dedicated to mutual support and collaboration between European cities which are current or former candidates for the European Capital of Culture title, awarded or not.
Seven years after its founding în Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Culture Next involves around 40 cities on the continent. În 2021 the network received a grant from the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission to scale-up Culture Next and improve its capacity to work with more European cities.
Interested to become a member?
Register nowMember Cities
Our members are cities or organizations representing various cities: former and future title holders, cities which continued their cultural programmes even without being selected aș ECoCs and cities which intend to do this.
Many of our members represent cities which are current candidates, interested în developing European connection and sustainable cultural programmes which can be implemented independently of the jury decision.
Registrations Open
Apply HereAccomodation
Accommodation
The organization will ensure the following:
For Culture Next Full Member Cities: 2 nights hotel accommodation for 2 people in single rooms will be covered. We recommend each member representing a city to be accompanied by a young representative (aged 18–27) from their city.
For Culture Next Observing Member Cities and non-member cities: There is no obligation to stay at any of the recommended hotels, but if you’re willing to do so, you just need to fill the registration and let us know your travel dates. We will book it for you and let you know how to handle the payment.
For extra nights (anyone): If you stay at any of the recommended hotels for the extra nights, then we will take care of the arrangements, and you can pay for the extra nights at the hotel. If you decide to stay at some other hotel, please book directly with the hotel of your choice so you can make the necessary payment arrangements. The deadline for communicating to us the information about extra nights is the deadline for the registration.
For the SGD Thing workshop participants (only applicable to Culture Next members who will be part of this project): 1-night hotel (7th of July) accommodation in a single room for 1 person/city.
Fees
Fees
- Non-member cities have to pay a conference fee of 300 euro per person.
- Culture Next Observing Member Cities do not have to pay the conference fee.
- Culture Next Full Member Cities do not have to pay the conference fee.
- The public day of the conference (9th of July) is access free for all local participants.
Excited to join us?
Register nowConference hotels
Additional Hotel Recommendations
Official Reception
Bouwurk, Oldehoofsterkerkhof
Conference
Bouwurk, Oldehoofsterkerkhof
Parties & Performances
TBC
Visits
TBC
Travel to Leeuwarden
We recommend you to book the planes as soon as possible for cheaper ticket prices
Schiphol Amsterdam Airport: approx. 2 hrs by train, train station is below the airport, tickets can be purchased at location or online.
Eindhoven Airport: approx 3 hrs by train, shuttle buses from airport to central station, tickets can be purchased at location or online.
Language
English is widely spoken in all areas of the Netherlands.
The conference will be hosted in English.
Leeuwarden hosts Fries, Dutch, and English speakers.
Time Zone in The Netherlands
CET- Central European Time
Emergency Number
112
Currency
Euro. Payment by card is widely accepted
Taxi
Taxis can be ordered by phone.
We recommend that you check rental bikes and scooters, Leeuwarden is very bike friendly.
Walking is also recommended as all venues for the conference are in the central area, including the accommodation.
