Kiruna to be the European Capital of Culture 2029 in Sweden

On 6 December 2024, the chairperson of the European Capitals of Culture Expert Panel announced that the city of Kiruna has been recommended to become the European Capital of Culture 2029 in Sweden. The recommendation was made by a panel of independent experts assessing applications from the two short-listed Swedish cities of Kiruna and Uppsala. 

After Stockholm in 1998 and Umea in 2014, this will be the third time for Sweden to hold this prestigious title. Nestled in the northern reaches of Sweden, the small yet rapidly expanding mining city of Kiruna wants to use the title to share through creative means the strong Arctic and industrial blend of a city that is literally moving to a new location to have a fresh start.

Selection process

The applications are examined by a panel composed of twelve independent experts, two appointed by the relevant national authorities and ten by EU institutions and bodies (European Parliament, Council, Commission and Committee of the Regions).

Sweden published applications from interested cities in December 2022. Two cities submitted applications by the deadline of 2 January 2024: Kiruna and Uppsala. The pre-selection meeting took place in Stockholm on 20-21 February 2024 and the two candidates were short-listed. They were given until 1. November 2024 to complete their applications. The final selection meeting took place on 5-6 December 2024. 

Each year, two to three cities hold the title of European Capital of Culture. Alongside Kiruna, the city of Lublin in Poland will hold the title in 2029.

How cities become European Capitals of Culture 

According with the rules governing the European Capital of Culture Union action, there will be two capitals in 2029: one in Sweden and one in Poland.

The selection of European Capitals of Culture has two rounds: a pre-selection round, following which a shortlist of candidate cities is drawn up, and a final selection round approximately nine months later, where one city is recommended for the title. The selected cities are then officially designated by the Member State concerned.

The selection criteria state that cities should prepare a cultural programme with a strong European dimension, which fosters the participation of the city’s stakeholders as well as its various neighbourhoods and attracts visitors from the whole country and Europe. The programme must have a lasting impact and contribute to the long-term development of the city. The cities must also show that they have the support from the relevant public local authorities and the capacity to deliver the project.