Latest EcocNews
UK City of Culture 2029, Nine cities in shortlist
Nine places across the UK have been longlisted to be the next UK City of Culture in 2029 and will each benefit from a funding boost to support their bid for the title. The nine longlisted locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland,…
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Cáceres 2031, international summit for the innovation
In recent days, cultural leaders from 18 countries took part in the Cáceres Innovation Summit, an event organised as part of Cáceres’ bid to become European Capital of Culture. The summit’s academic partners include the Global Leaders Institute, Harvard University…
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Matera 2026, The opening ceremony is ready to begin
The opening ceremony for Matera, Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026 – a title the Italian city shares with the Moroccan city of Tetouan – will take place tomorrow, 20 March, to coincide with International Happiness Day. The event…
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Oulu 2026, Underground clash into the botanical afterlife
Launching September 2026 in Oulu, Northern Finland — just below the Arctic Circle — Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen unveils a major site-specific installation that draws on Finnish mythologies about the afterlife and botanical seed banks — places where life…
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Matera, The drum circle as a way to share feelings
Expressing oneself through the rhythm of percussion. Anyone can do it. After all, music, at the origins of the world, was born exactly this way—starting from sounds, at first random, then gradually more organized. Cesare Pastanella knows this well. A…
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 blog posts
Our man in Brazil. Culture Next Strengthens International Partnerships at MICBR 2025
Culture Next was represented by Carlos Martins (foto, top left) at the 2025 edition of the Brazilian Creative Industries Market (MICBR), held from December 3–7 in Fortaleza, Brazil, one of the largest edition in the event’s history. Bringing together 615…
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16.Culture Next Conference, in Larnaka: exploring sustainable governance models for cultural ecosystems, capacity building, and international networking
Culture Next (CN) Network together with Larnaka 2030 European Capital of Culture, member of the Culture Next network, will host the 16th Culture Next Conference from 6–8 May 2026 under the theme “Culture for CCS – Empowering the Cultural &…
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Open Call for Member Cities to Host the Next Conferences and Thematic Working Groups
Culture Next is happy to announce an open call for its full member cities to host Conferences and Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) in 2027 and 2028. This opportunity invites cities to take center stage in fostering cultural dialogue, innovation, and…
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