Larnaka (Cyprus) joins Leuven (Belgium) and Nikšić (Montenegro) as 2030 European Capitals of Culture. With Larnaka’s anthropia, meaning our deep and common human values, Nikšić’s čojstvo, meaning being human, and Leuven’s LOV2030 – Human Nature theme, 2030 ECoCs propose humanity, as a response to global challenges.
By Eirini PolydorouYesterday, Larnaka was announced as chosen by the experts’ panel to be Cyprus’ 2030 European Capital of Culture. The city will join Leuven (Belgium) and Nikšić (Montenegro) as 2030 ECoCs.
With an eye on the world’s ongoing crises, Larnaka 2030 aims to bring back anthropia, meaning our deep and common human values. It sets at the heart of the ECoC programme togetherness, vulnerability and care to explore a “common ground" in all its forms, whether physical, mental or emotional.
Larnaka’s anthropia strengthens the focus of the 2030 ECoCs’ themes on humanity addressing universal challenges, as it is in dialogue with the themes of Leuven’s LOV2030 – Human nature, and Nikšić’s concept of “čojstvo”, meaning being human.
The theme at the centre of Leuven’s programme, asks what it is to be human, with humanity’s good and bad sides. It broadens the concept , reflecting common European challenges such as human versus nature and climate change, or polarization and pressure on our democratic values.
Nikšić 2030 is based on čojstvo, which means being human. Focusing on an “open city”, Nikšić's ECoC aims to showcase how openness and solidarity pave the way towards positive transformation: from creativity and learning to resilience and collective wellbeing, as a response to global tensions and divisions.
For the 2030 title in Cyprus, the other candidate cities were Agia Napa, Kourion, Lemesos and Nicosia. Larnaka and Lemesos were shortlisted at the pre-selection meeting in Nicosia on 25-27 February 2025.
Chemnitz 2025 and Nova Gorica (Slovenia) - Gorizia (Italy) 2025 have recently celebrated handing over the title to 2026 ECoCs, Oulu (Finland) and Trenčín (Slovakia).
Upcoming ECoCs include for 2027, Liepāja (Latvia) and Évora (Portugal), for 2028, České Budějovice (Czechia), Bourges (France) and Skopje (North Macedonia) and for 2029, Lublin (Poland) and Kiruna (Sweden).
For 2031 the competition is still on between candidate cities of the hosting countries Malta and Spain.
There is a growing trend of cities -including with smaller populations- applying for the ECoC title, which brings benefits such as investors and tourism, says a recent report.
As 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the ECoC, the European Commission has opened a public consultation and wants to hear your opinion on the future of the European Capitals of Culture post-33. Have your say by 31 December 2025 and help keep the ECoC impactful in every aspect.
Find more here
Image (c) European Union - Courtesy of the European Commission
