As exclusively reported by EcocNews here, Sweden had only two candidate cities, Uppsala and Kiruna. Other cities had launched their candidature but then withdrew. And so the short list was automatically passed for both cities and in the end the jury chose Kiruna.
In the report you can read the reasons for this choice. Here are the final decisions.
The full report here.

The panel acknowledges Kiruna’s compelling bid for the ECoC 2029 title, rooted in its extraordinary urban transformation and Arctic identity. The theme of Movement, encompassing Below Ground, On Earth, and In Space, provides an innovative framework that effectively integrates Kiruna’s local heritage with global challenges, creating a strong narrative that resonates with European audiences. This thematic structure reflects the city’s ambition to position itself as a cultural hub while addressing universal issues.

Kiruna’s bid demonstrates a well-aligned cultural strategy that supports its broader urban and regional development goals, emphasising inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement. The thoughtful integration of Sámi, Tornedalian, and other minority cultures, along with Arctic-European narratives, highlights the city’s commitment to promoting diversity within the European cultural space. Strong stakeholder collaboration, significant financial obligations, and a clear governance framework further enhance the credibility of the bid.

While the proposal is ambitious and creative, certain areas require further clarity, such as the monitoring and evaluation framework and the timeline for completing key infrastructural projects. Despite these challenges, the panel commends Kiruna’s ability to leverage its unique circumstances as a source of inspiration for European cultural values and recommends that Kiruna be nominated for the title of European Capital of Culture 2029 in Sweden.

The panel’s decision

The panel was presented with two high-quality but also very different bids from significantly diverse cities, each with its own interpretations of the ECoC criteria. The bids tackled issues of significant urgency for Europe and the world at large. Both bids had their strengths and weaknesses. According to Decision 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, the panel looked at the programme designed explicitly for the ECoC year and with a strong European dimension. The panel debated the merits of each city against the two objectives and six criteria of the Decision, and then, in the final discussion, the applications were weighed against each other.

Each panel member weighed his/her interpretation of the criteria against the two cities with their bid books, presentations, questions, and answers. The panel decided by vote to recommend to the Swedish Ministry of Culture to designate Kiruna as European Capital of Culture 2029 in Sweden.

This report has been sent to the managing authority and the European Commission. Both will publish it on their websites. In accordance with Article 11 of the Decision, the Ministry will proceed to the designation of the ECoC 2029 in Sweden based on the recommendation contained in this report. It will then inform the European Parliament, Council, Commission, and Committee of the Regions. This formal designation enables Kiruna to use the title “European Capital of Culture 2029”.