Instead, small towns, like large cities, must find the strength to change, even at the risk of undermining the symbols of their identity.

That said, however, I would never have thought that a city would not only be immobile, but would be forced to move in the literal sense of the word. This is happening in Kiruna, in northern Sweden, in the far north, almost at the end of the world, or, as the residents of this wonderful part of the planet say, almost at the beginning of the world. Located about 140 kilometers from the Arctic Circle, Sweden's northernmost city is also home to some of the most evocative phenomena in the world. From May to July, the city is illuminated by the midnight sun from morning to night, while between December and January, it sinks into total darkness due to the polar night.

For several hundred years, it has been home to what has become the largest iron mine on the planet. Kiruna was practically born out of this mine, considering that almost all of its residents work there.

But it was precisely the mine, which has always been considered a blessing for the area, that brought about the biggest change in the city. However, the kilometers of underground tunnels have increased the risk of landslides. In other parts of the world, starting with Italy, citizens would have protested to the death to remain in their homes.

Here, however, after a profound and detailed debate involving all sections of the population on the difficult balance between economic development and environmental sustainability, the decision was made: we will move the city 3 kilometers. Sometimes this involved demolishing and rebuilding homes, other times literally moving entire buildings from one place to another. This is exactly what happened with Kiruna's main church, which was loaded onto a platform and slowly moved to another part of the city. It was a real event accompanied by shows, concerts, and many other events.

The new city center was inaugurated in September 2022, and in the meantime, Kiruna decided to participate in the competition to become Sweden's European Capital of Culture in 2029. Last year, the jury decided: Kiruna will be the European Capital of Culture. The title of the dossier?

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.

Kiruna’s bid for the ECoC title centres around the theme of Movement, inspired by the city’s extraordinary circumstances of physical relocation due to mining activities. The concept intertwines the city’s natural Arctic landscape, cultural history, and socio-economic transformation. The bid emphasises resilience and adaptation, showcasing Kiruna as a living example of cultural rebirth amidst significant urban and environmental changes. The programme seeks to connect its unique narrative to European audiences through themes of heritage, innovation, and sustainable development.

To find out exactly what is happening, I invite you to watch these three videos:

A documentary about the city on the move.

The relocation of the church

A spot about Kiruna.

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