In recent days, the first information session on the call for applications published by the government was held in Copenhagen, attended by representatives of the six cities that have initiated or only announced their candidacy. These are the cities of Aalborg, Helsingor, Naestveld, Holstebro, Sonderborg and Vejle.

There seems to be no doubt that the three cities furthest ahead in the running are Aalborg, Elsinore and Naestveld. But it may be too early to say. There is still time to prepare well for the first phase of the competition.

The reaction of Danish citizens to these candidacies is generally very positive, but with different nuances depending on the city. Danes have a high level of trust in European institutions (one of the highest in the EU, around 67% according to recent polls in 2025) and see culture as a concrete investment for the future, not just entertainment.

While Helsingør focuses heavily on history and international prestige, Aalborg seems to be focused on urban regeneration and the quality of life of its inhabitants. Although Næstved is considered the “outsider”, it is focusing heavily on glass design and craftsmanship, seeking to involve the entire region of South Zealand to build critical mass against the two “big players”.

Let's take a look at each of these nominations individually, with the help of articles published on the web.

Elsinore: Hamlet and European identity
Elsinore is not just a port city; it is a global literary symbol. Its strategy for 2032 is based on three pillars:

• The myth of Hamlet: The city wants to exploit Shakespeare's global resonance to explore modern themes: ‘to be or not to be’ in the context of the climate crisis, European identity and democracy. Hamlet is closely linked to Elsinore because the Danish city is home to Kronborg Castle, the setting chosen by William Shakespeare for his famous tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

• Bridge to Sweden: Thanks to its proximity to Helsingborg (Sweden), the idea is to create a bid that celebrates cross-border cooperation in the Øresund region.

• Industrial conversion: Transforming old shipyards into cultural production centres (as already done with the M/S Museet for Søfart museum), demonstrating how culture can regenerate the local economy.

Pride and connection
Here, citizen involvement began very early on (as early as 2021). The local community is very attached to the historical prestige of Kronborg Castle.

The popular view: Citizens see the bid as a way to “build bridges”, especially with their Swedish neighbours in Helsingborg. There is a strong desire to be not just a “hit-and-run” tourist destination to see Hamlet, but a cultural centre that is alive all year round. Participation: Numerous public meetings were organised to involve local associations in defining the dossier.

Aalborg: The capital of transformation
Aalborg has gone from being a “grey” and smoky industrial city to a hub of knowledge and architecture. For 2032, it is focusing on:

•    Growth and Cohesion: The stated goal is not just to put on “shows”, but to use the funds to better integrate the suburbs and rapidly expanding new neighbourhoods.

•    The creative waterfront: The centrepiece of the bid will be the harbour, where iconic structures such as Musikkens Hus (House of Music) and the Utzon Centre (designed by the architect of the Sydney Opera House, who was born here) will serve as the main stages.

•    Social sustainability: Aalborg wants to demonstrate how a medium-sized city can lead the ecological transition through the active involvement of citizens in the arts.

Enthusiasm for “Growth”
In Aalborg, the bid has been met with great optimism. The city has a strong working-class identity that is transforming into a “creative” one, and citizens see the title of Capital of Culture as the definitive seal of this metamorphosis. The common sentiment: “It's our turn”. After Aarhus in 2017, the inhabitants of North Jutland feel they have what it takes to represent modern Denmark.

The few dissenting voices usually concern the size of public investment, but Mayor Lasse Frimand Jensen has reassured them that the social impact will be visible for generations.

Næstved, ‘New European Centrality’
Næstved is perhaps the most surprising candidate in the running. While Helsingør focuses on literature and Aalborg on urban regeneration, Næstved plays the card of ‘New European Centrality’ and industrial craftsmanship.

This is what its strategy for 2032 is based on: The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: From suburb to hub. Næstved's big bet is linked to the opening of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel (scheduled for 2029). This infrastructure will directly connect Denmark to Germany: Strategic Location: Næstved wants to stop being seen as a city ‘at the end of the road’ and become the gateway between Scandinavia and Central Europe. The idea is to create a cultural axis connecting the German Hanseatic cities with the Øresund region, making Næstved a key stopover for tourist and artistic flows.

Street Art and Urban Culture
One thing that many people do not expect is that Næstved is one of the street art capitals of Denmark. For over 30 years, the city has had a strong connection with graffiti and hip-hop culture. The “Næstved Kunstby” (Næstved City of Art) project has already transformed many of the city's walls into open-air galleries featuring international artists, and this “grassroots” spirit will be central to the dossier for Europe.

In Næstved, the reaction is a mixture of surprise and determination. Being less “international” than the other two, the challenge has been welcomed as an opportunity for redemption for the entire region of South Zealand. The local perspective: There is a lot of support for the idea of promoting industrial identity (glass) and youth culture (street art). Citizens hope that the bid will bring infrastructure and tourism benefits, especially with the opening of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, which will connect them more quickly to Germany.

At the heart of the bid is Holmegaard Værk, a former glassworks converted into an international museum of design and glass art. They aim to celebrate 200 years of tradition (starting in 1825) in glass and ceramics (Kähler). The goal is to show how high craftsmanship can be a modern response to mass production, combining sustainability and beauty.

Holstebro
Holstebro has officially submitted its application to become European Capital of Culture in 2032. Here are the main details of Holstebro's application.

The vision: Holstebro Municipality wishes to use the title to highlight the role of culture in a European perspective, with a particular focus on culture in the province and its ability to create community and development [1]. Theme: The bid is based on Holstebro's long history as a cultural city (with the slogan “Culture in Holstebro” and the city's extensive art collection) and on the vision of building a bridge between city and countryside.

Sønderborg
Sønderborg is one of the Danish cities that could apply for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2032. The competition was officially launched in late 2025/early 2026, and the Ministry of Culture invited Danish cities to submit their applications.

Sønderborg was in close competition with Aarhus to become European Capital of Culture in 2017, but was defeated. The experience gained at that time, including the concept of “Countryside Metropolis”, could potentially be reused.

Vejle
Although the Ministry of Culture opened applications in December 2025 and 3-4 cities have expressed interest, it is mainly Helsingør, Næstved and Aalborg that are mentioned in the media as the most promising candidates.

Vejle Municipality is actively working to create a strong cultural profile, which includes a “Resilience Strategy” and a new cultural centre combining a library and a music school. Although Vejle is not among the most frequently mentioned candidates in the initial announcements (at the beginning of 2026), the Minister of Culture is inviting “small and large” cities to submit their applications.

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