Although winter temperatures are low, these are very warm days for two Swedish cities: Kiruna, above the Arctic Circle, and the university city Uppsala, in central Sweden. They are the only two Swedish cities that have decided to compete for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2029.

The competition in Poland for ecoc 2029 is in full swing. After Krakow (2000) and Wroclaw (2016) in 2029 it will be the third time of a European capital of culture in Poland.Twelve cities in Poland had applied to become the European Capital of Culture 2029.

With the nomination of Bourges (France) in the past few days, the picture of the European Capitals of Culture for 2028 has closed: Budweiss (Czech Republic), Skopje (Northern Macedonia) and Bourges (France). Now all eyes are on 2029, when it will be the turn of Sweden and Poland to name the European Capital of Culture.

While all eyes are on France, which on 13 December will make known which of the four cities in the running (Rouen. Bourges, Montpellier and Clermont - Ferrand) will be European Capital of Culture in 2028 together with Budweis (Czech Republic), the competition in Poland for ecoc 2029 is in full swing.

Already 10 Ukrainian cities support the candidacy of Rzeszów as the European Capital of Culture in 2029, declaring their interest and readiness to implement joint projects.

Meanwhile, the petition launched by EcocNews and addressed to the European Commission for Ukraine, as a country preparing to join the EU, to nominate a European Capital of Culture in 2030 is still alive here.