Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue 2026: 183 applications from 28 Euro-Mediterranean countries received in response to the Anna Lindh Foundation’s call for proposals for Matera and Tétouan.

Light Art Festival (LAF) brought nine light installations by Slovak and international artists to the streets, parks, and interiors of Trenčín on 10 and 11 April. The second LAF edition explored the interplay between light and sound, inviting visitors to experience art that is not only seen, but also heard.

A new sound installation, which was unveiled in Oulu Cathedral on Easter Sunday, transforms over 4,000 mysterious cosmic signals into an immersive spatial audio experience.

At the opening ceremony of Matera, Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026, EcocNews interviewed Ms Dubravka ŠUICA, the European Union’s Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Below is the full text of her speech during the Opening.

With an opening ceremony attended by European Commissioners Raffaele Fitto and Dubravka ŠUICA, the city of Matera – which was European Capital of Culture in 2019 – is preparing to spend a year as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue.