The ECoC aims to bring the peoples of Europe closer together through culture. Being the 2023 European Capital of Culture offers a unique opportunity to promote the Bakony-Balaton region as a European creative and cultural centre; with Veszprém as its centre. It also provides a European, if not a world stage for the cultural riches of Veszprém’s fellow UNESCO City of Music cities and its sister cities around the globe.

Through InterUrban, the amazing melodies, flavours and creative talents from 29 cities from 25 countries are being brought to Veszprém and the Bakony-Balaton region. The featured InterUrban city will change every two weeks (see calendar below).

The second city presented in the programme will be 2030 European Capital of Culture Ghent, Belgium. Ghent’s tenure will last 30 January – 12 February 2023.

Featured performers from Ghent include Sara Salvérius, Jef Neve & Teus Nobel, Barrière Movement Circus and Heebie Jeebie Jazz: ‘Veszprém-Balaton 2023 ECoC deals with all areas of culture. Whether it is gastronomy, visual arts, music, theatre, literature or even health culture, our programmes cover the widest possible range of genres. We not only consider it very important to make the traditions of Veszprém and the region more widely visible, but also to broaden our own horizons. As the current title holder of the Cultural Capital of Europe, we have a unique opportunity through the InterUrban programme to display the diverse cultures of our European neighbours, and further abroad, to people in Veszprém as well as the towns and villages of the Bakony-Balaton region. Countless exciting InterUrban programmes are on offer; from flamenco evenings from Seville to screenings of Finnish Moomin tales, to Japanese tea ceremonies’. - Aliz Markovits, CEO of Veszprém-Balaton 2023.

Attached to this news is the complete press release with the entire programme.