Representatives from the city’s cultural institutions, as well as numerous independent artists, creative spaces and representatives of the creative sector from Burgas, the region and entire country, shared their conceptual proposals, artistic projects and inspiring messages. They were joined by over 45 international projects from Sweden, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, the United States, Nigeria and others.  

They thank everyone for their interest in the process and desire to contribute to the Burgas 2032 cause! The open call for concept proposals marked the beginning of the actual phase of developing the city’s bid, in line with the approach of seeking the broadest possible public participation and stimulating creative energy in the city and the region. 

The open call was launched on 10 February 2026, and a series of discussions and creative workshops held throughout the process brought together hundreds of people eager to contribute ideas for Burgas’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2032.

A working group is to be formed to review all submitted projects and draw up a priority list of conceptual proposals that best meet the strategic needs at this stage of the bid’s development.

The open call listed five possible thematic lines to guide the creative thinking of participants in the procedure:

• ‘No One Left Behind’
• ‘Nature to Culture to Nature’
• ‘Liquid Border(s)’
• ‘InSitu - InSites – InSights’
• ‘Guardians of the Soul’