Attention to Sami culture is one of the main objectives of the Oulu 2026 program and was one of the things that most impressed foreigners who visited Oulu in the first days of its activity as European Capital of Culture for 2026.

"Cultural climate change" is the inscription on the hat worn by the Mayor of Oulu, Ari Alatossava, at the inauguration of the year's European Capital of Culture. And it is the main theme of Oulu 2026, which opened with a snowy ceremony attended by the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, who emphasized that "the theme invites us to think about how we can learn new things through cultural experiences and create a sustainable future."

"Cross Talks" was the title of the first day of meetings between representatives of the European Capitals of Culture from 2025 to 2029, splendidly organized by Eu Japan Fest in Tokyo last week in the two days of “Meet up ECoC – Face to Face”.

“Meet up Ecoc” by Eu Japan fest becomes “face to face”. This beautiful initiative devised to overcome distances during the Covid pandemic by the Japanese non-governmental organization that has been collaborating with the European capitals of culture since 1993, is transformed into two days of meetings between the Japanese artistic scene and the European capitals of culture for the next five years.

The first "cross-border" European capital of culture opened in Nova Gorica and Gorizia, on the border between Slovenia and Italy, in the presence of the highest officials of the two states.

The European dimension must continue to be the cornerstone of the European Capitals of Culture programmes also in the future regulation that will be discussed next year by the European Parliament.

 Last week the annual General Committee meeting of Eu Japan Fest was held in Tokyo, the non-governmental organization that has supported the exchange between Japanese and European cultures since over thirty years by collaborating with the European Capitals of Culture.

The "Japan Days in Kaunas WA" are coming to an end and were the occasion for the visit of the Eu Japan Fest delegation led by Chairman Nobuyuki Hirano.

The light seems to be the common pattern of two of the three European capitals of culture this year. Veszprem used as claim of the opening ceremony “Shine”. Timisoara, “"Shine your light - Light up your city!".

In accordance with the calendar set out in the Annex of Decision No 445/2014/EU as amended by Decision (EU) 2017/1545, the title of European Capital of Culture shall be awarded in 2029 to one city in Poland and to one city in Sweden.