Oviedo's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2031 has taken a decisive step forward with the submission of its final Bid Book, the document outlining the cultural project with which the city hopes to secure the title. After months of work, dialogue and participation, Oviedo 2031 is entering the final stage of the selection process, which will conclude on 3 December with the announcement of the Spanish city that will share the European Capital of Culture 2031 title with Malta.

Under the motto Amabilidá. Choose Utopia, the candidacy proposes a cultural transformation that extends across the whole of Asturias. Amabilidá, understood as a way of relating to one another based on listening, dialogue, coexistence and care, lies at the heart of a project that seeks to strengthen connections between people, territories and Europe.

The new Bid Book expands on and further develops the proposal submitted during the first selection stage, providing greater detail on the artistic programme, European dimension, citizen participation, and management and funding models. It is the result of a collective process involving more than 1,000 people, over 200 interviews and nearly 100 meetings with cultural, social and institutional stakeholders.

One of the defining features of the candidacy from the outset has been its regional scope. Oviedo 2031 has been developed as a shared project involving the whole of Asturias, bringing together municipalities, institutions, cultural professionals and citizens. Collaboration between public administrations across the political spectrum, alongside the creation of new cultural partnerships, has helped consolidate a proposal that sees culture as a driving force for social transformation and European cooperation.

The submission of the Bid Book was also marked by a celebration at Kuivi Almacenes. The venue welcomed a large gathering of artists, cultural professionals, institutional representatives and people involved in the candidacy. The event provided an opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to building Oviedo 2031 and to highlight the collective nature of a project that has continued to grow through participation and dialogue.

With the Bid Book now submitted, Oviedo faces two decisive milestones. On 27 November, a delegation of the international jury will visit the city to gain first-hand insight into the territory, the venues associated with the candidacy and the work carried out with cultural and social stakeholders. On 1 December, the Oviedo 2031 team will travel to Madrid to defend its proposal before the panel of experts. The final decision will be announced on 3 December, when one of the four finalist cities — Cáceres, Granada, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Oviedo — will be selected as European Capital of Culture 2031.

Regardless of the outcome, Oviedo 2031 aims to ensure that the journey so far leaves a lasting legacy for Asturias. Strengthening the cultural sector, building new networks of European cooperation, encouraging citizen participation and reclaiming spaces for culture are all part of a transformation that the candidacy hopes will continue well into the future.