The event marks a key milestone as Trenčín and Oulu prepare to showcase the richness and diversity of European culture. The goal of the gathering was to highlight the shared spirit of the European Capitals of Culture initiative, to inform the public about the upcoming programmes, and to invite citizens across Europe to visit both cities throughout the year. At the event, Stanislav Krajči, CEO of Trenčín2026, and Patrik Žák, Deputy Mayor of Trenčín, jointly introduced the Trenčín programme to the public, while Piia Rantala-Korhonen, CEO of Oulu2026, outlined Oulu’s programme.

Throughout the year, the two cities will present a wide range of cultural events, bold artistic collaborations, and immersive experiences that bring together local communities, international artists, and European audiences. Both Trenčín and Oulu will use the transformative power of culture to reimagine their cities, foster innovation, and strengthen their place in the European cultural landscape.

AWAKENING CURIOSITY
Trenčín2026’s cultural programme, titled “Awakening Curiosity,” uses curiosity as a lens to transform the city and region. Through hundreds of projects and events, it builds bridges between people, past and future, and imagination and reality.

The programme focuses on three key areas: People and Relationships, fostering trust, a sense of belonging, and civil engagement in city life; Places and Public Space, activating walkways, squares, and parks as communal sites, such as the reimagining of an old railway bridge into the “Fiesta Bridge”; and Creativity and Culture, fostering local talent, nurturing emerging artists, and promoting international artistic exchange. By exploring history, cultural memory, ecological responsibility, equality, and new forms of expression, Trenčín invites audiences to experience the city in unexpected ways and engage with its ongoing transformation.

Stanislav Krajči, CEO of Trenčín2026: “Becoming a European Capital of Culture is an invitation for everyone to see Trenčín through new eyes. ‘Awakening Curiosity’ is more than a programme, it’s a moment to connect the city’s stories with its people and visitors, to activate public spaces, and to explore creativity in ways that transform both the city and the region. We look forward to sharing Trenčín’s heritage, its present, and its future with audiences from across Europe and beyond.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME
The celebration will begin with the Opening Ceremony of Trenčín2026, taking place from February 13 to 15, 2026. The three-day programme will engage the entire city, beginning on Friday with schools and students taking centre stage, continuing on Saturday with community breakfasts, parades, cultural activities, and a festive evening ceremony of performances and concerts. The programme will conclude on Sunday with family- and community-focused events, culminating in a symbolic act on the Váh River, marking the official start of Trenčín2026.

In early February, Trenčín2026 will showcase two major art projects. Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist (CH) will create a striking pop-up intervention that gently subverts normative systems and institutional frameworks, flooding the city with her radiant and critical imagery. Meanwhile, Oliver Ressler (AT) will unveil a site-specific installation for the Green Line project, curated by acclaimed artist and climate activist Oto Hudec (SK), inviting residents to experience the environment of the city anew.

Spring will highlight the second edition of the Light Art Festival Trenčín, which will illuminate streets and public spaces with large-scale projections, interactive light installations, and site-specific artworks, offering residents and visitors a memorable visual experience.

Throughout the summer, the city will see the revival of Splanekor 2.0, a unique local tradition involving a joint voyage of handcrafted vessels along the Váh River. Emphasising community, artistic expression, and ecology, the project bridges heritage and contemporary creativity, engaging both residents and artists. Trenčín will also host a major international exhibition at the newly renovated County House. Curated by Ilona Németh (HU) and Edit András (HU), Global Equality and Hospitality will present works by renowned international artists, such as Hito Steyerl (DE), Sanja Iveković (CR) or Artur Żmijewski (PL), which will address human rights, social inequality, populism, and democracy, inviting reflection on pressing global challenges through contemporary art.

In September, the newly reimagined Fiesta Bridge will come alive during the Fiesta Festival, inviting the public to enjoy art, performance, and community gatherings atop this landmark. The former railway bridge will open up the city centre, offering views of the castle and historic core, and become a new cultural venue with a floating stage and lively riverside spaces, a vibrant symbol of Trenčín’s contemporary culture and heritage.

Among many other events across the city, Trenčín2026 will celebrate dance and theater, featuring premieres by Petra Fornay (SK), Simone Sandroni (IT), and Jozef Fruček (SK). In October, the city will host Altofest, a Neapolitan concept of experimental theatre by Anna Gesualdi (IT)

Trenčín 2026 is financially supported by the city of Trenčín, the Trenčín Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The European Union is a partner of the project. and Giovanni Trono (IT), transforming private homes into performance spaces through a unique process of cohabitation between artists and residents.

The programme will also highlight architecture and urban innovation during Architecture Days, and celebrate sustainable fashion at the LUMó Hub and the Laboratory of Sustainable Fashion, supporting local designers through exhibitions, workshops, and collaborative projects. The year of celebrations as European Capital of Culture will culminate in December with the Closing Festival of Trenčín2026.

ABOUT TRENČÍN2026

Trenčín has been designated the European Capital of Culture 2026, with the ambition to transform the city into a vibrant hub for art, creativity, and community collaboration. More than a single year of cul ural celebration, the programme represents a long-term vision for renewal, one that will leave a lasting mark on the city and its wider region. Through Trenčín 2026, old places are being revitalised, cultural experiences expanded, opportunities created, and connections with Europe strengthened.

“Awakening Curiosity”, the guiding theme of Trenčín2026, embodies an open and forward-looking approach that invites new perspectives on people, the city, and the world around us. It encourages questioning, discovery, and the search for meaningful connections between past and future, city and nature, culture and everyday life. Rooted in curiosity, the programme fosters experimentation, creativity, and the courage to transform Trenčín into a place that inspires engagement and active participation.

Trenčín is a historic city in western Slovakia, known for its iconic castle, cultural traditions, and vibrant arts scene. It hosts significant music festivals, artistic events, and community initiatives every year, making it attractive not only to residents but also to visitors from Slovakia and abroad.

By earning the title European Capital of Culture 2026, Trenčín builds on its rich heritage and opens up new possibilities for creative and sustainable development. The Trenčín region is one of the most significant areas of Slovakia, characterized by its diverse natural landscapes and a strong industrial and cultural tradition. Located in the northwest of the country, it includes historic cities such as Trenčín, Prievidza, Považská Bystrica, and Myjava, all connected by their unique character and dynamic growth. The region offers a wealth of cultural landmarks, including majestic castles, traditional folk festivals, and a flourishing artistic scene.

It is also renowned for its spa towns, such as Trenčianske Teplice, and stunning natural beauty, including the Strážov Mountains and White Carpathians. The title European Capital of Culture 2026 will bring new opportunities to the entire region, strengthen cultural collaboration, and support tourism as well as local communities.

Trenčín 2026 Unveils Alan Prekop’s

Interactive Installation to Countdown to European Capital of Culture With only 10 weeks until 2026, the year Trenčín, Slovakia, becomes the European Capital of Culture, the city is launching a symbolic countdown.

On October 31 at 7:00 PM CET, a unique object will be unveiled in M. R. Štefánik Park: an interactive audiovisual work by architect and designer Alan Prekop. The evening event Counting Down the Future will also include a discussion on the transformation of urban space, an exhibition, and an audiovisual videomapping experience by artist Boris Vitázek along the Váh River.

COUNTDOWN AS A LIVING ORGANISM
Trenčín 2026 Countdown Clock (ZERO) is no ordinary monument. It is a vertical structure with interactive light and sound elements that reacts sensitively to its surroundings while reflecting the city itself. "The object breathes, flashes and waits. The countdown is not just a function here but becomes a place where the present meets the future," explains the author of the work, architect Alan Prekop.

The visual language of the work plays with the contrast between reflection and disappearance. Mirrored surfaces reflect the city and its details, but at the same time, at certain angles, they allow the object to blend in with its surroundings. Its base is a concrete ring filled with soil and perennials – a gesture symbolising that culture is not just a decoration of the city, but its foundation. Plants that need time to take root remind us that the values cultivated by culture also mature gradually.

TECHNOLOGY IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
The countdown object is equipped with 24 LED panels that display everyday scenes from city life—like a shop window opening, boats on the Váh, or fresh bread being delivered. The video, created by Emma Lea Nikodýmová (camera), Adam Kubala (editing), and Juraj Marikovič (music), brings these scenes together in a continuous loop. All lighting elements have been designed with consideration for the biodiversity of the city park: the selected light wavelength is gentle on nocturnal insects, birds, and small wildlife, respecting the park’s natural rhythms.

Visitors can interact with the installation via QR codes to modify the light intensity. Once the countdown reaches zero, the object does not disappear. Instead, it gains a new role: welcoming visitors, providing information, and continuing to serve the city—not as a symbol of anticipation, but as an active part of the European Capital of Culture year 2026.

URBAN TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ART AND DIALOGUE
The Counting Down the Future event bridges public space with art and civic discussion. The program begins at 5:00 PM CET with a guided tour of the exhibition Cursed Bratislava by visual artist Filip Bielek at the FOR MAAT gallery. At 5:45 PM CET, a panel discussion, Transforming Urban Space, will feature guests Omar Mirza, City Curator of Trenčín; Renáta Kaščáková, regional development analyst and consultant; and Katarína Onderková, architect and member of Spolka—a collective of architects and sociologists dedicated to creating sustainable cities through participation and education. The discussion will be moderated by Stanislav Krajči, director of the Trenčín 2026 project.

“We want to open a public dialogue about how Trenčín is changing—how its spaces, identity, and cultural infrastructure are evolving. The year 2026 will be the culmination of a long-term process, and events like these are key moments within it,” says Stanislav Krajči.

VIDEOMAPPING ON THE BANKS OF THE VÁH
At 7:30 PM CET, attention will shift to the Lodenica area near the Fiesta Bridge, where Trenčín dolinečka, a videomapping work by Boris Vitázek, will be presented. This reinterpretation of a traditional folk song takes on a poetic and slightly melancholic tone. Through laser projection, floral motifs, and spatial sound, the work creates an immersive atmosphere that viewers can experience from various vantage points—either from the bridge or beneath the boathouse.

“I was curious about how we might translate a traditional motif into a visual language that’s both personal and universally understandable.This isn’t about folklore—it’s about memory. About the quiet emotions we carry inside,” explains Vitázek.

THE EVENING CONCLUDES WITH THE .DAT FESTIVAL
At 8:30 PM CET, the program continues at the Hviezda Cultural and Creative Center with the DAT Festival – a Day of Audiovisual Creation. The festival will showcase artists working with new media, and Boris Vitázek will also lead a creative workshop.

FINAL COUNTDOWN BEGINS
The unveiling of the countdown installation, titled Zero, marks the final phase of preparation for 2026, when Trenčín will take on its role as the European Capital of Culture. The Counting Down the Future event brings together art, architecture, public space, and community life. It embodies a vision of culture as a force that transforms the city from within—gradually, respectfully, and boldly.