Four Spanish Cities Shortlisted for European Capital of Culture 2031

Four Spanish cities have reached the final stage in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2031. The title, awarded by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, will this time be shared between Spain and Malta. The final decision on the winner will be announced in December 2026.

Initially, nine Spanish candidates competed for the prestigious title. These included Burgos, Cáceres, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Potries (Valencia), and Toledo. After the first selection round, an international panel of experts named four finalists. Each city presented its own cultural development concept.

• Cáceres focuses on culture as a tool for connecting generations, using its historic centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as a space for social and cultural projects.

• Granada is building its bid around the Alhambra and the combination of rich historical heritage with modern creative and technological initiatives.

• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria proposes the project “Rebellion of Geography,” positioning the city as a cultural bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• Oviedo has put forward an initiative under the slogan Puxa Europa (“Long live Europe”), promoting linguistic diversity and the value of minority languages.

The European Capital of Culture initiative has existed since 1985. Spanish cities have won the title several times. It has been awarded to Madrid (1992), Santiago de Compostela (2000), Salamanca (2002), and San Sebastián (2016).

The finalists now have nine months to refine their projects, taking into account the experts’ recommendations.