European Capital of Culture 2031 candidates

Victoria to represent the region of Gozo and Birgu the Xlokk region

The Valletta Cultural Agency has received two applications in response to a call for Expressions of Interest for towns and regions in Malta and Gozo to hold the European Capital of Culture title in 2031.

The Expression of Interest was launched in November 2020 and closed on 31 March of this year, by which deadline two submissions were received; one from Birgu for Reġjun Xlokk and one from Victoria for the region of Gozo.

The Valletta Cultural Agency will be leading a mentoring process over the coming weeks. Meetings with the candidates will be held and a seminar with European experts on the subject will take place in September to prepare the candidates for the intense process required over the next two years and to start building their networks with other European Capitals of Culture.

Following Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture, a city in the Maltese islands will be named European Capital of Culture 2031, according to a schedule established by the European Commission. The first local phase of the project invited towns to prepare and submit their initial proposal by means of a local Expression of Interest.

As per the Creative Europe’s European Capital of Culture programme, the initiative is designed to highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe; celebrate the cultural features Europeans share; increase European citizens’ sense of belonging to a common cultural area and foster the contribution of culture to the development of cities.

The local process of submissions is being led by the Valletta Cultural Agency which was established as a legacy of the Valletta 2018 Foundation. Part of the Agency’s remit, as set out by LN427 of 2018 is “to coordinate the bidding process for the next European Capital of Culture title for the Maltese Islands”.