Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier and Rouen are the four finalist cities to be designated European Capital of Culture in 2028, during the 43rd edition of the initiative which will return to France, according to a decree published in the Official Journal on Friday.
The names of the finalists among the 9 candidate cities (also with Amiens, Bastia, Nice, Reims and Saint-Denis) were announced in March during a ceremony at the Ministry of Culture. The winning city will be known in December. Four French cities have already held this role, Paris in 1989, Avignon in 2000, Lille in 2004 and Marseille in 2014.
Launched in 1985 under the joint impetus of France and Greece, the European Capital of Culture scheme is supposed to “promote the heritage and cultural dynamism” of the winning towns and should make it possible to stimulate cultural tourism, with the organization many exhibitions, festivals, even the construction of museums.
Up to three cities can be awarded this title each year: in 2023, these are Veszprém (Hungary), Timisoara (Romania) and Eleusis (Greece). Each Member State can only host the event once during the period 2020-2033.
