The European report on the candidate cities for the European Capital of Culture 2031 is published, including recommendations for the next phase

The panel of independent experts of the European Union has released the report corresponding to the pre-selection phase of the European Capital of Culture 2031 in Spain, which includes assessments of the candidate cities and provides guidance for the next stage of the process.

In this document, the jury confirms the selection of Oviedo as one of the four finalist cities, alongside Cáceres, Granada and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which now move forward to the decisive phase. Oviedo’s bid, built around the concept of Amabilidá, has been recognised as a strong proposal, with a contemporary vision aligned with major European challenges.

The report highlights the project’s strong territorial roots, its participatory nature —with the involvement of more than 1,000 people— and its extension across the 78 municipalities of Asturias. It also underlines its capacity to activate cultural networks throughout the region and to strengthen the connection between urban and rural environments. Furthermore, the panel values the quality and diversity of the cultural programme, which spans different disciplines and combines contemporary creation, heritage, innovation and citizen participation.

The report also emphasises the transformative potential of strategic projects such as the redevelopment of the former La Vega arms factory into a major cultural hub, together with the broad institutional and social support behind the bid, including the joint commitment of Oviedo City Council, the Government of the Principality of Asturias and the wider Asturian territory.

The document also includes a set of recommendations aimed at further strengthening the proposal ahead of the final phase, reinforcing its ambition, European dimension and long-term impact, particularly in areas such as international cooperation, external projection and engagement with new audiences.

The four finalist cities must submit a revised bid book by the end of the year, ahead of the final decision scheduled for December 2026. Oviedo thus continues to move forward in a process that places culture at the centre as a driver of transformation, social cohesion and international projection.

Read the report here https://www.cultura.gob.es/dam/jcr:3ab0c903-651d-4c11-8cd3-6db5836ddf37/spain-2031-preselection-report-13-04-2026.pdf