The city of Montpellier and the surrounding territories of the Hérault, from Sète to Agde via the first foothills of the Cévennes and Lunel, have just launched their candidacy to be the European Capital of Culture in 2028.
1. Official candidacy
The official announcement and the launch of the candidacy took place on 31 March in front of several hundred cultural, political and associative actors gathered at the Opéra Comédie, an emblematic Italian theatre in Montpellier.
If it is Montpellier which submits its candidacy, it is a whole archipelago of territories which combine their forces. said the , .
Michaël Delafosse, socialist mayor of Montpellier
The opening of the ceremony of Montepllier’s candidacy began with a short video clip extolling the charms and assets of “Montpellier 2028”, in the presence of the mezzo soprano Adèle Charvet, Sponsor of the candidacy.
2. Montpellier
With a population of around 468,000, Montpellier’s strengths include architecture combining medieval gems and ultra-modern buildings, internationally renowned festivals, particularly in the field of contemporary dance, and leading museums such as the Fabre Museum (painting) and the MO.CO. (Contemporary Montpellier).
Montpellier also counts on history, traditions, museums, festivals, theatres, artists and architecture to support its candidacy to the European Capital of Culture 2028. Famous cultural treasures include Hérault, Agde la Grecque, Pézenas and Molière, Gignac, Lunel and the Pic Saint-Loup and the Sète soul with its 14 festivals, from rap to jousting via Brassens against a backdrop of the Mediterranean and the sun.
We want to transform the territory, work with young people, be a land of welcome for artists. We want to have European cultural contributions.
Nicolas Dubourg, artistic director of Montpellier’s 2028 bid
3. European Capital of Culture
Created in 1985, the European Capital of Culture aims at promoting the richness and diversity as well as common cultural aspects in Europe, hoping to contribute to bring Europeans closer together and improve mutual understanding.
In 2028, France, the Czech Republic and Macedonia are the countries that will indicate the European capital of culture. So far, the candidate cities include Chomutov, Brno, Liberec, Broumov and Kutná Hora, in Czech Republic; Amiens, Reims, Rouen, Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Banlieue and Montpellier, in France; and Skopje, in Macedonia.
