Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo apply together for European Capital of Culture in 2032

"The residents of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo deserve to be the winning candidate for the next European Capital of Culture in Bulgaria, in 2032," announced the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Daniel Panov. The idea for the joint candidacy was at the insistence of artists and intellectuals in Veliko Tarnovo.

The town has been working on the cause since last year, and at the end of February 2025, the Municipal Council unanimously supported the proposal for the town to join the race.

"Our neighbors are well ahead in the preparations - they have already registered the necessary municipal foundation, the Municipality of Gabrovo has hired a team of three independent cultural experts, and their clients have been 11 of the last 13 cities that have won the title," added Panov.

Both towns have already participated in the prestigious race once before - in 2014, but unsuccessfully. Now the chances are greater, as long as Gabrovo takes the outstretched hand.

The possibility of two or even three cities being the European Capital of Culture is not unprecedented. This is the case with the current winners Chemnitz (Germany) and the twin cities on the border Gorizia (Italy) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), which jointly hold the prize in 2025.

In 2019, Plovdiv was the first European Capital of Culture in Bulgaria together with the Italian city of Matera. The decision on which city is designated as the European Capital of Culture is made 6 years before the year in which the city receives this privilege.

Edited by Joan Kolev
English version: R. Petkova
Photos: veliko-tarnovo.bg, gabrovo.bg