According to the regulations governing the organization and conduct of the national competition, any city in Moldova that submits a long-term cultural development plan and a program of events capable of having a lasting impact on the development of the local community will be eligible to participate in the selection process. Candidates must demonstrate the European dimension of their projects, the involvement of residents, and the organizational capacity to implement the proposed program. The national competition will take place in two stages: in the first stage, the submitted applications will be evaluated, and cities that pass the preliminary selection will present their cultural projects to an independent jury. The Ministry of Culture’s 2026 budget allocates 250,000 lei for organizing the national competition. Participation in the competition is expected to contribute to the development of the cultural potential of Moldovan cities, strengthen international cooperation, and promote the country within the European cultural sphere. In 2026, the title of “European Capital of Culture” will be held by the cities of Oulu (Finland) and Trenčín (Slovakia). // 30.07.2026 – InfoMarket.