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Capitals of culture

San Sebastian (2016)

San Sebastian has been shortlisted for the final run-up to European Capital of Culture 2016

That’s right, we’re through the first stage and figure among the shortlisted cities. San Sebastian continues its enormously exciting journey towards becoming European Capital of Culture 2016.

San Sebastian will be accompanied in this final stage by another five candidate cities: Burgos, Cordoba, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Segovia and Zaragoza. Cities which, like ours, will work hard in the coming 9 months to win the title.

We would like to take this opportunity to convey our very sincere gratitude to you, the thousands of people who have backed, trusted in, worked, shared – and questioned – the San Sebastian 2016 Bid. Not only do we thank you, we also congratulate you, because this project is every bit as much yours as it is ours. Between us, we’ve made it possible.

We’ll continue to need your enthusiasm, complicity and, above all, your WAVES OF ENERGY to continue on this journey; a journey which is at once cultural and a transforming experience. An odyssey leading to 2016.

Remember to keep an eye on the San Sebastian 2016 Bid website as we sail ahead.

The people of San Sebastían believe that this candidature represents an important challenge to help us enhance our city.

The city is at an important moment of its history with the extension of the Kursaal, the new San Telmo Museum, Tabakalera, the second phase of the Aquarium, The Jazz Festival, The Festival of Publicity Film, The San Sebastian International Film Festival, The Musical Fortnight, The Festival of Human Rights Films, The Week of Fantastic and Horror Films, which will only consolidate our key position as an European cultural city.

The city is at an important moment of its history which will only consolidate our key position as a European cultural city

  • At the end of 2009, the Spanish government will publish the official bidding specifications for the candidate cities.
  • Until then, there are no official candidates but rather only “statements of intent” have to be submitted.
  • The candidate cities will prepare their initial bid, which has to be submitted before October 2010.
  • At the end of 2010, 4 capitals will be shortlisted from the final phase.
  • The shortlisted cities will prepare their final bid to be submitted in October 2011.
  • At the end of 2011, the European Capital of Culture 2006 will be decided.
  • The official announcement of the selected city will be made during 2012.
  • At the end of 2010, 4 capitals will be shortlisted from the final phase.

There are 18 candidate cities: Alcalá de Henares, Asturias, Burgos, Cáceres, Cordoba, Cuenca, Donostia- San Sebastián, Malaga, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca and Balearic Islands, Pamplona, Santander, Segovia, Tarragona, Tenerife, Valencia, Zaragoza and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The three Spanish cities which have been European capitals of culture are: Madrid (1992), Santiago de Compostela (2000) and Salamanca (2002).