Back”Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls 2026” Candidates: Title Draws Strong Interest
The call for applications for the Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls 2026 title has officially closed and from 17 applicants 16 small and medium-sized municipalities will be stepping forward to be part of the appreciated programme.
This strong turnout, nearly matching last year’s number of 18 applicants, reflects the growing recognition of the Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls title. The continued high level of interest underlines the programme’s relevance and impact, especially in smaller and less central municipalities that see the power of culture and creativity to strengthen social resilience.
The 2026 candidates are:
- Estonia: Vormsi
- Germany: Glücksburg, Schleswig
- Latvia: Cesvaine, Rēzekne
- Lithuania: Neringa, Pakruojis, Visaginas
- Poland: Gdynia, Gniew, Kobylnica, Krosno, Zagórz
- Finland: Kristinestad – Kristiinankaupunki, Pargas – Parainen, Tampere
These cities aim to build on the momentum set by the 2024 and 2025 Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls, whose creative and community-driven initiatives have become examples to follow for culture-driven resilience across the region.
A Two-Stage Selection Process
The candidates have successfully managed the first stage of the Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls 2026 journey, which begins with a pre-selection phase, in which the municipalities’ motivation, vision, and potential for long-term impact of the planned activities are evaluated. They will now move on to develop a full Culture and Resilience Action Plan (CuReAP) by the end of October 2025.
During this phase, candidates will be supported by national mentors, expert-led webinars, and access to a knowledge-sharing platform of case studies, methods, and good practices. They will also benefit from the experience of past titleholders — municipalities that have already demonstrated how culture can be a catalyst for more connected, resilient communities.
An international jury of experts in social resilience, urban planning, arts, and pan-Baltic cooperation will assess the final action plans. The three cities with the most convincing action plans will be awarded the BSR Cultural Pearl 2026 title, to be announced at the end of November 2025.
The Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls programme is co-funded by the EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and implemented by a consortium of 12 partner organisations. Its mission is to empower municipalities to harness culture, creativity, and community action in building stronger, more resilient societies.
For more information, visit www.culturalpearls.eu.
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