Auditions start for the Italian Capital of Culture 2028, here is the calendar of the finalist cities

The dates are 26 and 27 February, when the hearings of the ten finalist cities in the running for the title of Italian Capital of Culture 2028 will take place in the Sala Spadolini of the Ministry of Culture in Rome. "Presided over by a jury of experts, the hearings represent a decisive moment in the process of selecting the winner, offering each participating city the opportunity to present its candidacy dossier, illustrating its strategic vision and responding to the questions that will be posed by the jurors," the MiC announced.

At the end of the two days of meetings, the jury will thus have all the elements to assess the finalist projects in detail and submit to Alessandro Giuli, the indication of the winner, who will be announced by 27 March 2026 and will benefit from a grant of one million euros to implement the initiatives planned and included in the candidacy dossier.

The calendar of meetings, divided into two days and sessions of one hour each, is as follows. Thursday 26 February 2026 09.00 - 10.00 Anagni (Fr) with the dossier 'Hernica Saxa. Where history binds, culture unites'. 10.15 - 11.15 Ancona with the dossier 'Ancona. This now'. 11.30 - 12.30 Catania with the dossier "Catania continues". 14.00 - 15.00 Colle di Val d'Elsa (Si) with the dossier "Colle28. For everyone, everywhere". 15.15 - 16.15 | Forlì with the dossier "The paths of beauty". Friday 27 February 2026 09.00 - 10.00 Gravina in Puglia (Ba) with the dossier "Roots to the future". 10.15 - 11.15 Massa with the dossier "La Luna, la pietra. Where the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apuan Alps meet history'. 11.30 - 12.30 Mirabella Eclano (AV) with the dossier "L'Appia dei popoli". 14.00 - 15.00 Sarzana (SP) with the dossier "L'impavida. Sarzana crossroads of the future'. 15.15 - 16.15 Tarquinia (VT) with the dossier "Culture is flight".

The hearings are public, so the sessions will be streamed live on the MiC YouTube channel. The Italian Capital of Culture is an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture - Department for Cultural Activities, which aims to enhance Italy's heritage and stimulate the planning of cities in the name of culture as an engine for development, innovation and social cohesion.