Trenčín 2026: art, history and territory in a network

In the north-west of Slovakia, along the Váh River, Trenčín is debuting its year as European Capital of Culture 2026. The city, dominated by the ancient castle housing a rare Roman inscription from the 2nd century AD, interweaves different eras with a lively and curious contemporary art scene. Here, the medieval heritage merges with changing urban spaces, creating an open and dynamic cultural landscape.

The project is not limited to the city: the entire region goes on the move, transforming castles, spas and small villages into places for meeting and experimentation. Events, installations, educational projects and community initiatives create a wide and inclusive network, designed to reach even the most peripheral communities. The central idea is to circulate creative energy, making each location part of a single collective narrative.

In the historic centre, the Light Art Festival redesigns bridges, facades and iconic spaces with projections and light games that transform architecture into a work open to the public. Squares, courtyards and gardens host jazz concerts, folk, contemporary music and electronic experiments. Alleys, curtain walls and public spaces become small stages for theatrical performances, readings and urban interventions. Guided tours unveil hidden corners and connect the Roman, medieval and modern city, offering a narrative experience that combines historical research and imagination.

The Trenčín Synagogue, an elegant neo-Byzantine building with delicate Art Nouveau influences, becomes one of the centres of the cultural programme, hosting exhibitions, concerts and meetings dedicated to Central European cultures. A short distance away, the Trenčianske Teplice Spa, with its elegant 19th-century Hammam surrounded by greenery, hosts creative wellness workshops, sound installations and listening sessions in dialogue with the natural environment.

Bojnice, a fairytale castle come to life