The City of the Sassi, Matera, is Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026: a title with the city of Tetouan, Morocco, for the entire year 2026. The recognition will be animated by the Terre Immerse program, which aims to enhance the deep cultural and historical connections of the Mediterranean, including inland areas with no direct outlet to the sea. Matera, after the European Capital of Culture in 2019, thus aspires to bring together diverse communities from southern Italy and beyond, promoting dialogue, knowledge sharing and creative innovation across the entire Euro-Mediterranean area.
“Today is a wonderful day for Matera and for Italy. The City of the Sassi takes on a profoundly strategic title: It becomes the Capital of cultural collaboration among the communities of the Mediterranean koinè, of this area of the world linked by millennia of relations and exchanges, vital for the present and future of our Nation,” said Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, speaking yesterday in connection with the inauguration ceremony of Matera Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026, an initiative he had presented at the end of November 2025 in Brussels to the Council of Culture Ministers of the European Union.
“From the heart of the city to its ancient districts, Matera will tell the world its history and what we might call the ’identity genealogy’ of the Ancient Sea, which continues to shape our present. I want to extend my thanks to the influential leaders of the Union for the Mediterranean, Petra Kèzman, and the Anna Lindh Foundation, Josep Ferré, for believing in this city and designating it as Capital. And I am very happy that distinguished representatives of the European Commission, Vice President Fitto and Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Šuica, are with us to celebrate this historic day for the city and for the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. I hope for Matera, ”immersed land,“ ”bridge of stone,“ place of the heart of all Italians, Europeans, Mediterraneans, the success it deserves for its year as Capital. Long live Matera, long live Tetouan.”
Photo: Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons
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| Matera is Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026 |
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