Working visit to Matera confirms city’s strong commitment to the 2026 Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue programme

15-16 May 2025, Matera, Italy. As part of the preparations for the 2026 edition of the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue (MCCD), a joint delegation from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) carried out a two-day working visit to Matera, Italy, one of the two designated Capitals alongside Tétouan (Morocco). Its objective was to support local stakeholders in finalising the 2026 cultural programme and strengthening its outreach, engagement, and visibility.

Over two days of intensive meetings, representatives of the UfM and the ALF met with the team and Board of Directors of Fondazione Matera Basilicata 2019, the institution tasked with implementing Matera’s 2026 MCCD programme, along with the Acting Mayor of Matera, representatives from the Basilicata Region, and a wide range of cultural, academic and civil society actors.

The visit included cultural site tours, notably to Casa Noha and the Museo Diocesano. These visits highlighted Matera’s deep-rooted Euro-Mediterranean identity, with particular emphasis on intercultural exchanges throughout history. One standout example was a 16th-century manuscript of the Bible written in both Latin and Arabic, symbolising the centuries-old tradition of coexistence and cultural dialogue in the region.

The programme also featured a well-attended public event at the Chamber of Commerce, with the participation of H.E. Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, Minister of Institutional Reform, and all mayoral candidates. A representative from Tirana, the first MCCD city in 2025 alongside Alexandria, intervened to share experiences. The event gathered over 120 participants and was livestreamed to the wider public. In a key announcement, Matera’s Acting Mayor confirmed the allocation of €500,000 to the Fondazione for the implementation of the MCCD programme.

The UfM and ALF welcomed Matera’s inclusive and forward-looking approach to the 2026 programme. The city is on a promising path to delivering a celebration of shared heritage and regional dialogue, anchored in Mediterranean identity, civic participation, and cultural cooperation.

The Call for Applications to become one of the 2027 Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue is currently open. Cities across the Euro-Mediterranean region are invited to apply and join this regional initiative that fosters cultural exchange, inclusive societies, and sustainable development through the power of dialogue.