UfM Foreign Ministers endorse Córdoba and Saida as 2027 Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue at 10th Regional Forum
Barcelona, 28 November 2025. On the occasion of the Day of the Mediterranean, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), together with the Anna Lindh Foundation, announce that Córdoba (Spain) and Saida (Lebanon) have been officially designated as the 2027 Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue.
This decision was endorsed today by the Foreign Ministers of the 43 UfM Member States during the 10th UfM Regional Forum, held in Barcelona to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and cooperation, and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process.
A Symbolic Union Rooted in History and Hope
Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage city, brings to the initiative its legacy as a beacon of coexistence among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim civilisations. Its 2027 programme will transform the city into a living laboratory of dialogue, where artistic exchange, citizen participation and digital innovation converge to reimagine a shared Mediterranean future.
Saida – ancient Sidon – carries millennia of Mediterranean memory, shaped by Phoenician maritime trade, Roman architecture, Arab and Crusader heritage, Ottoman urban planning and modern Lebanese cultural movements. As a city that has long navigated complexity and diversity, Saida’s candidacy affirms the transformative power of culture to heal, connect and inspire.
Together, these cities will deliver a yearlong programme of events – spanning music, heritage, youth engagement, and sustainable creativity – placing grassroots dialogue, inclusivity and territorial cooperation at the heart of Mediterranean identity.
Building on a Vision of Shared Values
Launched in 2022 by the 43 Member States of the UfM and co-led with the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue initiative aims to strengthen regional cohesion through culture.
Following the successful inaugural edition with Tirana (Albania) and Alexandria (Egypt) in 2025, and the upcoming 2026 programme in Matera (Italy) and Tétouan (Morocco), the 2027 designation reaffirms the initiative’s bottom-up approach, driven by local authorities, civil society and citizens.
“Culture remains our most powerful common language,” said UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel. “Córdoba and Saida remind us that the Mediterranean is not a border, but a shared space of memory, creativity and hope. Their joint journey in 2027 will inspire a new generation of Mediterranean citizens committed to dialogue, exchanges and cooperation.”
A Year of Shared Celebrations
Throughout 2027, Córdoba and Saida will host a dynamic calendar of events, from artistic residencies and heritage festivals to policy dialogues and community exchanges. Their collaboration will emphasise sustainability, gender equality, digital inclusion and the protection of both tangible and intangible heritage, aligning closely with the UfM’s regional priorities.
Applications for the 2028 edition will open in January 2026, inviting cities from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to step forward as champions of culture and cooperation.
