Ancona Named Italian Capital of Culture 2028: a Citizens-Led Victory

Ancona Named Italian Capital of Culture 2028: a Citizens-Led Victory

18 March 2026 — Ancona has been proclaimed the Italian Capital of Culture for 2028. The jury's unanimous decision rewarded a dossier focused on the city's port identity, urban regeneration and a European-Mediterranean outlook.

The candidacy stood out for its community engagement: the Municipality and the Marche Region conducted a survey that collected citizens' views, proposals and more than one hundred project submissions. The official dossier, titled "Ancona. Questo Adesso", includes over 80 strategic projects coordinated with local cultural institutions and territorial bodies.

• Key themes: relationship with the sea, collective memory, port identity and urban regeneration.
• Participation: public consultations and working tables with the Port Authority, the Archdiocese and local associations.
• Funding: a one-million-euro national grant to implement the initiatives outlined in the dossier.
• Expected impact: increased cultural tourism, reuse of disused urban spaces, stronger cultural networks and active involvement of young people.

The jury highlighted the project's ability to combine local identity with international openness, noting its attention to the European and Mediterranean dimension and the central role of youth in cultural processes. Past examples of cultural capitals show how the title can accelerate regeneration processes and attract significant visitor growth.

This recognition offers Ancona an opportunity to systematize dispersed initiatives and enhance the city's historical and maritime heritage, with residents playing a direct role in shaping the 2028 programme.