13 March 2025

Granada has managed to place itself among the shortlist of cities vying to become the European Capital of Culture in 2031, a distinction that represents an extraordinary collective achievement.

As such, Granada has obtained the long waited status of ‘Finalist City’, along with Cáceres, Las Palmas and Oviedo. The mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo, wished to congratulate all of them, and also those who did not make the cut, assuring that “it is a brave bet and a good decision to bet on Culture as a transformative axis”.

The Mayor expressed her happiness and pride in achieving this goal, underlining the significance of reaching this stage of the process and the collective value of the journey taken so far. She also highlighted the solidity of the proposal presented before the international jury. “We have defended a rigorous, solid and profoundly vibrant bid, clearly explaining what city we want to be and how culture can help us build a more open, creative and connected Granada with Europe. Behind this project there is talent, work and, above all, a shared vision among thousands of people; that is what keeps us moving forward on this path.”

Granada’s mayor once again congratulated everyone involved in the process, especially for their intense work over recent weeks, which culminated last Tuesday with the official defense of the bid book at the Ministry of Culture in Madrid before the international panel of experts tasked with evaluating the candidacies.” A presentation that was characterised by technical rigour and the emotion of representing an entire city and that has achieved its objective: placing Granada in the final stage of the process.

The news was received in Granada during an event organized by the City Council in the Plenary Hall of the Consistory. The ceremony was attended by members of the Granada 2031 European Capital of Culture Consortium, the team that defended the bid, and representatives from the city’s cultural and social spheres who have supported the process.

The bid has also stood out for its strong territorial and collective dimension. The project has been supported by the entire province, bringing together 174 municipalities, institutions and organisations around a shared initiative that promotes culture as a lever for development for the region as a whole.

Broad social participation has also played a key role, with the University, research centers, cultural associations, citizen groups, businesses, and creative professionals all joining in. Together, they have shaped a bid that is truly a project for the entire city. At the same time, the proposal has highlighted Granada’s European dimension, its cultural heritage, and its ability to engage with other cities and territories across the continent. This aligns the project with European values, sustainability, and the challenges of the contemporary urban agenda.

The Granada 2031 project sets out an ambitious cultural strategy: The creation of new spaces for cultural innovation, restoring historical heritage for cultural use and the boosting of infrastructures aimed at strengthening the city’s creative ecosystem. Furthermore, the bid aims to strengthen the role of Granada as a major cultural capital through its festivals and by reviving and promoting cultural initiatives that help project the city’s image both nationally and internationally.

Following the announcement that Granada has moved on to the final stage, the City Council wishes to share a message of gratitude to all the people, entities and institutions that have helped make this progress possible.

The Mayor said that “we want to thank all of Granada: its institutions, the cultural sector, its associations, its companies and every citizen who has believed in this project. Today we’re celebrating coming this far, but above all we look foward with more strength than ever. We have a project, we have a team and we have the enthusiasm of an entire city, united and eager to continue moving forward. ”

The city now faces the coming months with the goal of completing this process and achieving, by the end of the year, the recognition of becoming European Capital of Culture 2031. This is a collective dream that Granada aspires to conquer through hard work, talent, and the conviction that culture is the best way to build its future, aligned with the 2040 Strategic Plan.