Applications closed for BSR Cultural Pearls 2026: title draws strong interest from across the region
The call for applications for the BSR Cultural Pearls 2026 title has officially closed — with 17 small and medium-sized municipalities from across the Baltic Sea Region stepping forward to be part of the appreciated programme.
This strong turnout, nearly matching last year’s number of 18 applicants, reflects the growing recognition of the BSR Cultural Pearls title. The continued high level of interest underlines the programme’s relevance and impact, especially in smaller and less central municipalities that see the power of culture and creativity to strengthen social resilience.
The 2026 applicants are:
Estonia: Vormsi
Germany: Glücksburg, Schleswig
Latvia: Cesvaine, Rēzekne
Lithuania: Neringa, Pakruojis, Visaginas
Poland: Gdynia, Gniew, Kobylnica, Krosno, Malbork, Zagórz
Finland: Kristinestad – Kristiinankaupunki, Pargas – Parainen, Tampere
These cities aim to build on the momentum set by the 2024 and 2025 BSR Cultural Pearls, whose creative and community-driven initiatives have become examples to follow for culture-driven resilience across the region.
A Two-Stage Selection Process
The selection of BSR Cultural Pearls 2026 journey begins with a pre-selection phase, in which the municipalities’ motivation, vision, and potential for long-term impact of the planned activities are evaluated. The most promising candidates will move on to develop a full Cultural and Resilience Action Plan (CuReAP) by the end of October 2025.
During this phase, candidates will be supported by national mentors, expert-led webinars, and access to a knowledge-sharing platform of case studies, methods, and good practices. They will also benefit from the experience of past titleholders — municipalities that have already demonstrated how culture can be a catalyst for more connected, resilient communities.
An international jury of experts in social resilience, urban planning, arts, and pan-Baltic cooperation will assess the final action plans. The three cities with the most convincing action plans will be awarded the BSR Cultural Pearl 2026 title, to be announced at the end of November 2025.
The BSR Cultural Pearls programme is co-funded by the EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and implemented by a consortium of 12 partner organisations. Its mission is to empower municipalities to harness culture, creativity, and community action in building stronger, more resilient societies.
For more information, visit www.culturalpearls.eu