An unexpected candidacy

But why Bourges? Far from the big cities, this medium-sized town embodies an alternative to the dominant urban models. With a project focused on sobriety, inclusion and ecology, Bourges 2028 aims to become a cultural laboratory for human-sized territories, where 85% of Europeans live. Bourges was not the favorite at the outset. With its 63,000 inhabitants, it stands out from the previous French capitals, all of which are major cities or metropolitan hubs. Yet it was precisely this modesty that won over the European jury of twelve experts, two of them French. Competing against nine initial candidates (Amiens, Bastia, Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Rouen and Saint-Denis), Bourges stood out from the rest at the auditions in March and December 2023, thanks to its singular vision. The "Territoire d'avenir" project is based on a strong idea: culture as a lever of development for medium-sized and rural towns. In a context where large metropolises are often the focus of attention, Bourges proposed a "human-sized" bid, emphasizing proximity and sobriety. As the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, emphasized, choosing Bourges means "supporting a city that relies on culture for its human, social and economic development". This ambition is part of a wider dynamic: to give a voice to territories often perceived as forgotten, located in what is sometimes called the "diagonal of emptiness". The city boasts a rich cultural heritage: Saint-Étienne Cathedral, the medieval center linked to Jacques Cœur, the first Maison de la Culture inaugurated in 1963 by André Malraux, and the Printemps de Bourges festival. But Bourges 2028 is not content with its past: it wants to project this heritage into a sustainable and inclusive modernity.

The four thematic axes

The program is based on four major challenges, outlined during the pre-selection phase and refined for the final bid. The first is to forge closer links between Bourges, its inhabitants and Europe, through the creation of a European Citizens' Council for Culture, inspired by the local Citizens' Assembly, and a River International that highlights biodiversity while promoting exchanges with other European river territories. Secondly, Bourges aspires to reinvent a common language through art, by becoming a creative hub thanks to the future European City of Artists and Authors, a space dedicated to the continent's creators. The project also relies on culture as a lever for sustainability, with a commitment to reduce carbon emissions from events by 50%, in partnership with the Shift Project, drawing on existing infrastructures and green mobility. Finally, equity guides this ambition: equal access to culture is prioritized for all, especially women, minorities and young people, through initiatives such as Classe Départ, which offers artistic workshops to school dropouts. These orientations reflect a vision in which culture, ecology and social justice are intertwined, supported by an openness to Europe.

Flagship projects

Bourges 2028 is supported by 52 major artistic projects, marked by their originality and ambition. Among them, the Cité européenne des artistes et des auteurs (CE2A) will come to life in the Hôtel-Dieu, dedicated to supporting creators (training, health, rights) and destined to become a perennial space for pan-European creation and distribution after 2028. In the same vein, the Bourges train station will be transformed into a "plant totem" thanks to the talents of artists such as Eva Jospin, who will merge culture and nature in an immersive work of art. Innovation continues with cultural night trains, linking Bourges to cities such as Romania, Norway and Portugal, where exhibitions, concerts and performances will turn the journey into a low-carbon artistic experience. The already emblematic Printemps de Bourges will open up to a continental dimension by welcoming European talent, consolidating its position as a showcase for contemporary music. Large-scale exhibitions will enrich this dynamic: the mourners of Duke Jean de Berry, on loan from the Louvre, and works from Beaubourg will combine contemporary art and heritage. In addition, the Antre Peaux wasteland and the Axéréal site will be rehabilitated to house artistic collectives and cultural enterprises. This dynamism is accompanied by an innovative call for projects, entitled Contributions pour réinventer les imaginaires (CRI). Launched in March 2025, it has been allocated 5 million euros out of a total artistic budget of 30 million. This unprecedented initiative invites local residents and associations to take an active part in designing the official program - a first in the history of European Capitals.

A collaborative vision

This designation goes far beyond the city, and is based on an ambitious collaborative network: a Matrix bringing together 15 cities with populations of less than 100,000. The network spans France, with Châteauroux, Issoudun, Vierzon, Blois, Avignon, Angoulême, Béthune, Nevers and Guingamp, and Europe, with Matera, Bodø, Tartu, Oulu and Bad Ischl.

The aim is to pool projects and promote an innovative cultural model specially designed for non-metropolitan areas. This initiative embodies a collective dynamic representing the 150 million Europeans living in similar contexts. To reinforce this cooperation, three European symposia have already been organized since 2023, helping to structure and energize this unprecedented approach. The project's organization is pragmatic and sober, supported by an overall budget of 40 million euros - well below the 100 million of capitals such as Marseille - financed by a partnership between the French State, local authorities (Ville, Agglomération, Département du Cher, Région Centre-Val de Loire), the European Union via the Melina Mercouri prize endowed with 1,5 million, and private sponsors through an endowment fund, all orchestrated by a team of some fifteen members based at 36 rue Moyenne since June 2024, supported by some sixty volunteers, under the direction of Frédéric Hocquard, general delegate, who is preparing to accelerate efforts until 2028.

A cultural revolution for the regions

This project has concrete ambitions for transforming the city and its region. It aims to boost tourism, drawing on the success of Marseille, which welcomed 11 million visitors in 2013. It also seeks to revitalize a local economy weakened by high unemployment and demographic decline, while offering a new image to the capital of Berry. However, the challenges ahead are considerable. It will be necessary to orchestrate a major event with limited infrastructure, in a city with no TGV. Universal accessibility will have to be ensured, and the momentum generated will have to be sustained beyond 2028. The success of this project will depend on the mobilization of local players and the ability to realize an ambitious vision, despite the constraints. Much more than a simple event, this project represents a gamble on the future of medium-sized towns, demonstrating that creativity, sustainability and inclusion can metamorphose a territory far from the metropolises, a potential cultural revolution, as Mayor Yann Galut affirms: "If Bourges becomes European Capital, it will be a revolution", a project already underway with three years to go, driven by a collective energy that could redraw the role of small towns in Europe.