Czech Republic | European Capital of Culture 2028 projects
The city of České Budějovice, Czech Republic, will host the title of European Capital of Culture in 2028 and they are now calling for proposals for artistic or cultural outputs to be implemented in České Budějovice or the South Bohemian Region as part of the 2028 programme.
The theme of the Open Call 2026 is (Perma)culture as a content framework, not as an aesthetic style or a single theme that needs to be illustrated. (Perma)culture is a way of thinking, planning and collaborating that respects the principles of caring for the Earth, caring for people, and caring for the future (responsible use of resources). This is reflected in the content of the project, its implementation, and its impact.
The ECOC programme currently consists of over 60 projects, however, the following genres are under-represented or not represented and will be given preference: contemporary and conceptual fine art; audiovisual, multimedia and digital arts, immersive content, video game development, film; architecture; contemporary design and fashion; contemporary music; photography.
Eligibility
The call for proposals in 2026 is open to legal entities and is not restricted by territory. Individuals cannot apply, but they can join project implementation teams. Each project must involve at least one international partner and at least one partner from the South Bohemian region.
Budget
The applicant submits a budget for two years of preparation and implementation (2027, 2028) within one of the two categories:
- Small projects: 750,000 CZK (minimum budget) – 1,500,000 CZK (maximum amount of support) with 70% maximum share of support in total costs
- Large projects: 2,200,000 CZK (minimum budget) – 4,000,000 CZK (maximum amount of support) with 50% maximum share of support in total costs.
European Capital of Culture 2028 application guidelines
Deadline: 10 July 2026