A journey begins: towards Matera Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026
Matera is ready to write a new chapter in its cultural history. After the success of its year as European Capital of Culture 2019, the city is set to become the beating heart of the Mediterranean as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026. This prestigious recognition celebrates Matera as a crossroads of identities, cultures, and dialogue, reaffirming its role as a bridge between the shores of a sea that has been a symbol of exchange and encounter for millennia.
The Terre Immerse project will be characterized by an itinerant and participatory approach, involving not only Matera but also the surrounding regions of Southern Italy. This journey will connect diverse communities under the concept of what we call cultural transhumance. Just as shepherds once moved across territories with the changing seasons, culture will now travel, overcoming geographical and mental boundaries to forge new connections and enhance the ever-evolving Mediterranean identities.
This title comes at a crucial moment for the Mediterranean—a space of extraordinary beauty and diversity, yet also of challenges and transformations. Matera aspires to be a symbol of hope and dialogue, a laboratory of ideas and innovation to address the pressing issues of our time: from environmental sustainability to migration, from social inclusion to digital transformation.
Matera will not embark on this journey alone. The project will be developed in collaboration with international institutions such as the Union for the Mediterranean and the Anna Lindh Foundation, alongside Tetouan, the Moroccan city that will also hold the title of Mediterranean Capital of Culture in 2026. This network of partners will be key to building an ambitious cultural program, engaging artists, citizens, associations, and businesses in a dynamic movement of dialogue and co-creation.
2026 will be a significant opportunity for Matera and the entire Basilicata region, an open and inclusive journey that will leave a lasting mark on the identity of the region, the South of Italy, and the entire Mediterranean.
The journey towards Mediterranea 26 has just begun. Follow our path here on LinkedIn to discover the stories, updates, and projects shaping this extraordinary adventure. Share your vision of a Mediterranean that thrives through dialogue!
Photo credits by Flo Dahm
