The race to Swiss Cultural Capital 2030 The election ended with Aarau's victory. The official announcement was made on June 4 in Bern by the Swiss Cultural Capital Association (CCS), which chose the capital of the Canton of Aargau after a selection process that also included Bellinzona, Thun, and the joint candidacy of Lugano, Locarno, and Mendrisio.
For Italian-speaking Switzerland, the result is certainly a disappointment, but the three Ticino cities involved emphasize that the process undertaken has produced concrete effects that will go far beyond the final outcome of the competition.
A candidacy that united three cities
From the very beginning, the Ticino project stood out for its complexity. Lugano, Locarno and Mendrisio They chose to present themselves together, building a common proposal that required the coordination of three administrations, three decision-making processes, and numerous opportunities for discussion with the population.
The candidacy took shape through extensive preparatory work involving cultural institutions, industry professionals, schools, universities, associations, businesses, and citizens. Focus groups, questionnaires, and public meetings gathered over 400 contributions, enabling the development of a shared strategy, a financial framework, and a future organizational structure.
The final dossier, submitted on December 23, 2025, received the support of 87 local entities, from large companies to cultural institutions, from sports clubs to social organizations, as well as numerous amateur groups and cities located across the border.
The "View from the South" does not convince the jury
The Ticino proposal was developed around the concept of "Vision from the South," a project designed to enhance the role of Italian-speaking Switzerland in the national cultural landscape and foster new forms of collaboration between regions, institutions, and communities.
However, the jury preferred the Argovian candidature entitled Aarau verbindet: Menschen. Raume. Zeit. (“Aarau connects: people, spaces and time”), considered particularly effective in creating connections between citizens, artists and cultural institutions.
According to the evaluators, the Aarau project demonstrated strong potential both culturally and in terms of urban development and territorial attractiveness. Another aspect appreciated was the direct involvement of the local population and cultural fabric throughout the application process.
Why Aarau won
Aarau, a city of around 22 inhabitants strategically located between Switzerland's main urban areas, has built its candidacy around the idea of strengthening ties between the country's different linguistic regions.
In presenting the decision, CCS Association President Daniel Rossellat described Aarau as a city with great, yet partially untapped potential. The jury believed the title could contribute to a lasting transformation of its image and consolidate its cultural role at the national level.
This is not the first time that the Aargau city has taken on a symbolic role in Swiss history: between March and September 1798, it was the first capital of the Helvetic Republic.
The value of a shared path
Despite the lack of success, the authorities of the three Ticino cities highlighted the results achieved during the preparation of the candidacy.
Lugano Mayor Michele Foletti recalled how the city has invested significantly in strengthening its cultural institutions in recent years, emphasizing the importance of continuing the collaboration established with Locarno, Mendrisio, and the Canton.
Deputy Mayor Roberto Badaracco also emphasized the project's legacy, highlighting how the work undertaken has mobilized energy, expertise, and resources that will continue to generate benefits for Ticino's cultural sector.
A similar assessment came from Locarno. Mayor Nicola Pini noted how the candidacy has strengthened cooperation between the three cities and confirmed the area's cultural potential. Nancy Lunghi, head of the Ministry of Culture, described a collaboration that has finally prioritized the networking of expertise over traditional competition between urban centers.
Mendrisio also looks to the future with confidence. Mayor Samuele Cavadini called the experience an important opportunity for shared planning, while Culture Director Paolo Danielli reiterated his commitment to continuing to invest in the sector, supporting operators, associations, and new cultural initiatives.
Italian-speaking Switzerland is already looking to 2033
Among the most significant aspects that emerged from the announcement was the Swiss Cultural Capital Association's openness to a future candidacy for Italian-speaking Switzerland.
According to the CCS, the committee intends to give particular priority to the southern Alpine region for the 2033 edition. If one or more Ticino cities formally express their interest by the end of 2027, the next Swiss Cultural Capital could take place in Italian-speaking Switzerland.
This is an important signal that confirms the value recognized in Ticino's candidacy and the work developed in recent months.
A national project born from the experience of Expo.02
The Swiss Cultural Capital initiative was launched in 2013 by Daniel Rossellat, founder of the Paléo Festival and mayor of Nyon, together with some of the key figures in the Expo.02 experience.
Inspired by the models of European and national cultural capitals already present in several countries, the project aims to strengthen national cohesion through culture, encouraging the development of networks between cultural operators, institutions, and citizens.
Every three years a Swiss city with at least 20 inhabitants is chosen to host a year of events, initiatives and projects aimed at promoting artistic creation and encouraging exchanges between the country's different linguistic regions.
The initiative is now included in the Federal Council's Dispatch on Culture 2025–2028 and benefits from the support of the Federal Office of Culture, the Migros Culture Percentage, and SRG SSR.
From La Chaux-de-Fonds to Aarau
Before Aarau, the role of trailblazer will be taken over in 2027 by La Chaux-de-Fonds, the first city designated in the history of the project.
The Neuchâtel city is preparing a broad cultural programme that will involve institutions, artists and local population, valorising its heritage linked to watchmaking, Art Nouveau and the figure of Le Corbusier.
With the selection of Aarau for 2030 and the focus already on Italian-speaking Switzerland for 2033, the project now enters a new phase. For Lugano, Locarno, and Mendrisio, the challenge doesn't end with the jury's verdict: the work built around the candidacy could indeed represent the starting point for a cultural collaboration destined to consolidate in the years to come.
For more information: Cultural Capital of Switzerland
Promotional video of Ticino's candidacy: Video by Agnese Làposi
