Pordenone 2027: Capital of Culture

When I heard that Pordenone would be Italian Capital of Culture 2027, my first reaction was: finally, a city that truly surprises! Because let’s face it, here culture is not a medal to be displayed for just one year, it is an everyday affair.

We didn’t wait until 2027 to celebrate. On the contrary, Pordenone has already set to work, day after day, project after project, with the idea of transforming a title into a real transformation. A thousand days of real, participatory, widespread culture.

The news these days is the launch of the official website, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In this post, I’ll tell you what’s in the pipeline, where the most interesting changes are taking place and why it’s worth starting to follow this city right now.

Towards Pordenone 2027: a thousand days of culture, not one less

Since the day of the announcement, the Friulian city has not stopped.

2026 is the year when ideas take concrete shape, involving citizens, associations, schools, artists and entrepreneurs. Mayor Alessandro Basso described this moment as historic, but also fraught with responsibility. He emphasised how the newly launched digital platform represents not only an institutional showcase, but also an operational and participatory tool, designed to guide those who live in the city and those who visit it.

The Councillor for Culture, Alberto Parigi, also confirmed that many of the 52 projects in the dossier are already operational or at an advanced stage of development. For Pordenone, the Capital of Culture is a transformation that is happening now.

Pordenone and the places that take centre stage

The city is changing its face. Piazza della Motta lights up with Scenografie Urbane Digitali (Digital Urban Scenery) and is preparing to host an entire season curated by Federico Cautero. The Mercati Culturali (Cultural Markets) are becoming an artistic and social hub in a decentralised neighbourhood, ready to host the photographic exhibition Die Gelbe Wand. Villa Cattaneo is home to the Polo del Futuro Musicale (Pole of the Musical Future), where young talents will bring to life a new centre for concerts, festivals and performances.

And there’s more: the Harry Bertoia Gallery will be transformed into a high-level exhibition space, ready to host major exhibitions in 2027. The neighbouring municipalities are getting involved with a mapping of cultural spaces, while the city will be filled with mosaics representing its identity in the neighbourhoods and temporary events and installations will be set up in vacant shops.

A programme with a long-term vision

2026 will be a year already packed with major events. From concerts in Parco San Valentino with Riccardo Cocciante, Dogstar and Skunk Anansie, to the opening date of Cesare Cremonini’s tour in Gorizia. The exhibition “Miles Davis 2026. Listen to this” is also coming soon, offering an immersive experience of sounds, images and original documents.

There will be no shortage of major festivals. The Montagna Teatro Festival will explore the theme of mountain food with the R-Evolution Green project, while Austrian photographer Stefanie Moshammer will exhibit at the Civic Art Museum and the Cultural Markets.

On the educational front, the Piccolo Dizionario delle ragazze e dei ragazzi (Little Dictionary of Girls and Boys) will collect words and thoughts from the younger generation. Towards the end of the year, the Con Altri Occhi (With Other Eyes) project will transform the city’s iconic locations into illustrated stories thanks to the residency of great comic book artists.

A website to showcase Pordenone Capital of Culture

The new official website www.pordenonecapitale2027.it is online, ready to grow alongside the project.

It was designed by the creative agency I MILLE, with the aim of being intuitive, accessible and bilingual. It will recount the projects, events, opportunities and values of the “Surprising City” on a daily basis.

Ample space will also be dedicated to sponsors, who will be able to support the initiatives by choosing what to promote. The Administration has, in fact, published a call for collaboration with private individuals.

Pordenone Capital of Culture forever

The stated goal is not only to enjoy a great 2027, but to transform cultural investment into a lasting heritage. The Capital Forever project, in collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, will guarantee structured funding even beyond the year of celebration.

In Pordenone, we are not waiting for 2027. We are building it, day after day. Because here, culture is not an event. It is a way of life.

Have you already explored the new website? Or have you participated in one of the “Verso Pordenone 2027” events? Write to me in the comments or share this article with those who love to experience culture in the open air.