Call for Applications for BSR Cultural Pearls 2026 title announced

The BSR Cultural Pearls programme is proud to announce the opening of its third call for applications for the BSR Cultural Pearls 2026 title, inviting local authorities to join a programme building resilient communities through culture. The call provides a unique opportunity to gain international recognition for their work while joining a regional network of existing Pearl-cities dedicated to creating liveable cities and resilient communities.

The Cultural Pearl Title a sign of recognition for small and medium-sized municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region and an accelerator for developing socially resilient communities by harnessing the power of culture.

The goal for any city applying for the title is to create and implement an Action Plan leading to better functioning, healthier neighbourhoods where co-creation, cooperation and involvement of different stakeholders creates mutual trust, civic engagement and better understanding between decision-makers and citizens

Access to materials, peer-learning and experts during the title year will allow to test new approaches to community cohesion, see first results and gain capacity to continue further.

“The Cultural Pearls title puts the spotlight on the role of communities for societal resilience. Our aim is to equip our cities with the tools and momentum to make their communities thrive,” says Felix Schartner Giertta, BSR Cultural Pearls project manager representing the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat, lead partner

Competition for the title has increased every year since the start in 2023, with 18 cities applying in last year’s call. “The biggest strength of our approach is the mentorship offered during the application process, meaning each applicant-city gains a well-developed action plan, whether or not they manage to secure the title at the end,” says Egija Salnikova, head of the selection process.

Applications for the Cultural Pearls 2026 title are now open, with submissions accepted until 4 April 2025.

Find more information on the application process HERE