Candidates selected for BSR Cultural Pearls 2027 – Open call attracts strong regional engagement for the 2027 title

The open call for BSR Cultural Pearls 2027 has now closed. Thirteen candidates have been selected among applications submitted by small- and medium-sized municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region. They will now take their first step in the development of their Culture and Resilience Action Plan, in anticipation of the final selection by the international jury in November.

Interest in the BSR Cultural Pearls title has been high again this year. The call for BSR Cultural Pearls 2027 has demonstrated the growing recognition of culture as a vital tool for building social resilience. Six countries from the Baltic Sea Region are represented among the 2027 candidate towns and cities, which now enter the Action Plan development phase.

Running until October 2026, the development phase provides candidates with resources, expertise and access to the network, giving each candidate the best chance to shape a tailored and inclusive plan for their title year. It brings together the thirteen candidates and the rest of the Cultural Pearls Network – facilitating connections between candidate cities, current and former Pearls, experts, and practitioners. Candidates will work towards submitting their action plans for evaluation by the international jury in autumn. The jury consist of international experts from diverse fields, with expertise in social resilience, urban planning and arts. The most promising CuReAPs will be awarded the 2027 Cultural Pearls title, recognising their efforts at the international level.

2027 will mark the fourth year of the BSR Cultural Pearls. The programme continues to expand, reflecting both the increasing relevance of social resilience and the growing recognition of culture as a driver of engaged, resilient and innovative societies.

The updated structure of the initiative provides current and aspiring Pearls with direct access to National Contact Points, serving as experienced knowledge hubs supporting the development and implementation of the CuReAPs. This enables municipalities to address local challenges through approaches tailored to their local context.

The Cultural Pearls Network looks forward to welcoming the thirteen new candidates, expanding the network to new areas of the Baltic Sea Region and strengthening its shared commitment to culture as a driver of social resilience.