Recentring Peripheral Europe: Spatial Imaginaries and Regional Rescaling in the European Capital of Culture Programme

Peripheral European regions gain symbolic revaluation through the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme, but structural change remains limited. The study reveals that peripheral attributes—such as frontier, bridge, or cultural landscape—are institutionally recognized and rescaled into broader territorial platforms only when paired with programmatic materialization. Analysis of six ECoC sites (Matera/Basilicata 2019, Pafos 2017, Leeuwarden–Friesland 2018, Veszprém–Balaton 2023, Bad Ischl–Salzkammergut 2024, and Bodø/Nordland 2024) using bid documents, surveys, and evaluations shows that while symbolic de-peripheralization occurs, governance constraints and mobility issues persist. The findings highlight the programme's role in redistributing visibility without erasing peripherality.

Liu, Y.-D. (2026). Recentring Peripheral Europe: Spatial Imaginaries and Regional Rescaling in the European Capital of Culture Programme. European Journal of Geography, 17(1), 320–336. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.y.liu.17.1.320.336