The race between Limassol and Larnaca for the coveted title of European Capital of Culture 2030 is entering its final stages, as both cities prepare for the crucial visits and presentations before the European Commission’s Panel of Experts.

>>Larnaca Wins the Race for European Capital of Culture 2030<<

The final phase will include on-site evaluations in both cities and the presentation of their final bid books, with the results to be announced on 11 December 2025.

Speaking to OffsiteNews, Kelly Diapouli, Artistic Director of Larnaca 2030, confirmed that the city’s final bid book was submitted on Friday, 30 October 2025.

She described it as “the result of three years of intensive and inspiring work, capturing the ambitions and dreams of thousands of citizens, artists, and creative professionals from our city.”

Diapouli explained that preparations are now focused on the final steps: the visit of the Panel of Experts to Larnaca on 8 December 2025, lasting from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

During their visit, the experts will meet local artists and cultural professionals, explore the city’s spaces, and assess how the proposed program could be integrated into Larnaca’s urban and cultural fabric.

The final presentation of Larnaca’s bid will take place on 10 December 2025. According to Diapouli, it will consist of a 45-minute presentation, followed by a 75-minute Q&A session with the panel.

The winner city will be officially announced on 11 December 2025.

Meanwhile, OffsiteNews also spoke with Eleana Alexandrou, Artistic Director of Limassol’s bid, who confirmed that their final dossier was submitted the previous week.

The city’s core team, she said, is now fully focused on the two final stages of the evaluation process.

Regarding the expert visits, Alexandrou explained that they will take place on 8 and 9 December in both Limassol and Larnaca. During an eight-hour evaluation session, the committee will have the chance to explore the cities, meet stakeholders and cultural figures, and assess how each city’s proposed program could be implemented in real conditions.

As for the final presentation, Alexandrou noted that it will last 45 minutes and follow specific criteria:

• Each city’s team may include a maximum of ten members,

• Both core team members and partners must participate,

• And the Mayor’s presence is mandatory.

In the second part of the final phase, lasting about 90 minutes, the panel will pose questions to both delegations. This will allow them to evaluate each city’s readiness, problem-solving capacity, and feasibility of their proposed plans.

According to Alexandrou, the results will be made public the day after the final evaluation process.

Three cities will ultimately be selected from three different countries for the European Capitals of Culture 2030:

• One from Cyprus,

• One from Belgium, where three cities are competing, and

• One from a third country, either a candidate or potential candidate for EU membership.

The city chosen in Cyprus will also receive the “Melina Mercouri Prize”, which includes €1.5 million in funding under the Creative Europe programme.