Tartu, together with Southern Estonia, is the European Capital of Culture in 2024 

European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 is the main event in Estonia in 2024 and the largest joint endeavour of Tartu and Southern Estonia. The title year is the culmination of five years of activity.

Objectives of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 title year

Value-based and audience-rich European Capital of Culture:

• opening the creative concept Arts of Survival and its values ​​to the public;
• reaching a total of 1 000 000 visits to the programme.

Well-organised European Capital of Culture:

• Tartu 2024 is one of the most famous brands in Estonia by 2024;
• carrying out communication, marketing and the programme in cooperation with the public and private sectors.

The impact and legacy of the European Capital of Culture

The title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is an immense opportunity and a great challenge for Tartu and Southern Estonia:

• The project is designed to be carried out by our today’s and tomorrow’s cultural operators: artists, organisers, institutions and creative entrepreneurs. 
  
• More broadly, everyone is involved in the European Capital of Culture: as an audience, volunteers or supporters, as service providers or in other roles.
  
• A well-organised ECoC will greatly benefit region’s economy. Direct benefit will come from the increased number of daily and overnight visitors but also from increased investments from national and international stakeholders.
  
• During and after ECoC preparation period and title year it is possible to evaluate the impacts of the ECoC process: the increase in the wellbeing of the residents who are engaged as audiences and creators, the attractiveness of the city in the eyes of talents, investors, entrepreneurs and the improvement of connections to and from Europe.
• Successful implementation of the ECoC supports addressing the major challenges identified in Tartu's and Southern Estonia's cultural strategies. Achieving long-term effects also contributes to achieving the objectives of the region’s significant institutions - educational and memory institutions, companies, associations, etc.

On 28 August 2019, the International European Capital of Culture Expert Commission appointed Tartu as the European Capital of Culture in 2024. The decision was made based on the bid book submitted by Tartu and the 19 Southern Estonian municipalities.