Victoria, Malta, named European Capital of Culture 2031

Victoria, a city on the island of Gozo in Malta, has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2031. The selection followed a competitive nine-month process involving an independent panel of national and EU experts.

In the selection process, Malta had two candidates: Victoria and Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa). Birgu was eliminated during the pre-selection stage in November 2025, leaving Victoria to proceed to the final round. This marks the second time a Maltese city has received this distinction, following Valletta in 2018.