Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
Bogotá, My City, My Home continues to take center stage internationally. Bogotá has been named the 2027 Ibero-American Capital of Cultures by the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI), an international network of 29 cities across 24 countries that promotes cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and experiences throughout the region.
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The decision was announced in Lima, Peru, during the 41st Meeting of UCCI’s Sectoral Committee on Culture, which brings together the officials responsible for cultural affairs in the organization’s member cities. The committee also selects the city that receives this annual distinction.
Bogotá formally submitted its candidacy in December 2025 during the committee’s 40th meeting in La Paz, Bolivia. Its proposal presented Bogotá as an open and culturally rich city that sees culture both as a right and as a powerful force for social transformation, connection, development and community building.
“This is wonderful news and a recognition of everything Bogotá has built through culture: a city that welcomes people and brings together the many forms of knowledge and cultural expression that come here from across Colombia. Bogotá has become a capital with its doors open to the world. This recognition also belongs to our artists, creators, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, communities and everyone who keeps culture alive in our city every day,” said Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán.
The designation recognizes Bogotá’s cultural leadership, its capacity to deliver ambitious cultural policies, and the impact of initiatives that support creativity, innovation, cultural diversity, the cultural economy and cultural rights.
Bogotá’s cultural life extends far beyond its major venues and festivals. It is also deeply rooted in neighborhoods and communities across the city. Initiatives such as Barrios Vivos strengthen community ties and support locally driven creative processes, while major events such as the Festival Internacional de Artes Vivas de Bogotá (FIAV) , the International Art and City Biennial, Festivales al Parque, the Summer Festival, the Bogotá International Violin Competition, Navidad es Cultura, Festival Centro and Monumentum, among others, have expanded the city’s visibility in Colombia and abroad.
Bogotá also hosts more than 18,000 public and private cultural events every year, reflecting the scale and vitality of its artistic and creative ecosystem.
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The city is also home to institutions such as the Bogotá Public Library Network (BibloRed) and the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (OFB), both of which play an important role in expanding access to culture, education and music.
Bogotá has also made significant investments in preserving its cultural heritage. These include the restoration of the columbaria at the Central Cemetery and artist Beatriz González’s work Auras Anónimas, as well as the Usme Archaeological Park, home to what is considered one of Colombia’s largest known pre-Hispanic Indigenous burial sites.
“Our leadership in the region is being recognized, and many of our projects are studied by cultural leaders across the continent. Bogotá has become a reference point for the design and implementation of cultural policy, with innovative strategies that have expanded the role of culture in building more creative and transformative cities. This recognition will place Bogotá at the heart of the region’s cultural agenda in 2027,” said Santiago Trujillo, Bogotá’s Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sport, speaking from Lima.
Bogotá has built one of the region’s strongest public cultural systems. It is led by the Secretariat of Culture, Recreation and Sport (SDCRD), together with six affiliated entities: the Institute of the Arts (Idartes), the Gilberto Alzate Avendaño Foundation (FUGA), the Institute of Cultural Heritage (IDPC), the Institute of Recreation and Sport (IDRD), the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (OFB) and Canal Capital. Together, these institutions enable Bogotá to develop long-term policies and programs spanning culture, the arts, heritage, recreation, sport and public media.
Learn more about this designation in the following post on X by Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán:
Bogotá será Capital Iberoamericana de las Culturas 2027.
— Carlos F. Galán (@CarlosFGalan) August 21, 2026
Este reconocimiento habla de lo que somos y de lo que hemos construido como ciudad: una Bogotá diversa, que crea desde sus barrios, abre espacios para sus artistas y comunidades y tiene cada vez una voz más fuerte en… pic.twitter.com/Uv3tNxRn9j
What does this recognition mean for Bogotá?
Created by UCCI in 1991, the Ibero-American Capital of Cultures designation highlights the cultural diversity, history and heritage of the selected city, as well as its contribution to artistic and cultural development across the region.
For Bogotá, the designation provides a major platform to raise its international profile, deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other Ibero-American cities, and play a greater role in shaping cultural conversations and priorities across the region.
It will also bring Bogotá’s extensive cultural scene to wider international audiences and further establish the city as one of Latin America’s leading cultural hubs.
Bogotá at the heart of Ibero-American culture
The recognition comes at a particularly significant time for the city. In 2027, Bogotá will host the second edition of the International Art and City Biennial, BOG27, one of its flagship initiatives for connecting Bogotá’s cultural sector with international audiences and networks.
The designation will help connect BOG27 and other major city initiatives with artists, cultural professionals, institutions and cities across Ibero-America, creating new opportunities to exchange knowledge, experiences and cultural practices.
It also aligns with the goals of the Bogotá Camina Segura District Development Plan, which recognizes culture as a strategic driver of social and territorial transformation and economic development.
Throughout 2027, Bogotá will have the opportunity to further expand its international cultural partnerships and show Ibero-America not only the breadth of its cultural scene, but also what makes the city distinctive: a place shaped by cultures, accents, memories, traditions, communities and countless ways of creating.
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Discover Bogotá’s best-known attractions and some of its hidden gems on Portal Bogotá and in its Tourism in Bogotá section.
The following video offers a glimpse of some of Bogotá’s most iconic places, its food, cultural experiences, attractions and natural landscapes. Located 2,600 meters above sea level, Colombia’s capital offers countless ways to experience the city.
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*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
