Yesterday, 24 city council members agreed to extend Helsingør Municipality’s membership in Elsinore 2032 by one year. No political decision has been made to submit an application to become the European Capital of Culture in 2032, but the way is now clear for a quick decision in 2026.
“I can see that a great many cultural organizations, businesses, schools, and residents have joined the association. They’ve come together because there’s a shared project they’re really eager to pursue. It’s bubbling up from the grassroots […] and I think we should join in.”
These were some of the many words of praise for the work of Elsinore 2032 when the City Council at Helsingør City Hall debated the continuation of the municipality’s membership in the association. They came from the incoming chair of the Culture and Tourism Committee, Ulla Kokfelt (DF), who added:
“We need to explore how we, together with cultural organizations, businesses, and citizens, could tackle this using the means and resources at our disposal […] We’re all for it.”
And so the discussion continued. All around the room, there was a positive atmosphere regarding the municipality’s membership in the association.
Watch the city council debate on this agenda item from Elsinore City Hall on Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Bettina Svinggaard (S) emphasized the importance of the association’s work, regardless of the final outcome of any application for the title: “The Social Democrats are voting in favor because it is important to support and acknowledge that we actually have people here in the municipality who are as dedicated to culture as this association is. Regardless of the outcome, I have no doubt that we will be able to see that all these people have been at it for many years.”
Svinggaard took the floor immediately after the outgoing chair of the Culture and Tourism Committee, Michael Mathiesen (K), had explained how he views the association’s work as a significant contribution to the overall strategy for the municipality’s development. He, too, pointed out that the work will not be in vain, even if it does not result in the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture, because the association has succeeded in bringing together so many stakeholders around the same project, as is the case here.
[SEE THE ASSOCIATION'S MEMBERS HERE]
Bente Borg Donkin (SF) stated that the municipality should work together with the association to find solutions for a project.
Knud Mogensen (R) urged the municipality to ask Elsinore 2032 to prepare a proposal on how to draft an application, and his party colleague Christian Holm Donatzky echoed this call to the incoming city council, of which he himself is not a member: “Maintain your ambitions and keep your sights set high. It’s no use if it all ends up in spreadsheets. We need to have some vision. What will lift the city forward is a cultural initiative.”
Malthe Jacobsen (EL) expressed his party’s skepticism toward “flashy gimmicks.” When the Red-Green Alliance voted in favor anyway, one of the reasons given was that “… we must acknowledge that there are some dedicated enthusiasts running the association, and that has value in itself because it will bring together a whole host of groups in the municipality. Maybe it won’t become a Capital of Culture, but perhaps something even better.”
Mette Lene Jensen (V) also voted in favor, but emphasized that she looks forward to seeing funding proposals that do not come at the expense of welfare services.
Concerns about funding were the only reason Marlene Harpsøe (DD) voted against the motion. Despite this, she offered the association these kind words: “I have great sympathy for the association and the idea of Elsinore as European Capital of Culture.”
If Helsingør is to have any hope of winning the title, it must act quickly. Earlier this month, the Minister of Culture announced the competition, setting a deadline of October 5, 2026, for submitting prequalification applications.
Since the association’s founding in 2021, the board of Elsinore 2032 has been in dialogue with the municipality regarding the project. With the announced deadline, there is a basis for establishing a concrete decision-making framework by early 2026 to determine whether Helsingør should bid for the title.
