The capital of the historical province of Banat, Timișoara is the residence of Timiș County and the cultural and economic centre of the western part of Romania. With a population of 306,462, the city crossed by the Bega River has long maintained its reputation as a western, cross-border, young and entrepreneurial city.

The city was built over an ancient Roman fortress, and the first documentary attestation dates back to the 12th century. Timișoara owns the largest ensemble of old buildings in Romania, consisting of the urban ensembles of the Cetate, Iosefin, Elisabetin and Fabric neighbourhoods. The varied architecture, the influences of the Viennese Baroque and the multitude of parks have earned Timișoara the reputation of "Little Vienna" and the "City of Parks".

Between 1880 and 1914, Timișoara was the most important industrial, commercial, financial and cultural city in the region, admired for its artistic excellence in music, literature, painting, sculpture and architecture, as well as for its technical and scientific innovations.

Even before 1989, in the middle of the Cold War era and a totalitarian political regime, Timișoara was considered an experimental and ingenious city, where conceptual art Sigma Group and the rock band Phoenix started. It was the only place in the country where artists were performing in public spaces.

It is a multicultural city, influenced by various ethnic communities, such as German, Hungarian and Serbian, but also Bulgarian, Italian, Greek and Roma. Also, Orthodox believers, Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Lutherans, Reformed, Muslims and other denominations practise their religion in harmony. InTimișoara, the meaning of the word “tolerance” has evolved to “fraternity”.

Timișoara is an important intersection of destinations in Europe, with seven major capitals in Central and South-Eastern Europe within a radius of 600 kilometres: Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Zagreb, Skopje and Bucharest. It is also an important railway centre, while the Bega Canal is the oldest navigable channel on the current territory of Romania.

Sometimes big changes start on street corners. In 1884, Timișoara was the first city on mainland Europe to have electric street lighting. In 1989, the sparks of the Revolution against Ceaușescu’s regime were ignited on the streets of Timișoara. In 2023, in the streets of Timișoara – European Capital of Culture we will spark a needed conversation about courage and tolerance.

For Timișoara 2023 comes with a challenge: Shine your light – Light up your city! We can illuminate the city together with our glowing curiosity, love of art and respect for diversity, our determination to take a step forward and take a stance for our common European values.

Openness. The city of over 300,000 people remains true to its spirit, currently hosting 21 cultures and 18 religions. In 2023, you should expect hundreds of celebrations of our openness, from contemporary dance performances in hidden courtyards to sound installations in synagogues.

Insight. The city takes pride and inspiration in its past – as it hosted the first public library with a reading room in the Habsburg Empire or the first cinema screening –, while exploring the transformative power of culture to shape its future. Timișoara is a friendly and user-friendly city, with more than 40,000 students, a vibrant creative sector, and an array of welcoming cultural institutions. In 2023, the city will host a series of exhibitions highlighting important figures of Romanian and European art, while transforming the plazas and the parks into worldwide connected stages.

Wonder. The richness of the urban texture, including over 10,000 historical buildings, generous public spaces, and historical neighbourhoods with distinct identities, combined with the development of blue-green corridors along the Bega Canal, makes the city appealing for families, the relocation of professionals from across the world, but also for the free spirits backpacking Europe. In 2023, you will be able to explore the city and its heritage while enjoying a concert on the riverbank or parking your scooter to the next open air performance.

While our city is already an interesting and welcoming destination for business or leisure travellers, in 2023, the title of European Capital of Culture gives us a new set of reasons to shine. Our lush parks alongside the Bega River and our generous public spaces will host a vast array of events, from concerts to immersive theatre, while hidden courtyards or prestigious institutions will showcase collaborations between European and local artists or performers. Besides the shows and the exhibitions that will be quite impossible to miss, here is a short list of reasons (for you) to keep us on your shortlist.

Fusion. For 2023 expect to expand the definition of local multiculturality with subcultures and countercultures: from digital nomads to vegan curators and techies, from bohemian festival goers to cut-to-the-chase movie producers. If you want to experience 50 shades of English accent, look no further than any terrace bordering Piața Unirii. If you want to see how heritage pairs with craft beers while respecting the genuine texture of a historic neighbourhood, don’t miss Piața Traian or Piața Maria. Don’t be shy to ask for recommendations, to join a conversation or an opening for an art show. We are a friendly city and a user-friendly European Capital of Culture.

Networking. There is no shame in looking for opportunities and in talking shop after the applause ends. Timișoara is an emerging hub for contemporary arts, design, architecture, publishing, photography, art-sci projects and crafts, so 2023 is your best chance to gather portfolios and business cards. Recurring events dedicated to upcycled fashion or independent publishing, or boutique festivals are the best places to meet the makers. Let them help you discover coworking hubs, artist-run spaces or local studios. Expect to meet promising local artists and entrepreneurs, as well as to extend your network in other Romanian and European cities.

Going off the beaten path. Timișoara 2023 can also be the perfect excuse, if you need one, to explore the region. Some of the events will take place in villages and cities nearby such as Dumbrăvița, Lugoj, Jimbolia, Arad, but the European Capital of Culture year will also give you the opportunity to discover some unexpected gems of contemporary art in the post-industrial city of Reșița or the artistic communities in the Instagram-ready villages of Caraș Severin. On the other hand, we designed our decentralised programme to honour a complementary cultural map of the city, creating cultural sparks in dormant, while charming, neighbourhoods, while providing context and contemporary content to the historical districts of the city.