A medieval castle perched high on a rock and lit up with bright dazzling colours was the majestic masterpiece in the opening ceremony of 2026’s European Capital of Culture.
The dramatic backdrop added to the glitz and glamour of the event to mark the fabulous transformation of Slovakia’s 8th biggest, the cool city of Trenčín.
Proud locals volunteered to show off their home to thousands of people who descended on the city for a weekend of partying. And they were treated to the largest cultural event in Trenčín’s history, with the beautiful streets, squares, galleries, churches, clubs and quirky public spaces featuring artists from 13 countries.
Three huge outdoor venues were central to the event, including the main Mierové (Peace) Square with a stage shaped like a stone heart in a nod to the rock below the castle which has a Roman inscription on it, dating from 179 AD, the era of the Marcomannic Wars between the Roman Empire and the Germanic Quadi and Marcomanni.
The extravaganza kicked off with a carnival of stilt walkers, local musicians and traditionally dressed dancers from young to old, parading proudly through the streets to the square to officially open the event.
And at night, the crowds were captivated by the changing colours of the castle looking down on the stage and the Manifest Trenčín, a multi-media show with images, music and the story of the city, paying tribute to its identity, cultural heritage and the personalities who contributed to its formation.
The idea was to awaken curiosity and help make the city a better place to live and proud locals were at the heart of the celebrations.
Stanislav Krajči, director of the project, said:
“We wanted everyone to be able to choose something from the programme which suited them, whether it was a big evening performance or small experience in the neighbourhood zone. The opening weekend showed what a city can look like when it opens up to people, ideas, curiosity and the world.”
Three hundred drones lit up the city, which has 55,000 residents and is close to the Czech border, with the pretty Váh River running through its heart.
Light installations were used to illuminate the city and were complemented with an exhibition of the work of 20th century artist Stano Filko, one of Solvakia’s most important figures.
Artists from Turkey, Portugal and Japan displayed their takes on modern art in the castle which is one of the largest in Europe and full of hidden treasures.
The city is known for its textile industry and local knitters marked this by handing out beautifully crafted hats and head bands to keep everyone warm.
A special exhibition of “What does Trenčín Taste Like”, was set up, giving people a chance to try out delicious local dishes such as beer langos, a deep fried flat bread with whipped goats cream, radish and herbs and handmade wafers with cinnamon.
Visitors to the city have the lovely historic Hotel Elizabeth under the castle rock, to stay in and enjoy all its luxuries and close by is the more modern Hotel Magnus.
The walkable city has lots to see with a magnificent tower at its head and religious gems including the synagogue and parish churches of St Francis and the Birth of the Virgin Mary, making it a joy to visit.
Architecture is a mixture of medieval, historic and 20th century styles, with the ancient castle standing proudly by socialist era buildings.
Being awarded the city of culture has brought in much needed financial boost to increase tourism, better the infrastructure and encourage Trenčín to show off its beauty to the world.
During the year, there are lots of events and activities to bring positive change to this lovely corner of Slovakia. For more information you can check out: www.trencin2026.eu.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Trenčín 2026
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