L'Aquila set to succeed Agrigento as culture capital.L'Aquila, the city devastated by the massive earthquake that struck the central Abruzzo region 16 years ago, will take up its role as Italian Capital of Culture 2026.Italy's president Sergio Mattarella will officially launch L'Aquila as Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2026 with a ceremony in the city on 17 January. Over the course of 2026, hundreds of cultural events will take place in L'Aquila which won the coveted culture capital status with its bid titled Un territorio, mille capitali. Full details of L'Aquila's cultural programme for 2026 can be found on the official website. Where is L'Aquila? Located about 100 km north-east of Rome, L'Aquila sits in the shadow of the Gran Sasso, the highest peak in the Apennine mountains. L'Aquila was founded in the 13th century and, according to legend, was formed by the union of 99 local castles. This number is a recurring theme in the city's identity; it is said there are 99 squares, 99 churches and 99 fountains. L'Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo and has a population of around 70,000 people. 2009 earthquake In the early hours of 6 April 2009, L'Aquila was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, killing 309 people. The earthquake left thousands of people homeless and devastated more than 50 villages in the surrounding region, in the deadliest terremoto to hit Italy since the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. In a symbolic sign of rebirth, Rome's MAXXI opened a new contemporary art museum in L'Aquila in 2021. Italy's Capitals of Culture: brief history Launched in Italy in 2014, the first Italian culture capitals were Cagliari, Lecce, Perugia, Ravenna and Siena in 2015, Mantua in 2016, Pistoia in 2017 and Palermo in 2018. The Italian title skipped a year in 2019 when Matera, in the southern Basilicata region, became the European Capital of Culture. In 2020 it was the turn of Parma to receive Italy's culture capital status, with the north Italian city retaining the title for a second year to make up for the negative effects of the covid lockdowns. Procida, a small island in the Gulf of Naples, held the prestigious title in 2022. Bergamo and Brescia jointly held the 2023 Capital of Culture title after Italy bypassed the usual application process in a "symbol of rebirth" for the two northern cities devastated by the covid pandemic. In 2024 the title went to Pesaro before passing to Agrigento. After L'Aquila, the northeastern Italian city of Pordenone will become Italy's Capital of Culture in 2027.

L'Aquila, the city devastated by the massive earthquake that struck the central Abruzzo region 16 years ago, will take up its role as Italian Capital of Culture 2026. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella will officially launch L'Aquila as Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2026 with a ceremony in the city on 17 January. Over the course of 2026, hundreds of cultural events will take place in L'Aquila which won the coveted culture capital status with its bid titled Un territorio, mille capitali. Full details of L'Aquila's cultural programme for 2026 can be found on the . Where is L'Aquila? Located about 100 km north-east of Rome, L'Aquila sits in the shadow of the Gran Sasso, the highest peak in the Apennine mountains. L'Aquila was founded in the 13th century and, according to legend, was formed by the union of 99 local castles. This number is a recurring theme in the city's identity; it is said there are 99 squares, 99 churches and 99 fountains. L'Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo and has a population of around 70,000 people. 2009 earthquake In the early hours of 6 April 2009, L'Aquila was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, killing 309 people. The earthquake left thousands of people homeless and devastated more than 50 villages in the surrounding region, in the deadliest terremoto to hit Italy since the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. In a symbolic sign of rebirth, Rome's MAXXI opened a new contemporary art museum in L'Aquila in 2021. Italy's Capitals of Culture: brief history Launched in Italy in 2014, the first Italian culture capitals were Cagliari, Lecce, Perugia, Ravenna and Siena in 2015, Mantua in 2016, Pistoia in 2017 and Palermo in 2018. The Italian title skipped a year in 2019 when Matera, in the southern Basilicata region, became the European Capital of Culture. In 2020 it was the turn of Parma to receive Italy's culture capital status, with the north Italian city retaining the title for a second year to make up for the negative effects of the covid lockdowns. Procida, a small island in the Gulf of Naples, held the prestigious title in 2022. Bergamo and Brescia jointly held the 2023 Capital of Culture title after Italy bypassed the usual application process in a "symbol of rebirth" for the two northern cities devastated by the covid pandemic. In 2024 the title went to Pesaro before passing to Agrigento. After L'Aquila, the northeastern Italian city of Pordenone will become Italy's Capital of Culture in 2027.