According to the municipality, the Ponta Delgada City Council in the Azores will put 3 million euros into initiatives in the 24 parishes of the municipality, following the city's finalist status as the European Capital of Culture, 2026. Since 2024, Portugal has had an annual Portuguese Capital of Culture, the first three chosen being Aveiro, Braga and Ponta Delgada.
The project, which will integrate all the parishes in that municipality of São Miguel, artists and local agents, was approved “by a large majority” in the Municipal Assembly of Ponta Delgada, according to the local authority. As shared by the president of the Municipal Council of Ponta Delgada, "There are 3 million euros that will include many local agents and artists. 3 million euros will be invested in the culture of our 24 parishes. 3 million euros that will allow us to be Ponta Delgada 2026 - Portuguese Capital of Culture”.
Pedro Nascimento Cabral (PSD) emphasised that the Portuguese Capital of Culture project is underway and will consolidate the path developed by artists and cultural agents from Ponta Delgada, who represent a cultural reference at a national and international level, “promoting the municipality to new levels of excellence”. Pedro Cabral further added that “The year 2026 will certainly be a year of celebration, promotion, dissemination and training for artists and cultural agents in Ponta Delgada”.
The initiative also aims to encourage the community to participate, creating new audiences and educating in order to stimulate cultural and artistic events "everywhere, with everyone and across the 24 parishes". Areas covered by the project include music, literature, theatre, dance, inclusive arts, visual arts, architecture, urban art, cinema, ethnography, religion, and gastronomy, the mayor has shared.