Alexandria, a 2025 as Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue
2025 marks the launch of the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue (MCCD) programme, promoted by the Union for the Mediterranean and the Anna Lindh Foundation with the support of 43 member countries. Alongside Tirana, Alexandria has become the first city to receive the title, taking on the role of a cultural laboratory for the entire Mediterranean region.
The Egyptian city opened its calendar with the Hypatia Art Week, a week of initiatives highlighting the contribution of women to Mediterranean culture. Exhibitions, artistic residencies, workshops, musical evenings and archaeological tours turned Alexandria into a stage for dialogue between heritage and contemporary creativity.
The programme continues with major international appointments. In December, the “Education and Skills for Employment” conference will focus on the relationship between education, skills and youth employment, in connection with projects of the Union for the Mediterranean. A few days later, another international meeting will address the risks that rising sea levels pose to World Heritage sites across the Mediterranean, with particular attention to Alexandria and its vulnerabilities.
Alongside these events, the Anna Lindh Foundation has launched a call to support cultural and intercultural activities in Alexandria between October and December. The aim is to broaden participation and bring new actors into the programme, ensuring a tangible impact on civil society.
This first edition of MCCD marks a historic step: Alexandria and Tirana are laying the foundations for a journey that, in 2026, will feature Matera and Tétouan. It is an itinerary that weaves Mediterranean cities into a common fabric, making culture the instrument to build lasting ties and to face the region’s shared challenges.
