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Tromsø’s decision to apply for the title as European Youth Capital 2026 is based on a 50-year legacy of youth empowerment and participation – from youth riots in the city in the 1970s and-80s to the current situation where methods and initiatives from the region have influenced youth work and youth participation on a National and European level.
Tromsø’s bid for EYC 2026 is a commitment to working towards a more youth friendly city and region, active and inclusive youth participation and strengthening and promoting European values.
Our key aim in being European Youth Capital 2026 is to make Tromsø and the Arctic a better place for young people to live, work and create – and to achieve that we must make Tromsø and the Arctic more sustainable, inclusive and creative.
The perspective of Europe changes when you see it from North of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic has several qualities, but also challenges that require special attention. Tromsø, as the biggest city and the biggest education hub in Arctic Europe, and the youngest city in Norway (!), has a responsibility to include all young people in the region and the High North.
The Arctic – and Arctic Youth – is of key strategic importance for the European Union. The initiative to become EYC 2026 is bigger than Tromsø itself and comes from a need to secure the youth perspective in the region in this transformative era of demographic development (center/periphery), climate change, new energy policy and changes in security policy, to name a few. The initiative is based on the desire to make the Arctic a better place for young people to LIVE, WORK and CREATE. That is why our initiative includes young people in the central and rural areas of Northern Norway as well as partners from Greenland and the whole Arctic region.
“The Arctic – and Arctic Youth - is of key strategic importance for the European Union.”
The next 10 years will be crucial to our success in reconstructing society to make it sustainable and resilient while adapting to the rapid changes around us. We want to build a fair, sustainable, and inspiring future in the Arctic – and what happens in the Arctic will have an impact on the rest of the world. By promoting creativity, experimentation, and cooperation, we hope to foster young people’s active citizenship and strengthen our contribution to the development of society and policies overall.
We have chosen the name “True North – Tromsø 2026” as the main title of our campaign, not only because Tromsø will be the northernmost European Youth Capital ever, but also because we want to challenge the narrative about the north as marginalized, cold, and desolate without hope, but rather a clean, magical place where creativity and sustainability reigns.
We want to make Tromsø and the Arctic more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, and to serve as a model and a source of inspiration for other communities.
We want to motivate and provide young people with the tools to become engaged members of society, advocates for solidarity and positive change inspired by European values and identity.
We want to encourage young people to live creative and inspiring lives, to reach their potential and face future challenges together.
Here are some of the support letters we got from partners in our application process.
“Tromsø contains unique structures for youth participation, and for collaboration between local and international youth. EYP Norway is excited to continue our close collaboration with the city, and to welcome many European young people to the European Youth Capital 2026.”
“We endorse the candidacy of Tromsø for the title of European Youth Capital and their aspirations to enhance youth engagement and foster youthful citizenship both within the city and throughout the entire region. In our experience Tromsø is an engaged and proficient candidate for this role and task.”
“Since the inception of European Youth Capital in 2009, no Arctic municipality has yet been represented. While the human population in the Arctic is relatively small, youth in these regions are disproportionately affected by impacts of climate change and their voices are frequently overlooked by the dominant southern culture. We thus applaud Tromsø’s ambition to increase youth participation and young citizenship in both the city and surrounding region.”
“The Nordic Youth Council commends Tromsø’s dedication to empowering young individuals and creating inclusive spaces for their voices to be heard… We are confident that Tromsø, with its strong commitment to youth participation and its innovative approach to youth development, will excel in hosting a series of impactful initiatives that will inspire young people throughout Europe.”
