Constructing legitimate multi-level cultural policy: local and European objectives in the European Capital of Culture Oulu2026

The European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) initiative is one of the European Union’s longest-running cultural programmes, operating as a multi-level policy bridging EU-level objectives with local contexts. This article examines how the initiative addresses the needs of citizens and local stakeholders, using Oulu2026 in Northern Finland—comprising the city of Oulu and 39 diverse municipalities—as a case study. The analysis draws on both qualitative and quantitative data from surveys, interviews and documents.