What is LOV2030
Leuven & Beyond, under the banner of LOV2030, is the European Capital of Culture in 2030.
In numbers
What is LOV?
LOV stands for Lovanium, the Latin name for Leuven. And of course LOV also refers to love. Because love is essential to fulfil our mission: by creating radically new connections, we strive together for a better future for Leuven and the entire region.
LOV is driven by many hands
LOV2030 brings together cities and municipalities from the East Brabant region, numerous cultural partners, LOV volunteers, the Dreamteam2030, the LOV team and many others.
That region is, in fact, essential to us. That is why we deliberately speak of “Leuven & Beyond”: together with the whole of East Brabant, we reach out to the world and show that things can be done differently. This is also why we chose LOV2030 instead of Leuven2030, as the tradition of European Capitals of Culture would suggest.
LOV is all you need to connect the impossible, and it is the energy that is released when that connection is successful.
LOV as a mindset
How do you connect a museum with a primary school? A graveyard with life? A retirement home in Kortenberg with the incubators of Heverlee? Poverty with the climate? The region with the world?
With LOV, of course.
- LOV is not only our name, but also our mindset.
- LOV means looking for what we do not see, for our blind spots, to break through the bubbles in which we live.
- LOV stands for embracing friction and uncertainties.
- LOV brings together culture with education, innovation, sustainability, heritage, and sectors that we may not even know yet.
LOV is all you need to connect the impossible, and it is the energy that is released when that connection is successful.
Why European Capital of Culture?
Polarisation is spreading. Democracy is under pressure. Why is that? And above all: what can we do about it together? How can we find a way to live together in harmony? We believe we can find the beginnings of a solution to the challenges Leuven and the region face.
The European Capital of Culture title is a lever for this:
- The cultural programme in the city and the region will make the entire area an attractive place to live and visit. This will provide a concrete incentive for cooperation on mobility, transport, public transport and bicycle traffic. We will attract artistic talent and visitors not only to the city, but to the entire area. This will create a beneficial dialogue between the city and the region, because the region is us.
- What will we leave for future generations? We believe that art and culture based on imagination contribute to a new story for the future, one about a just and sustainable way of living together.
- It is an excellent opportunity to share experiences with all Europeans. After all, our challenges are also those of Europe and the rest of the world.
How do we tackle that? With radically new connections
What does that mean?
We are strong at networking, both in Leuven and across the region. There are networks centred on culture, education, innovation, sustainability and representation. However, these networks often remain within closed circles. This means that it is often the same people who are heard, whilst others remain invisible. We are in a bubble and do not talk to those who think and act differently.
But if you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.
Failing to talk to one another leads to polarisation. So we need to tackle this differently. We must create the conditions for people and organisations to open up – both to themselves and to one another. We must ensure that our bubbles open up and that new connections become possible. That is what we mean by radically new connections.
What does the programme for 2030 look like?
We will start from our strengths: our people, a clear focus on nature and sustainability and our specialisation in innovation. These three elements are at the core of our DNA. They are also the three major themes for the programme: human, nature and innovation. In the underlying programme lines, we constantly seek out the tension between people and nature, between innovation and people, between nature and innovation. This is how we make the most radically new connections.
These are our programme lines
Human
- Plays of Birth
- Body & Soul
- Power to the People
Nature
- Down to Earth
- Listening to the Forest
- Crossroads
Innovation
- MetaLOV
- Future Fusion
- PastForward
We link specific activities to these programme strands. By 2030, we’re aiming for around 600 activities, a mix of major events, medium-sized events and smaller activities. You can find specific examples of such activities in our LOV stories.
It is important to remember that winning the title is not just about 2030. The bid to win the title sets in motion a movement that will give the city and the region a positive boost both before and after 2030.
European Capital of Culture is a competition
The European Union designates two cities each year as European Capitals of Culture. With this initiative, it aims to highlight the cultural richness and diversity of Europe.
Belgium
In 2030, it is our country’s turn. On 24 September 2025, Leuven and the East Brabant region - under the name LOV2030 - were selected as European Capital of Culture for 2030. Molenbeek for Brussels and Namur also competed for the title, as did Bruges, Ghent, and Kortrijk earlier. It will take 15 years before Belgium can host another Capital of Culture, making this a unique opportunity for Leuven & Beyond.
These Belgian cities have previously held the title:
- Antwerp in 1993
- Brussels in 2000
- Bruges in 2002
- Mons in 2015
Cyprus
In Cyprus, one city will also carry the title of European Capital of Culture 2030: Larnaka2030 was selected by the international jury.
Candidate countries
Two cities from candidate countries also submitted bids: Lviv (Ukraine) and Nikšić (Montenegro). Nikšić2030 won the title.
Class of 2030
Together with Larnaka and Nikšić, Leuven & Beyond forms the Class of 2030. This shared title creates opportunities for collaboration, exchange, and joint projects in the lead-up to 2030.