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The non-governmental organization American Capital of Culture selects one city or state in the Americas annually to serve as the American Capital of Culture for a period of one year. The organization's leaders claim the initiative is based closely on the European Capital of Culture program; it enjoys the backing of the Organization of American States, but the OAS is not involved in the selection process.[1]
The organization was founded in 1998 with the objectives to raise awareness of culture in the Americas and to promote the city selected as the Capital of Culture for the year. The chosen city is publicized on the television networks Antena 3 and the Discovery network.[1][2]
While the NGO claims that the designation "is aimed at all the countries of the Americas",[3] as of 2024[update] the 26 locations (includes two in 2003) designated as the American Capital of Culture have only been chosen from Latin America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, the designation has increasingly become Mexico-centric; Mexico has dominated the program since 2014, being given the designation six times in the 11 years from 2014 to 2024.[3]
| Year | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Mérida |  Mexico |
| 2001 | Iquique |  Chile |
| 2002 | Maceió |  Brazil |
| 2003 | Panama City |  Panama |
| Curitiba | Brazil | |
| 2004 | Santiago | Chile |
| 2005 | Guadalajara | Mexico |
| 2006 | Cordoba |  Argentina |
| 2007 | Cuzco |  Peru |
| 2008 | Brasília | Brazil |
| 2009 | Asunción |  Paraguay |
| 2010 | Santo Domingo |  Dominican Republic |
| 2011 | Quito |  Ecuador |
| 2012 | São Luís | Brazil |
| 2013 | Barranquilla |  Colombia |
| 2014 | Colima | Mexico |
| 2015 | Mayagüez |  Puerto Rico |
| 2016 | Valdivia | Chile |
| 2017 | Mérida | Mexico |
| 2018 | Anzoátegui |  Venezuela |
| 2019 | San Miguel de Allende | Mexico |
| 2020 | Punta Arenas | Chile |
| 2021 | Estado de Zacatecas | Mexico |
| 2022 | Ibagué | Colombia |
| 2023 | Aguascalientes | Mexico |
| 2024 | Nayarit | Mexico |
- Arab Capital of Culture – Arab League effort to promote and celebrate Arab culture
- European Capital of Culture – Cities recognized by the European Union as culturally significant for Europe
- University Network of the European Capitals of Culture – International non-profit association
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