Trenčín 2026 has a new director, who also led the Košice 2013 project

The new director of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project is the experienced cultural manager Ján Sudzina. He has previously managed an international music label, a music festival, and led Slovakia’s first European Capital of Culture project, Košice 2013.

“The European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project is a tremendous opportunity for the cultural, social, and economic development of the city and region. I believe that together with a dynamic team, we can, in collaboration with the city of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, the Ministry of Culture, and other partners, initiate sustainable changes that will positively impact the lives of people in Trenčín and the region, just as we did in Košice,” says Ján Sudzina.

The European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 is a project aimed at transforming the city and region. It focuses on improving public spaces and engaging people in city life, offers opportunities for cultural development, and creates connections with Europe. Ján Sudzina was selected through a competitive process to become the project director, replacing Lenka Kuricová, who temporarily led the Trenčín 2026 team and continues to serve as the project's artistic director.

Who is Ján Sudzina?

Ján Sudzina studied economics at the University of Economics in Bratislava, at the Faculty of Management in Košice. He has long been involved in cultural management. He founded and managed the music label Hevhetia, which focuses on non-commercial music (classical, contemporary, jazz, blues, alternative, and experimental music) and distributes it worldwide. He published the professional magazine Hudba and organized the Hevhetia Summer Music Festival, which has been international since 2015, held in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and France. From May 2011 to April 2014, he was the executive director of the European Capital of Culture Košice 2013 project. He also served as the president of the Košice Marathon Club. In recent years, he managed a development project in Prague.

Photo source: archive of Ján Sudzina