The municipality of Setúbal held a seminar to present its candidacy for Portuguese Capital of Culture 2028, with the slogan "Setúbal – Sea of Culture". The event, which precedes the formal submission of the candidacy by September 19, is part of the Bocage Commemorations 2026 and featured free entry, subject to room capacity.
The program started at 6:30 PM with an opening session held by the municipality's vice-president, Maria do Carmo Tiago. Fifteen minutes later, the candidacy's ambassadors were presented, followed at 7:00 PM by a conference on the importance of the candidacy for the cultural and social development of the territory, led by Luís Castro Mendes, diplomat, writer and former Minister of Culture of the XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal (2016-2018).
At 7:15 PM, Fernando António Baptista Pereira, university professor, curator and former conservator of the Setúbal Museum/Convent of Jesus, spoke on the topic "Setúbal, Portuguese Capital of Culture – Culture, Identity and Development". At 7:45 PM, João Filipe Abrantes, executive commissioner of the candidacy, formally presented the candidacy. The seminar closed at 8:00 PM.
The candidacy is being built in an open, participatory and mobilizing manner, with the involvement of artists, institutions, schools, associations, parishes, companies, communities and citizens in general. The announcement of the winning candidacy is expected on December 9.
