Brno will be Europe's Christmas Capital in 2024

It dazzled the jury with its creative approach to the festive season

Earlier this month, members of the international jury of the European Capital of Christmas met to decide which city should get the title for 2024 - and the winner is Brno (Czechia).

“The city of Brno represents a creative Christmas jewel, through which the city itself conveys its tourist and Christmas appeal with important social and micro-macroeconomic repercussions on the city’s urban fabric,” stated the jury in its official announcement.

The members of the jury were impressed not only by the creative Christmas decorations but above all by the sense of solidarity and community that the city exhibits during the festive season.

"We have long-term cooperation with local sellers, artists, musicians, designers, manufacturers, but we also involve Brno companies and institutions. This cooperation creates an unrepeatable authentic atmosphere of Brno Christmas,” explains Jana Jaulikova, President of TIC Brno, the organizers of the events, markets and decorations, as quoted by České noviny.

The city traditionally sets up several Christmas markets on its main squares, and this year a new one has been added to the Moravské náměstí. Visitors will be able to enjoy an oval ice skating rink.

Waterford (Ireland) also gets a Christmas accolade

Alongside Brno, Waterford, in Ireland, was named the European City of Christmas 2024, recognizing cities with less than 100,000 people. The jury also recognized Almanza in Spain as the municipality with the smallest population.

Waterford impressed the jury with its strong commitment to local heritage as a “hallmark of identity, material and above all immaterial and cultural.”

The small town has done marvellous work at turning its streets into a continuation of the Christmas markets to create a “coherent and attractive proposal” to visitors and residents.