After the final presentation of the "Novi Sad 2021" project, which was held on 14 October 2016 in Brussels, the panel of independent experts decided that the first city from the candidate or potential candidate country for the EU membership who will take this prestigious title is city of Novi Sad, administrative center of the AP Vojvodina and second largest city in the Republic of Serbia. In the final stage, in a competition with Herceg Novi, final oral presentation of the candidacy was held by the delegation made up of artists, teachers, city planners and curators from Novi Sad, led by city Major, Mr. Miloš Vučević and Mr. Nemanja Milenković, President of the Organizing Committee for the candidacy of the City of Novi Sad for European Capital of Culture 2021.

The “Novi Sad 2021” project is designed as a platform for the development of cultural and creative potential of the city, which aims to strengthen the cultural vitality of the City, enabling urban regeneration and improve the international reputation and touristic offer of Novi Sad.

City of Novi Sad will, try out the project “Novi Sad 2021”, develop its local concept and strategy for sustainable development of the cultural sector with focus on strengthening the institutions of culture, reconstruction of cultural heritage, strengthening cultural participation, development of cultural and creative industries, decentralization and intersectoral cooperation, with intensive usage of EU funds defined for the development of content in the field of culture.