Aarhus has been recommended to be European Capital of Culture 2017 by the independent selection panel assessing the cities for this title. Cyprus is the other Member State in which a city will host the title in five years' time. The two winning cities will be formally nominated by the EU's Council of Ministers in May 2013.

Aarhus will represent Denmark for the European Capital of Culture 2017 title. The independent selection panel assessing the cities applying to future European Capitals of Culture has recommended this city for the title in 2017. Following Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) this year, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) will be European Capitals of Culture in 2013; Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014, Mons (Belgium) and Plzen (Czech Republic) in 2015 and Wroclaw (Poland) and Donastia-San Sebastián (Spain) in 2016.

Aarhus beat off the challenge of Sønderborg to represent Denmark. Cyprus is the other Member State in which a city will host the title in five years' time. In this country, Nicosia and Paphos are still in competition. The selection panel is expected to make its recommendation in mid-September. The two winning cities will be formally nominated by the EU's Council of Ministers in May 2013.

The criteria to become European Capital of Culture are assessed on the basis of criteria laid down by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. These criteria state that the cities should prepare a cultural programme with a strong European dimension and foster the participation of citizens living in the city, in its surroundings and abroad.