Trenčín is actively transforming into a city where life and creativity thrive. A key role in this process is played by placemaking, which involves the community in shaping public spaces. The Trenčín 2026 project introduces several initiatives that demonstrate how public spaces can serve people.
Trenčín aims to become a city that is friendly to its residents, offering high-quality public spaces and opportunities for active leisure. This vision is taking concrete shape within the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project, which also focuses on placemaking. This concept is centered on transforming public spaces into places where people enjoy spending time and meeting each other.
Placemaking in practice
“It’s not just about architectural modifications but about engaging the local community in the process of creating quality spaces for life. Earning the title of European Capital of Culture 2026 brings many opportunities for long-term changes in the city. For the past two years, Trenčín has been learning from European cities that actively implement placemaking. We are planning a major conference on this topic directly in Trenčín,” says Ján Sudzina, director of the Trenčín 2026 project.
Placemaking represents an interactive approach that transforms public spaces into attractive locations through community activities, artistic installations, urban greenery, and temporary street furniture. The key aspect is public participation—local residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors all become co-creators of the space.
Inspiration directly from Trenčín
One of the successful initiatives is the Korzo Palackého project, where a busy street was temporarily transformed into a lively pedestrian boulevard full of life, markets, and cultural programs.
“This experiment showed us the potential of our public spaces when they are given to people, not just cars,” says Lívia Gažová, urban planner and project manager at Trenčín 2026.
Future plans also include the revitalization of a brownfield area near the Váh River, which is set to become a green recreational zone with spaces for art and community activities.
International collaboration and long-term change
Trenčín draws inspiration from European cities and, in February 2025, during the Cities in Placemaking meeting organized by Placemaking Europe in The Hague, Netherlands, it signed the Agenda for Systematic Placemaking together with 12 partners. The goal is to ensure long-term support for community initiatives and secure sustainable funding for placemaking projects.
The future of placemaking in Trenčín
Placemaking in Trenčín is not just a short-term project but a long-term vision that will continue even after 2026. Citizen participation, temporary urban interventions, and support for local artists and architects will play a key role in shaping public spaces.
Trenčín 2026 is not just a cultural project but a transformative challenge that is turning the city into a place where people can live, create, and meet.
Photo credit: Maria Perez
