More than 700 balls of wool, dozens of volunteers, hundreds of hours of work. These numbers mark the beginning of the story of Neighbourly Knit-together – a unique project that will not only symbolically decorate Lively Neighbourhoods Week.
From 11 to 17 September, it will transform Trenčín into a living map of neighbourly encounters, playfulness and community life as part of the Festival of Curiosity. The festival is a prelude to 2026, when Trenčín will become the European Capital of Culture.
Neighbourhood Entanglements: when women weave the city
The creative project Neighbourhood Entanglements aims to brighten up the public space of Trenčín with artistic textile interventions. Since June 2025, more than 50 people have joined the project. Based on designs by textile designer Antónia Antalová and under the guidance of lecturers from the Trenčín-based organisation Neboj sa remesla! (Don’t Be Afraid of Crafts!), have created playful, colourful works of art directly in the streets. They were created together in clubhouses, at neighbourhood gatherings, but also at home on balconies – with the aim of combining care, patience and a sense of belonging into a single visual language.
During the Lively Neighbourhoods Week, these soft interventions will be displayed throughout the city – on the City Tower, in the market on Dlhé Hony, on the Matej Bel and Hríbik playgrounds, and at the cultural centre in Zlatovce.
One week – five city districts – hundreds of small connections
The Lively Neighbourhoods Week programme will take place in various parts of the city and will offer dozens of activities for all generations, such as Maxi Človeče nehnevaj sa (Maxi Ludo) and Maxi Domino, or the creation of a large-format painting under the guidance of an art teacher from the local art school. There will also be treasure hunts, picnics, concerts, discussions, community dinners, yoga mornings, lectures on history, and exhibitions of historical photographs. The full programme can be found here: www.trencin2026.eu/podujatia/zive-susedstva
Expert conference: How to systematically support community life?
The highlight of the week will be the Lively Neighbourhoods Conference on 17 September at KKC Hviezda. The aim is to create a space for representatives of local governments, experts, initiatives and international guests who are involved in community support to meet.
Lively Neighbourhoods is a long-term community initiative that was created as part of the Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture programme. It shows that even small activities can significantly contribute to a better atmosphere in the city. They connect people through food, experiences, traditions and joint efforts to create a more beautiful environment.
“Lively Neighbourhoods Week is proof that cities are not made up of buildings, but of relationships between people,” says Lenka Abaffyová, project manager for Trenčín 2026.
Lively Neighbourhoods Week is part of the Festival of Curiosity programme, which will transform Trenčín into a space full of music, theatre, workshops, artistic experiences and informal learning from 12 to 15 September 2025. The festival is a prelude to 2026, when Trenčín will become the European Capital of Culture.
Trenčín 2026 is financially supported by the city of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The project partner is the European Union.
