The programme will officially begin on 1 January in Tallinn and on 15 January in Turku, and many events will take place throughout the year, the Commission said.
In 2010, the capitals of culture were Essen in Germany, Pech in Hungary, and Istanbul in Turkey.
After Turku and Tallin, this title will be awarded to the Portuguese city of Guimaraes and the Slovenian city of Maribor in 2012.