Future of mega-events has never been more uncertain. Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unparalleled level of doubt regarding the kind of mega-events that will take place in coming years. This book analyses case studies of heritage-rich cities that hosted mega-events to discuss emerging challenges, controversies and accomplishments.

Davide Ponzini is Full Professor of Urban Planning at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. He has been Visiting Scholar at Yale, Columbia University, TU Munich, and other universities. His research activity focuses on planning theory, urban and cultural policy, and contemporary architecture. His latest book is titled: Transnational Architecture and Urbanism (Routledge 2020).

Introduction - Cultural mega-events and heritage: challenges for European cities 1. Short-term gains and long-term challenges to learning from mega-event planning in the city of Genoa 2. A mega-event in a small city: community participation, heritage and scale in the case of Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture 3. A heritage-inspired cultural mega-event in a stigmatized city: Hull UK City of Culture 2017 4. Cultural events and heritage policy for the Milan Expo 2015: experimental intersections between mega-event and city 5. Culture and heritage as a means to foster quality of life? The case of Wroc¿aw European Capital of Culture 2016 6. Liverpool's European Capital of Culture legacy narrative: a selective heritage? 7. Internationalizing small-sized cities through mega-events: the case of Matera-Basilicata 2019 European Capital of Culture 8. Heritage and cultural mega-events: backgrounds, approaches and challenges