Skopje’s Universal Hall is expected to be fully reconstructed by the end of 2027, with its official reopening planned for early 2028 as part of the “Skopje – European Capital of Culture” project.
Culture Minister Zoran Ljutkov said the reconstruction is valued at around 20 million euros, with funding provided by the government through the Ministry of Culture, which is currently overseeing the investment.
He described Universal Hall as one of the most recognizable symbols of post-earthquake Skopje and a venue with deep emotional importance for the city and its residents. According to him, earlier legal and institutional obstacles related to jurisdiction over the building have now been overcome, allowing the project to move forward.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he expects the reconstruction to be completed within the announced timeframe, adding that the final result should become an important new cultural landmark for the capital. He stressed that the focus now should be on completing the work successfully so the public can later enjoy the events that will be hosted there.
Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski welcomed the start of the project and thanked the government and the Ministry of Culture for moving ahead with the restoration. He said the reopening of Universal Hall would mean more than the return of a building, describing it as the return of part of the city’s spirit.
Once the reconstruction is completed, the venue is expected to be handed over to the City of Skopje for management, restoring one of the capital’s most symbolic cultural spaces to public life.
