"Feierabend!" (closing time or to call it a day) - This was the motto under which the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 bid farewell to the people of Chemnitz and their guests, including visitors from 17 other European Capitals of Culture, this evening with an atmospheric closing ceremony after 315 days of programme.
At the closing show in front of 4,000 visitors, the managing directors of Chemnitz 2025, Andrea Pier and Stefan Schmidtke, looked back on an unforgettable year. The musical programme included the Orchester des Wandels, Bergblech, Clemens Kersten and Tanja Krone. A special guest was the Xulu202x dance ensemble from Oulu, the Finnish European Capital of Culture 2026.
Minister President of Saxony Michael Kretschmer, Lord Mayor of Chemnitz Sven Schulze and his 38 counterparts from the municipalities in the Capital of Culture region once again thanked everyone who made the incredible success of Chemnitz 2025 possible. The programme year attracted more than 2 million visitors, guests and participants with over 2,000 events in the city and the region.
Over the course of today, the organisers counted more than 36,000 visitors in Chemnitz city centre, and the programme was dominated by the start of the Christmas season: around 22,000 visitors watched the European Mining Parade in the afternoon, at the end of which 1,100 miners sang the miners' song together. More than 6,000 people sang Christmas carols at the Chemnitz Theatre Christmas Singing. There were queues at the Stadthalle in the afternoon when the Maker Advent invited people to pour chocolate, build gifts out of wood or mould ceramics - around 4,000 young and old crafters were counted here.
Chemnitz will be dancing into the night during these hours: until late in the evening to the music of local DJs on Brückenstraße, then on to the city's clubs.
Tomorrow, Sunday, there are many more events on the calendar for the final weekend. Numerous workshops and studios will be opening their doors throughout the month of December at the Maker Advent.
On 5 December, the two European Capitals of Culture 2025, Chemnitz and Nova Gorica/Gorizia, will hand over the symbolic baton to Oulu 2026 in Finland and Trenčin 2026 in Slovakia. The handover will take place in Nova Gorica and will open the "Borderless Party", which will bring the Capital of Culture year to a festive close. The headliner of the evening is German producer and DJ Fritz Kalkbrenner, who also performed in the programme for the opening of Chemnitz 2025 and will now bring the Capital of Culture year to a musical close in Nova Gorica.
Quotes
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "Chemnitz 2025 was a year that we will all never forget. It has shown what is possible when a city and an entire region work together towards a major goal. We have seen how creativity, openness and courage can unleash an incredible power - a power that has made Chemnitz shine in a new light. Chemnitz 2025 was above all a community project. Countless people worked hand in hand to make this year vibrant, diverse and deeply human. We want to build on this - with the self-confidence and cohesion that we gained in 2025. Because if we preserve this spirit, Chemnitz and the region will remain tomorrow what they were in 2025: a place that shows how the future works."
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer: "Chemnitz and the Capital of Culture region showed in 2025 what is possible when people stand together and make their strengths visible. The citizens have brought the motto C the Unseen to life: Hidden things were discovered, new things were created, and a self-confident, open and creative Chemnitz has developed its radiance far beyond the city limits. The energy of this year was overwhelming. I have experienced enthusiasm, courage and an impressive creative force everywhere. This commitment has not only changed Chemnitz, but the entire Free State of Saxony. Thanks to the Capital of Culture, Saxony has become more visible internationally, has shaped new positive images and shown how lively, innovative and hospitable our regions are. The Capital of Culture year was not a conclusion, but a new beginning. People have created a new sense of togetherness that will have an impact far beyond 2025. I am convinced that the spirit of the Capital of Culture will remain - and it will give the city and the region a good orientation for the future."
Andrea Pier, Commercial Director of Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH: "We celebrated the finale today just as brilliantly as the Capital of Culture year began on 18 January. Over the past few months, we have not only experienced countless events and welcomed over 2 million guests to Chemnitz and the region, but also embarked on a shared journey. Now it is up to all of us to take this energy with us and shape the future with the same openness, courage and confidence. To do this, we have the support of a strong European network of which Chemnitz and the Capital of Culture Region have become an important part."
Stefan Schmidtke, Managing Director of the Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH programme: "We have a successful, fantastic year behind us! It is thanks to so many people that we have been able to achieve this. We say thank you for that. Our task as Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH was to give the programme a structure. It was the people of Chemnitz and the Capital of Culture Region who brought it to life, tackled it and implemented it. This year has unleashed an incredible dynamic. Now it's time to show it: Chemnitz will of course still be the Capital of Culture after 2025."
Press material
photos: Chemnitz 2025 finale
press release: Chemnitz 2025 review
