Keeping the Capital of Culture feeling alive
Preview of 2026: Bridge year and legacy framework plan
Six weeks before the official conclusion of the Capital of Culture year 2025, Lord Mayor Sven Schulze and Head of Cultural Operations and Coordinator of the Capital of Culture project at the City of Chemnitz, Ferenc Csák, take stock of the positive interim results and look ahead to the coming years. The City of Chemnitz and its partners want to keep the "Capital of Culture feeling" alive beyond 2025 and consolidate the successes achieved.
"We can look forward to a great success," said Lord Mayor Sven Schulze. "The visitor numbers, the overnight stay statistics and the great media response show that we have not only surprised our guests, but also ourselves." The Capital of Culture year has given the city and the region a new self-confidence and is having a lasting effect. "We want to build on this with a diverse bridging year in 2026 and the subsequent legacy programme from 2027," says Schulze.
Bridge year 2026: Transition and stabilisation
The year 2026 marks the transition between the title year and the long-term continuation of the projects. A programme is planned from April to December with four thematic highlights:
- Events on the PURPLE PATH art and sculpture trail (end of spring)
- Theatre of the World Chemnitz 2026 (18 June to 5 July 2026)
- KOSMOS Festival (29 August 2026) and the
- Maker Advent (December)
Bridge year 2026: Transition and stabilisation
The year 2026 marks the transition between the title year and the long-term continuation of the projects. A programme is planned from April to December with four thematic highlights:
The year 2026 marks the transition between the title year and the long-term continuation of the projects. A programme is planned from April to December with four thematic highlights:
Bridge year 2026: Transition and stabilisation
KOSMOS is on the calendar for 29 August and the festival will once again take place at the Schloßteich. The City of Chemnitz is the organiser and is supported by Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH and the stakeholder network. Discussions with the project partners have begun.
These core elements are supplemented by continuous participation formats, including four open calls for micro-projects, each with a thematic focus.
In addition, established event series such as the Hat Festival (29 to 31 May), Park Summer (2 July to 2 August) Sports United (5 September) and Tanz Moderne Tanz (date to follow) will be continued.
Year-round formats and new utilisation ideas are planned for the Stadtwirtschaft, the Garagen-Campus and the Hartmannfabrik. The Hartmannfabrik is to remain a focal point for Chemnitz residents and guests: in the coming year, Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH will host formats relating to the European Capital of Culture and Theatre of the World there, as well as enabling the rental of various events. In addition, the legacy of the Capital of Culture will be presented in text, image and video formats.
The successful volunteer programme will also be continued and will also be established at municipal cultural events in the future.
Framework plan finalises legacy process
Framework plan finalises legacy process
The legacy process is being finalised at the same time. The aim is to present a concept for the city (legacy framework plan) and region (regional development concept) by March 2026. The existing company Kulturhauptstadt Europas Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH will be adapted for this purpose by the end of 2026. This company will be responsible for realising the long-term projects and will be based in the Hartmannfabrik.
Head of Cultural Operations Ferenc Csák explains the main features of the planned legacy framework plan, which draws on the experience of other European Capitals of Culture such as Ruhr.2010. The legacy plan for the years 2027 to 2031 is to be developed together with the city, the region and the Free State of Saxony and presented to the city council in December 2025.
"The legacy plan forms the basis for future budget planning and long-term cultural and regional development," says Csák. In addition to securing successful brands and intervention areas, the aim is to maintain the international visibility of the region and continue the culture of participation from 2025.
As in the Capital of Culture process itself, this requires a partnership between the city, region and Free State with the aim of permanently strengthening Chemnitz's cultural dynamism and international profile.
UNSEEN Biennale
UNSEEN Biennale
A central project of the legacy is the new UNSEEN Biennale, which - subject to funding from the partners - is to take place every two years in the summer from 2027. It is intended to revitalise the positive feeling of the Capital of Culture and serve as an umbrella brand for selected projects and festivals from 2025 as well as new initiatives. Thematic focuses and examples of projects include
- Maker and industrial culture:
Special exhibitions at the Industrial Museum and museums in the region, Makers United, Toymakers, Werkschau, residencies ... - Art and media:
Gegenwarten, blockbuster exhibitions in the Chemnitz and Zwickau art collections, Begehungen and Hallenkunst, Pochen, Tanz Moderne Tanz, ... - Democracy and Europe:
KOSMOS Festival, Maker Festivals, Hat Festival, Sports United, Open Calls "European Workshop for Democracy" with partners such as German-Czech Future Fund, Eurocities, Culture Next and Nova Goriza/Gorizia ... - Future and technology:
Urban development competition, Frei-Otto-Summerschool sustainable architecture, Sparks: art and technology, ...
As with Chemnitz 2025, the Biennale must be financed by the city and region, the Free State of Saxony, foundations, European funding and sponsors.
With the Bridge Year 2026 and the subsequent Legacy Programme, Chemnitz is committed to securing the successes of the Capital of Culture year in the long term. "We as a city are ready to take responsibility and shape the legacy for the city and region," emphasised Lord Mayor Schulze.