The legacy of Chemnitz 2025
The legacy of Chemnitz 2025
The Capital of Culture Year 2025 is over, but its impact remains. In the bridging year 2026, Chemnitz is looking to the future. It marks the transition from an extraordinary event to the permanent stabilisation of the projects, networks and impulses that have emerged.
"Legacy" stands for what remains - culturally, socially and structurally. For Chemnitz, this means actively continuing the momentum of 2025 and opening up new perspectives.
The bridging year sets targeted accents in the programme, including
- The Chemnitz Theatre of the World 2026 (18 June to 5 July 2026),
- KOSMOS Festival Chemnitz (29 August 2026)
- Maker Advent in December.
Sustainable development goals
Chemnitz 2025 will have an impact beyond this year. The central goals of the legacy are:
- Securing investments in the long term
- Strengthening international visibility and profile
- Further developing successful projects and brands
- Establishing the participation of urban society in the long term
- Using expertise and networks
- Keeping the shared "Capital of Culture feeling" alive
Challenge and attitude
The key challenge for the city and region remains demographic change. At the same time, a guiding principle of international experts applies:
"C the Unseen becomes part of the self-image - remain open to new developments, recognise opportunities and use the energy of engagement in urban society."
The legacy of Chemnitz 2025
The legacy of Chemnitz 2025 has two dimensions: a visible and a living legacy.
The legacy of Chemnitz 2025
Visible heritage: places with a future
Permanent infrastructures and meeting spaces characterise the city and region:
- Makerhubs and Stadtwirtschaft
- Garage Campus
- PURPLE PATH art and sculpture trail
- Hartmannfabrik
- Urban development projects such as "Stadt am Fluss" and new public squares
Living heritage: networks, formats, participation
In addition to the construction projects, a permanent cultural and social network is being created:
- Maker Region
- PURPLE PATH
- UNSEEN Biennale
- European Workshop for Culture and Democracy
- KOSMOS Festival
- #3000Garages
- Lived Neighbourhood
- Volunteer Platform
- Generational and Democracy Projects
This living heritage ensures cultural radiance, strengthens European connections and keeps people actively involved.
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UNSEEN Biennale
A central element of Legacy is the UNSEEN Biennale Chemnitz. It is to start in 2027 and then take place every two years from May to September. As the programmatic centrepiece of the further development, it will become a central meeting point, source of inspiration and space for thought for the Chemnitz cultural region. The Biennale will connect the city, region and Europe.
The art of togetherness
international quality, new co-productions, European partnerships
Maker & industrial culture
Industrial heritage as a foundation for the present and future
European Workshop for Culture and Democracy Participation
Education, living neighbourhood
Future & Technology
AI, digital innovation, technology application for the common good
Organisation of the Legacy
The realisation of the legacy will be secured in the long term by several central structures. The European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH will be transformed into a legacy company. It will be complemented by the regional management, which will continue the processes that have been initiated in the Capital of Culture region.
In addition, European initiatives and institutions contribute to long-term anchoring, in particular the Europe Direct Centre in Chemnitz and the planned European Learning and Meeting Centre.
The cultural capital region of the future
Chemnitz and the region want to continue to develop together with a clear profile:
- Creativity, culture and sustainable tourism as economic factors
- Host with local roots and a democratic self-image
- European orientation - with a special focus on the neighbouring countries
- New internationality of the region as an opportunity
Strengthen tourism sustainably
A key objective of Legacy is to secure the long-term visibility of Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture and to further strengthen its international perception. At the same time, tourism in the region is to be developed sustainably, in particular by expanding season-independent offers that attract visitors to Chemnitz and the region all year round.</p
In addition, the development of a strong MICE destination is being driven forward. The term MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, i.e. conferences, congresses, incentive and corporate events as well as trade fairs. Chemnitz is to position itself specifically as a location for these event formats and thus provide new economic impetus in the area of congress and business tourism.</p
<p>New focal points are created by:
- Maker tourism and the PURPLE PATH
- MakerRegion: industrial heritage meets creative industries and innovation
- UNSEEN Biennale and major events: year-round tourism and international visibility
- Makerhubs and volunteer platform: local economy and skilled labour retention
Strengthen tourism sustainably
A key objective of Legacy is to secure the long-term visibility of Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture and to further strengthen its international perception. At the same time, tourism in the region is to be developed sustainably, in particular by expanding season-independent offers that attract visitors to Chemnitz and the region all year round.</p
In addition, the development of a strong MICE destination is being driven forward. The term MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, i.e. conferences, congresses, incentive and corporate events as well as trade fairs. Chemnitz is to position itself specifically as a location for these event formats and thus provide new economic impetus in the area of congress and business tourism.</p
<p>New focal points are created by:
- Maker tourism and the PURPLE PATH
- MakerRegion: industrial heritage meets creative industries and innovation
- UNSEEN Biennale and major events: year-round tourism and international visibility
- Makerhubs and volunteer platform: local economy and skilled labour retention
