The European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 was officially opened today with a ceremony at the Chemnitz Opera House. Lord Mayor Sven Schulze welcomed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, the EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, and the Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth.
The 700 or so invited guests from politics, business, culture and society also included representatives of the ECoC Family, the twelve Chemnitz partner cities and international networks as well as mayors of the cultural region and honorary citizens of the city of Chemnitz. The ECoC Family is the network of all European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) and includes past, present and future holders of this title.
EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef awarded the €1.5 million Melina Mercouri Prize - named after the former Greek Minister of Culture and initiator of the European Capital of Culture programme - to the management of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH, Andrea Pier and Stefan Schmidtke, for the successful third monitoring.
The ceremony, which was artistically organised with music and drama, was hosted by Annabelle Mandeng. The ceremony concluded with a grand finale with numerous participants on stage, accompanied by an orchestra playing the European anthem.
Chemnitz is the European Capital of Culture this year. In all likelihood, it is the biggest event
biggest event of its kind that the city and region will ever experience. When the decision was made to apply for the title of "European Capital of Culture", it was already clear that the interesting thing about this title was not the organisation of a major European event, but the underpinning of the city's development with international networking and visibility.
Chemnitz is representative of many other European cities whose development potential has been thwarted by historical upheavals, whose identity has been permanently broken along the idealised border of the Iron Curtain, and which have experienced the pain of emigration and permanent competition with a better place elsewhere.
As European Capital of Culture, Chemnitz wants to rediscover the healthy pride of a major European city and embed it in the self-confidence of the population. This includes using art and culture to gain new perspectives on the rapid development of the post-reunification period and to re-position Chemnitz in the European border region. It is equally important to involve citizens more in the active shaping of their living space and thus create opportunities for exchange, dialogue and innovation.
Under the motto "C the Unseen" and the narrative "European Makers of Democracy", Chemnitz is responding to the question of how cultural and civic participation can strengthen social cohesion.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze:
"Chemnitz was long a city in the shadows, a place that many did not know, deliberately ignored or consciously avoided. A city with obvious fractures and scars, but also a city that has constantly found and reinvented itself and developed from within. Much of what has been created here is not visible at first glance - and yet it is well worth seeing. I invite you to join us on this journey of discovery. Look for the stories behind the garage doors, in the workshops, in our museums, in front of the stages or on our sports fields. Let yourself be surprised by the creativity that lives here and unites us, by the strength of our city, by its honesty and down-to-earth attitude, by the diversity that Chemnitz has to offer. Pack your suitcase and discover the European idea in Chemnitz. Free of reservations, without preconceived ideas or prejudices, but with an open heart. With curiosity and joy for all the undiscovered, the previously hidden things that make our city so exciting."
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:
"That's what the Capital of Culture year is all about now: learning from differences and developing something forward-looking together and thus strengthening our democracy, that's what matters now. And for this we need everyone, including those who are annoyed by the many public disputes and those who have withdrawn but are not indifferent to the future of their city and their country. I am convinced that where the great democratic centre of our country creates space for itself, there is no room for those who despise democracy."
Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of Saxony:
"'C the Unseen' - this is a heartfelt invitation to Europe and to all people in Germany: come to Chemnitz! This Saxon metropolis and the entire region want to make the unseen and unknown visible.
In Saxony, culture, creativity and a pronounced doer mentality take centre stage. Chemnitz demonstrates these strengths impressively in 2025 - with its fascinating industrial culture and a diverse programme that radiates confidence and joie de vivre.
Chemnitz provides answers to the challenges of our time: through curiosity, a love of experimentation and an appreciation of our democratic culture - in the heart of Europe."
EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef: "Congratulations to Chemnitz, one of our European Capitals of Culture 2025! I look forward to a whole year of celebrations showcasing the diversity, identities and values of the European Union. And I would like to thank Chemnitz for the richness and diversity of the events, festivals and projects that are being organised. This impressively demonstrates the impact that culture has on our societies and democracies."
Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth:
"Culture, that is the heartbeat of our democracy and the cultural heart of Europe is beating this year here in Chemnitz and the whole region as well as with our friends in Nova Gorica. With this impressive programme, Chemnitz and all 38 participating municipalities have the potential to create a cultural beacon that will radiate throughout Europe. For Chemnitz, this is an opportunity to become known throughout Europe and to create long-term structures from which the entire region can benefit in the long term. The programme that has been put together here for the Capital of Culture year together with citizens, local cultural institutions, associations and initiatives is as impressive as it is promising. The programme addresses a broad audience and presents culture as an area of diversity, vibrant democracy, close European cooperation and cosmopolitanism. It is a particular pleasure for me to be here today on behalf of the Federal Government at the opening of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz."
Further information on the opening:
Closures, bypasses, parking:
www.chemnitz.de/verkehr
Public and regional transport:
www.cvag.de/kulturhauptstadt
Complete programme:
https://opening.chemnitz2025.de/de
Live/Streams:
Ceremony: https://www.ardmediathek.de/tv-programm/6765fa339effa5e740283048
Opening show: https://www.ardmediathek.de/tv-programm/6754910ed76eb054c4a1663e
Recording: https://www.ardmediathek.de/tv-programm/6765fa339effa5e740283034