New Year's reception of the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze invited guests to the 2026 New Year's Reception at the Garage Campus on 13 January. Together with around 300 guests from politics, business and society, he gave an outlook on the new year and looked back on the past year, which for Chemnitz was characterised above all by the European Capital of Culture.
In his speech, he recalled the 2025 Capital of Culture year, which was significant for Chemnitz: "It was one big, shared moment. One that showed how much courage, creativity and cohesion there is in this city and in the region - if only we dare to make it visible. This 'We shape our city ourselves and don't wait for someone to tell us what to do' - that is perhaps the most valuable legacy of 2025." In the upcoming year, which will be a bridging year for Chemnitz, it is now important to secure what has been achieved and consolidate structures.
At the beginning of the new year, Lord Mayor Sven Schulze named the further expansion of the Chemnitz model in the city centre as a major construction project and emphasised the importance of the federal government's infrastructure funding, which will provide the city of Chemnitz with around 8.8 million euros annually over a period of twelve years. A further five million euros are available through funding programmes for roads, bridges and school construction. The city council will decide in the first half of the year what the money will be used for in the first four years.
With a view to the upcoming budget discussions for 2027 and 2028, Lord Mayor Sven Schulze also called for honesty and responsible local politics as well as respectful behaviour in the debates.
Andrea Pier and Stefan Schmidtke sign the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz
Andrea Pier and Stefan Schmidtke sign the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz
Andrea Pier, Commercial Director of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH, and Stefan Schmidtke, Programme Director of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH, were entered into the City of Chemnitz's Golden Book.
In doing so, the city is honouring their many services to the sovereign implementation of the European Capital of Culture year. With an estimated more than two million visitors, participants and guests - full houses, international attention, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and extremely positive feedback, Chemnitz 2025 was a great success for the city.
This year, Andrea Pier and Stefan Schmidtke are overseeing the transformation of the gGmbH into a company focussing on the legacy and long-term effects of the Capital of Culture in Chemnitz. Together with Chemnitz Theatre, they are also responsible for the international festival "Theatre of the World" in June.
Honorary talers for outstanding personalities
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze honours civic commitment
Mayor Sven Schulze presented the Chemnitz Ehrentaler to five individuals and one group at the event. These people are characterised by their outstanding voluntary work in the emergency services, as part of the Capital of Culture, in inclusive sports promotion, in youth work and for civil society cohesion.
This is the third time that the Chemnitz Honour Award has been presented. Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "The Ehrentaler goes to people who are committed to our city and the people of Chemnitz with energy and passion and thus achieve far more than can be expected. They are the ones who hold Chemnitz together. They give our city a face, attitude and warmth. They are the foundation of a strong urban society."
Kerstin Stopp received the "Ehrentaler" for her commitment to promoting inclusive sport. In the association for the promotion of integration through sport, she helps people with and without disabilities to meet in everyday life and ensures greater mutual acceptance. Her commitment makes a valuable contribution to sporting togetherness and equal opportunities in sport. As early as 1978, she organised leisure activities for children with intellectual disabilities. In the mid-1990s, she initiated the Chemnitz "Spiel-SportFest der Geistig- und Mehrfachbehinderten" (play and sports festival for the mentally and multiply disabled) and in 2001 she founded the association for the promotion of integration through sport.
The city of Chemnitz honours Daniel Dost for his commitment to the Buntmacher*innen e. V. with the Chemnitz Honorary Thaler. As the founder of this civil society initiative, he realises participation formats such as the "Lichterwege" or "Das demokratische Chemnitz liest!" and thus strengthens the understanding of democracy in our city. His work helps to keep the memory of Jewish history alive and make it accessible to future generations. The Buntmacher*innen organise numerous events to strengthen everyday democratic culture, maintain close contact with descendants of Jewish families and thus build a bridge between the past and the present.
Felix Birkner was honoured for his voluntary work with the Chemnitz water rescue group. With his many years of expertise in rescue and medical services, he has secured numerous events. He has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the safety of participants. His commitment demonstrates a sense of responsibility, team spirit and practised solidarity - values that strengthen our society. He has headed the unit since 2014. The water rescue group has been deployed to numerous festivals with its expertise in providing medical cover, most recently at almost all events in the Capital of Culture year, such as the Opening and the Kosmos Festival.
Gerald Richter (2nd from left) has received an honorary thaler for his voluntary peace work with the citizens' initiative Aktion C. With the peace banner project, he makes a major contribution to a peaceful urban society, promotes a lively culture of peace and actively involves young people. In 2011, neo-Nazis paralysed Chemnitz city centre for hours on the day commemorating the bombing in 1945. Gerald Richter and his fellow campaigners took this as an opportunity to found Aktion C as an action group against right-wing violence. The citizens' initiative has been campaigning for democracy and civil courage with projects ever since.
The volunteers of the European Capital of Culture 2025 have received an honourable mention for their commitment during the Capital of Culture year. Thanks to their willingness and reliability, they made a significant contribution to the smooth running and successful realisation of the events in 2025, a special year for the city. In doing so, they show how important a sense of responsibility, team spirit and practised solidarity are for working together. Almost 1,200 volunteers got involved in 2025 and actively helped to shape the Capital of Culture year. They were involved in the organisation, guest support and logistics.
Feline Weltz works tirelessly for the interests of young people in Chemnitz. As a long-standing member of the Chemnitz Youth Forum, she is committed to social cohesion and promotes important participation processes. She has been an active member of the Chemnitz Youth Forum for around four years and vigorously represents their interests and promotes participation processes. Feline Weltz is 19 years old and launched a campaign in the summer of 2022 to donate sports equipment and school supplies to refugee children and young people.