After 300 days of a packed program, Chemnitz bids farewell as European Capital of Culture 2025. "Over 2,000 events have turned the city into an international magnet," summed up program director Stefan Schmidtke at the closing reception in the Industrial Museum. The aim was to make art and culture accessible to many people. Starting with 72 ideas in the application book, 260 projects were implemented in the end.
According to the information provided, the program is estimated to have attracted more than two million visitors. The offerings ranged from top-class exhibitions, dance, theater and opera, sporting events such as the Capital of Culture Marathon and the European Peace Ride to numerous festivals and concerts. It was a year "full of experiences, emotions, encounters, ideas and pride", said Lord Mayor Sven Schulze (SPD).