Kicking off the Legacy: Minister for Culture Barbara Klepsch presents the official notification regarding Chemnitz’s ‘Bridge Year’ as European Capital of Culture for 2026
Barbara Klepsch, Minister for Culture and Tourism, today presented a grant award notice for 900,000 euros to Dagmar Ruscheinsky, the city’s Councillor for Culture. The grant will be used to implement further initiatives and projects following the 2025 Capital of Culture year.
Chemnitz’s designation as the European Capital of Culture 2025 brought both regional and international prominence to the city and the 38 local authorities within the Capital of Culture region. This wonderful year, dedicated to the European ideal, brought many people together across borders through culture, encounters and a diverse range of events. We must build on this to strengthen the city’s cultural and tourist appeal in the long term and to further develop the networks and structures that have been established. Through this funding, the Free State of Saxony is pleased to contribute to the implementation of the measures planned for the ‘Bridge Year’ in 2026.
I am delighted to receive this funding from the Free State of Saxony, which will enable us and the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH to continue important projects and generate new momentum during the ‘bridge year’ of 2026, such as KOSMOS 2026, the PURPLE PATH weekend and various initiatives by the Tanzende Nachbarn. In doing so, we are laying the groundwork to carry forward the energy and ideas from the European Capital of Culture year and to embed projects sustainably in Chemnitz. At the same time, we are today laying important foundations for our legacy from 2027 onwards and setting the course to ensure that what we have achieved can have a long-term impact. I am very grateful for this support and the trust it demonstrates in the ‘Chemnitz Way’.
The city of Chemnitz shared the title of “European Capital of Culture 2025” with the Slovenian-Italian twin city of Nova Gorica/Gorizia. This made Chemnitz the fourth European Capital of Culture in Germany, following Essen (2010), Weimar (1999) and Berlin (1988).
Visitors were able to enjoy around 2,000 events. The Purple Path was also a major part of the programme; it brings together the works of more than 60 contemporary artists from Saxony, Europe and around the world to form a unique art and sculpture trail that connects the city and the region.