"The positive effects of the Capital of Culture on culture and tourism are clearly noticeable and I am convinced that the Capital of Culture has already developed an enormous radiance”, as said by Barbara Klepsch, Saxon State Minister for Culture and Tourism.
The Minister continued “It has brought Europe to Saxony and thus brought international visibility, sympathy and attention to our federal state”.
The ECoC organisers expressed their satisfaction since during January - June 2025 the entire region benefited from an approximately 30% in turnover rise.
The organisers announced increasing rates of cultural sites visits, overnight stays, journalist’s interest and records in events’ attendance, as visitors from Germany and Europe came to Chemnitz 2025 to "C the Unseen".
So far, around 80,000 guests have come to more than 1,000 events implemented in the ECoC programme. A record high of 115,000 visitors attended the KOSMOS Chemnitz Festival for Culture and Democracy including 300 programme items on more than 70 stages during 13-15 June 2025.
More than 105,000 visitors attended the Hat Festival in May, doubling last year’s attendance. 8,000 participants ran in the ECoC’s Marathon and 6,000 danced at the Tango Festival. Chemnitz Art Collections recorded around 61,205 visitors, again doubling last year’s performance.
The interim outcome at the middle point of the ECoC Chemnitz 2025 demonstrates that the city and the 38 municipalities of the region experience gains mainly in the sectors of culture, tourism, business and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the organisers aim beyond 2025 and work on reflecting the ECoCs success to the future. A highlight for 2026 already announced is that the "Theater der Welt", Germany’s largest international festival for contemporary theatre, will be held in Chemnitz during 18 June - 5 July 2026.
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Image by Peter Rossner. Courtesy of Chemnitz European Capital of Culture 2025.
