2025 event preview: Saxony's European Capital of Culture and cultural happenings

From Chemnitz taking centre stage as European Capital of Culture 2025 to celebrating arts and culture highlights – read our Saxony event preview round-up for the coming months.

Explore Chemnitz on the European Capital of Culture trail

The „C the Unseen“ European Capital of Culture programme invites travellers to discover the people and stories of Saxony's third largest city and its surrounding region. The European Capital of Culture title shines a spotlight on places and sights that have so far had little attention in terms of tourism, uncovering a long history of change, most recently the reunification of East and West Germany and the readoption of the name Chemnitz (pronounced with a “k” sound, in case you're wondering!) instead of Karl-Marx-Stadt. The city and surrounding area made major contributions to Germany's industrial development and visitors can explore its industrial heritage as well as the city's world class museums and unique architecture, enabled by the wealth and prosperity experienced in Chemnitz during the times of industrialisation.

The European Capital of Culture year will officially kick off on 18 January with a range of events and exhibitions throughout 2025, including the ”Purple Path” art and sculpture trail which places works of contemporary art by international artists in the public space and invites visitors on a journey of discovery through the Capital of Culture region, including Zwickauer Land and the Ore Mountains UNESCO World Heritage region. Focusing on the region's rich industrial heritage, the State Museum of Archaeology's is hosting “Mining – a history of passion and greed” (until 29 June 2025), while Gunzenhauser Museum with its superb collection of Expressionist art will look at “European realities. Realism Movements in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s” (27 April to 10 Aug 2025). Edvard Munch fans should pencil in a special show at Chemnitz Art Collection: “Edvard Munch. Angst” (10 Aug to 2 Nov 2025) is all about the pioneer of Modernism, who came to Chemnitz in 1905 to paint the family of a wealthy local textile manufacturer.

Celebrating dance and art in Dresden

Elsewhere, Dresden, Saxony's baroque beauty on the Elbe, is celebrating a number of dance-related anniversaries next year, including 200 years of the Semperoper Ballet and 100 years of the Palucca University of Dance Dresdenwith a big open-air event (1 April 2025) involving 200 dancers on the city's Theaterplatz square. Gret Palucca was a pioneer of German expressionist dance emerging as a counter-movement to classical ballet in the early 20th century, who, in 1925, opened her own dance school in Dresden.

At its Albertinum space, Dresden State Art Collections will host a major solo exhibition of partly London-based photographer Wolfgang Tillmans (8 March to 29 June 2025), who, in 2000, became the first non-British Turner Prize winner. Dresden State Art Collections is also marking the 70th birthday of William Kentridge, with the “William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo” festival of exhibitions, showcasing the South African artist's work at several sites including Kupferstich-Kabinett and Albertinum. The latter will showcase the large “More Sweetly Play the Dance” film installation from 2015 and stage it in direct dialogue with Dresden's 1020-metre long “Procession of Princes” mural.

Enjoying a best-of music in Leipzig

Leipzig is known as the “city of music” and closely associated with composers such as Bach, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Wagner. In 2025, the Shostakovich Festival Leipzig (15 May to 1 June 2025) will add to the usual festival line-up and shine a light on the Russian composer. To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons, as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Festival Orchestra made up of members of the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy and the Tanglewood Music Centre Orchestra will perform all of Dmitri Shostakovich's symphonies and solo concertos. The 2025 programme of the always popular annual Leipzig Bach Festival is headlined “Transformation” (12 to 22 June 2025) and will feature Bach ensembles from all over the world performing the composer's great choral cantata cycle at historic venues.

Foodies should pencil in Leipzig for a special 2025 anniversary, with the city's Auerbachs Keller, made famous in Goethe's play Faust, celebrating 500 years of welcoming guests. A certain Dr Heinrich Stromer von Auerbach first served wine to students in his house's basement in 1525, marking the birth of one of Germany's most traditional inns. The restaurant in the famous Mädler Passage will be celebrating its anniversary with events throughout the year, particularly around Easter.

Outdoor adventures and family holidays

Saxony's low mountain ranges in the Vogtland, Ore Mountains, Saxon Switzerland and Upper Lusatia are perfect ground for hiking, cycling and mountain biking. The RockHead gravel bike route is a new option running through the Saxon Switzerland and Upper Lusatia regions. The circular route covers 200 miles and around 4,600 metres in altitude and can be fully personalised with flexible starting points along the way. In the Ore Mountains, the Blockline is the perfect choice for families, while the Stoneman Miriquidi should provide suitable challenges for seasoned mountain bikers.

For contemplative moments, try a pilgrimage on the ViaSacra in the border triangle of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. En route, the small town of Herrnhut, which in 2024 became part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site of Moravian Church Settlements, is a particular highlight. The town in Upper Lusatia is known for the “Moravian Stars” Christmas decoration and the factory where the intricate structures are, to this day, made by hand can be visited all year round. It is one of many family-friendly sights and attractions in Saxony, with new offers for family breaks being created all the time, including two new hiking trails in the Vogtland region.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Getting to Saxony

Flights

All major airlines to Berlin with onward rail and coach connections.

Train

“European Sleeper” via Brussels.

About Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen

Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen (TMGS) is responsible for marketing Saxony as a travel destination. This region in eastern Germany features scenic beauty, a rich heritage of music and culture and unique handicrafts and traditions. Saxony's historic towns and cities are charming destinations full of character, and stunning castles, palaces and gardens delight with their splendour and beauty. The region's varied nature also provides ample grounds for active breaks and fun-filled family holidays. In other words: #VisitSaxony!

For more information, see www.visitsaxony.com and the Saxony Tourism travel trade portal.

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