Borderless Lights with an Enlightened Closing Ceremony

Symbolic closing of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia together with Chemnitz 2025. 

The last mass event of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia will connect the cities with festive lights, which will be ceremoniously lit on Saturday, November 29, at 17:30. The ceremonial conclusion of GO! 2025 will take place on Friday, December 5, when the title of European Capital of Culture will be handed over at Europe Square in co-organization with the current and future holders; the teams from Nova Gorica, Gorizia, and Chemnitz will pass the baton to Trenčín (Slovakia) and Oulu (Finland), which will hold this prestigious title next year.

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Saturday, November 29

Nova Gorica, Gorizia

Ceremonial lighting of the lights on both Goricas and St. Andrew's Fair

The week will begin with the traditional lighting of festive lights and artistic light installations produced and coordinated by the R.o.R institute, which has selected the following participating artists: LuMenArtist, Lumoskop_lab, and NiNABRi©. The event will begin at Europe Square on Saturday, November 29, at 17:30, and will continue at a special edition of the St. Andrew's Fair with local artisans, homemade crafts, and holiday treats. The event sponsors, SENG and HSE, will organize children's workshops and an entertainment program with a DJ starting at 16:30. The lights will symbolically connect the cities and emphasize the ECoC message: culture erases borders.

Tuesday, December 2

EPIC distrikt

GO! 2025: the first impacts of the capital and the next steps for the future of the cross-border area

The event will present a summary of the main communication activities carried out within the GO! 2025 project and the initial results of analyses of the economic and cultural impact of the European Capital of Culture. The next steps in the evaluation process will be presented, with a special focus on citizen involvement, the continuation of analyses, and the future organization of a citizens' assembly dedicated to cross-border heritage. The event will also offer an opportunity for dialogue with institutional partners and other stakeholders from the area.

Wednesday, December 3

Nova Gorica, Gorizia

This joyful day of culture

On the anniversary of the birth of Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren, and on the informal Slovenian cultural holiday, visitors will be presented with a diverse range of cultural events that will highlight the wealth of creativity in the region for the last time this year – the official program's film and video production will be screened in the EPICenter hall. The EPIC café will host live discussions with Gregor Božič, Goran Vojnović, Jasmina Cibic, and Marko Peljhan.

Thursday, December 4

EPIC distric+kt

ECoC after ECoC – public consultation on ECoC heritage

The expert consultation will focus on the question of what remains after the ECoC: infrastructural, social, and cultural effects, new cross-border connections, and the future of cultural institutions in the shared space of both Goricas.​

Friday, December 5

Europe Square and EPIC distrikt

Closing ceremony and Borderless Party

The highlight of the festive week will be the closing ceremony with the official handover of the European Capital of Culture title to the next holder. At Europe Square, teams from Nova Gorica, Gorica, and Chemnitz will pass the baton to Trenčín (Slovakia) and Oulu (Finland), which will hold this prestigious title next year. This will be followed by a Borderless Party, which will bring together music, art, and people from both nations for the fourth time in a spirit of friendship, cooperation, and new beginnings; German DJ Fritz Kalkbrenner will be joining us.

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For more information visit www.go-borderless.eu.

Photo: Jernej Humar