Since 1985, when Athens was designated as the first European Capital of Culture on the initiative of Melina Mercouri and Jack Lang, European Capitals of Culture are being awarded this title for a common European future.

Since then, more than 60 cities across the European Union and beyond have been awarded the title – with the aim of highlighting European cultures and bringing people, cities and countries together through art and culture, thus helping to strengthen Europe. The freedom of art is embedded as a fundamental right and the pillars of the European way of life are celebrated in this way every year.

We live in a time in which democratic and pro-European forces require a concentration of social action. European Capitals of Culture stand for approaching one another and appreciating diversity, both of which are fundamentals that make a society strong and resilient. But they also stand for the achievement of our democratic society: the development from tried and tested traditions into an open society.

Art is a fundamental driver for diversity, reflection, visionary action and the guarantee that Remembrance Culture is lived in the present and is building the future.

“The hand-over events between outgoing and incoming European Capitals of Culture are becoming a regular event in the ECoC calendar. It highlights the bond, collaboration and solidarity between the European Capitals of Culture. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Bad Ischl-Salzkammergut, Tartu and Bodø on the excellence of their title-year in 2024 and to wish Chemnitz and Nova Gorica much success in 2025. Next year will mark a special milestone for the European Capitals of Culture, as the initiative will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Through the years, the European Capitals of Culture have provided opportunities for Europeans to meet and discover the cultural diversity of our continent and the shared democratic traditions”, said  Georg Häusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.

“Passing on the European flame for culture today in Bad Ischl is an important symbolic gesture uniting cities and countries together through vivid production. It is in accordance with our slogan GO! Borderless and symbolizing cross-border cooperation between Nova Gorica and Gorizia being one Ecoc”, said  Stojan Pelko, Head of Programme, European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica/Gorizia 2025.

 “Many Chemnitz residents are very impressed by the diverse and inspiring programs of the three European Capitals of Culture 2024. This makes European coexistence successful for many people. Can be experienced directly! Capitals of Culture in Europe show connecting and powerful culture. Chemnitz is pleased, together with Nova Gorica, to accept the symbolic baton and continue to enrich Europe with new perspectives and stories and celebrate European diversity in the coming year”, said Stefan Schmidtke, Managing Director Programme, European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.

“It has been an honour to be part of this great European community. The artistic prosesses, new partnerships and collaborations have opened up for a deeper understanding of who and what we are. I believe this added attention to the arts, and the diverse expressions through a whole year have made a real impact in our city. It's a privelege to hand the title over to our new friends and colleagues. Lykke til! Best of luck!”, said Henrik Sand Dagfinrud, Program Director, European Capital of Culture Bodø 2024.

“23 municipalities dared to be a cultural capital region together and took the opportunity to network, to enter into close exchange, to reflect on themselves and their own history through art, artistic interventions and cultural sugestions, and to allow a different view of themselves to confront ourselves with new thoughts, influences, experiences and visions, to understand each other better and to position ourselves in a more differentiated manner in the European context. The exchange and networking with other cultural capitals was an elementary part of it. Faced with the impending loss of our most basic values, it is our job to strengthen art and culture as perhaps the last remaining corrective. Art opens up poetic spaces for thought, enables knowledge of sensory experience, creates culture and cultivates us. It shows us the way to the intellectual freedom that every society needs: because no one is like the other, but the other is just as important as you are. The summary after one year of European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 can just be: Art is a creative force, it is not a privilege for elites, it cannot be replaced and cannot be compensated for with money”, said Elisabeth Schweeger, Artistic Director, European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024.

“I am pleased to see that the themes of environment, community, and youth are strongly highlighted in the programs of all the current European Capitals of Culture. I'm sure that the upcoming Capitals of Culture will embrace the same approach and I wish them resilience for the journey ahead”, said Kati Torp, Artistic Director, European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.

UNITY – The Flame
The annual official handover and European history are symbolized by the sculpture UNITY – The Flame. The sculpture was created by the Luxembourg designer Pascale Seil (“Made by Seil”). The shape of the flame stands for power and infinity, the material glass for transparency and lightness, the colors for diversity and cohesion: UNITY for Europe. The sculpture was inspired by a story from Greek mythology: the abduction of King Agenor's daughter, Phoenician maiden “Europa”, to whom the continent owes its name. Europa infatuated Zeus with her striking beauty and grace. To escape the wrath of his wife Hera, he transformed into a white bull and abducted Europa to the island of Crete, where he revealed his true identity and impregnated her. Europa gave birth to Minos, who was to become king of Crete. The horns of the “bull” stand for power; the circle bearing the bull's horns represents volenity and infinity. The sculpture consists of 47 layers of coloured glass, each representing a European country. The colors of Europe – blue and yellow (gold) – dominate. The history, shapes and colors of all these different layers symbolize Europe as a unified body composed of individual identities and characteristics.