NOVA GORICA AND GORIZIA – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2025

Two cities, countless borderless stories of culture, art, creativity and vision.

Nova Gorica, Slovenia's youngest city, and its neighbouring counterpart Gorizia, light up the European and global cultural stage as the European Capital of Culture. At the same time, Slovenia will step into the spotlight, showcasing its rich culture, world-class art, vibrant creativity and unique heritage to a global audience.

Join us as we explore the bonds that unite these picturesque towns and the myriad of stories that weave them into the fabric of the wider region.

The European Capital of Culture, an initiative of the European Union, places culture at the heart of European cities, celebrating the arts and culture of selected destinations throughout the year.

In 2025, the German city of Chemnitz joins Nova Gorica and Gorizia in holding this prestigious title.

It is worth noting that Nova Gorica is not the first Slovenian city to receive this esteemed recognition. In 2012, Maribor was honoured as the European Capital of Culture.

NOVA GORICA AND GORIZIA = INTERTWINED CITIES, A BORDERLESS NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CREATIVITY

For the first time, a European Capital of Culture consists of two cities — making it the first ever borderless European Capital of Culture. Nova Gorica, the youngest city in Slovenia, has deep historical and everyday links with Gorizia on the Italian side of the border. Nestled in a landscape of fertile hills, orchards and vineyards of the Brda and Vipava valleys, where the emerald green Soča River meanders from the heart of the Alps and where the mysterious Karst and the sea are just a glance away, a town with a vibrant identity has flourished since the end of World War II.

Through the vision and programme GO!2025 = BORDERLESS, the history, stories, personalities, as well as past, present and future achievements of creativity, integration and art of the two Goricas are showcased to Slovenia, Italy, Europe and the world.

Visit the official website

ECoC DISTRICT – A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CREATIVITY

At the heart of the European Capital of Culture is the ECoC district, which has been brought to life along a kilometre-long border strip between two former customs houses. The newly designed and renovated area serves as a hub for events and social gatherings during the ECoC year, based on green solutions, sustainable renovation and new amenities for citizens and visitors.

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The new "district" and the green belt have revitalised the two Goricas with a fresh look and content:

The connecting environment of the two key ECoC projects, EPIC and SUPER8	🏀 Jungle Basketball	Atlas of Forgotten Orchards
🤸‍♀️ Children's Playground	Epic Open Spaces	🌳 Tree Platforms
Space for Urban Interventions	Urban Equipment	🐞 Green Stories: hotels for insects and bats, meadows, pocket groves, planting new trees, etc.

Visualisation in the background: Saša Dobričič

Visualisations in the photogallery: Ravnikar - Potokar

#BORDERLESS PROJECTS: from dance to fashion, from the culinary arts to sport

The European Capital of Culture brings together more than just the culture and art of the region. The rich programme is notably ambitious and encourages the interplay of different themes: fashion, exhibitions, performances, music and concerts, theatre, ecology and sustainable development, film, architecture, cuisine, technology, sport...

Have a look at the programme, which is always up to date

R.o.R. festival - an art installation by Luka Savić. Photo: BridA.

CURRENT PROJECTS AND EVENTS INVITING YOU TO THE CROSS-BORDER CAPITAL OF CULTURE

The common goal of the many projects is to unfold a cultural panorama that stretches from the Alps and the Soča River to the Adriatic Sea, and beyond the borders without borders, featuring personalities such as the painter Mušič, the architect Ravnikar, the psychoanalyst Basaglia, and the virtuoso Gadjiev.

See the calendar of events

10 UNIQUE MUCH-ANTICIPATED EVENTS

Opening ceremony From Station to Station:

A symbolic union of two cities, from the Gorizia Centrale Railway Station to the Nova Gorica Railway Station

Meeting Point:

Piano virtuoso Alexander Gadjijev will bring together the iconic Europe Square, the monumental arches of the Solkan Bridge and the sublime tranquillity of the Basilica of Sveta Gora in two evenings of concerts.

Borderless Body:

This innovative artistic project at the Solkan Quarry explores the relationship between the human body, its spatial, physical and mental boundaries, and artificial intelligence and technology.

Dodecalogy 1972-1983:

12 episodes of Tomi Janežič's theatre saga.

Festival R.o.R:

This international festival of contemporary intermedia and performance art practices occupies urban and rural public spaces, transforming them into vibrant centres of creativity and audience interaction.

EPIC – European Platform for the Interpretation of the 20th Century: A cross-border participatory space for exchanging views and understanding the history of the 20th century.

FICE:

A convention with European film stars in both Gorizia and Nova Gorica.

ISOLABS:

A landscape of forensic situations between art and science, stretching from the source to the mouth of the Soča River.

Benedetti Life – From Destruction to Paradise:

The story of the re-emergence of paradise on Earth through the eyes of a world-famous fashion designer.

Illuminated closing ceremony:

Light installations to ignite new collaborations.

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08Feb

At the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture, we will symbolically unite the two cities, from Gorizia Centrale Railway Station to the Nova...

From Station to Station: GO! 2025 Opening

Nova Gorica

01May-09May

Unforgettable. Grand. Magical. Borderless. STOP THE CITY! events

The March for Europe

Nova Gorica

09May-31Dec

EPIC is a new exhibition space in a former warehouse next to the railway station.

EPIC, European Platform for the Interpretation of the 20th Century

Nova Gorica

17Jul-20Jul

The internationally renowned pianist Alexander Gadjiev is the cultural ambassador for his hometown, the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia.

Meeting point

Solkan

30Sep-03Oct

The 25th edition of the largest Italian film conference is coming to Nova Gorica and Gorizia.

FICE International Congress

Nova Gorica

03Oct-06Oct

R.o.R. Festival returns to Nova Gorica in the beginning of October.

R.o.R. Festival

Nova Gorica

01Dec-05Dec

Unforgettable. Grand. Magical. Borderless. STOP THE CITY! events

An Enlighted Closing GO! 2025 Ceremony

Nova Gorica

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R.o.R festival - visual art installation by Claudia Reh. Photo: BridA.

SPECIAL EVENTS AT UNIQUE VENUES

Both Goricas feature a mix of well-known and (until now) undiscovered venues that will serve as captivating stages for events, exhibitions, projects and performances. A cycle tunnel, a bridge over the Soča River, the emerging ECoC district and even a mobile motorail train carriage have all been transformed into platforms for diverse cultural experiences.

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Highlights include EPIC – the European Platform for the Interpretation of the 20th Century

One of the flagship projects of the European Capital of Culture is the EPIC – the European Platform for the Interpretation of the 20th Century,

A new exhibition space with a permanent collection dedicated to the complexity of the history of the last century, while also serving as a venue for events and a platform for dialogue. The Goriška region, with its history, has thus become a laboratory for the interpretation of the history of Europe in the 20th century.

Located in the former railway warehouses in Nova Gorica, right next to the border, in the centre of the ECoC district/area and next to Europe Square, it connects both Goricas and is one of the central facilities and projects of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica – Gorizia.

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EXPLORE INVITING DESTINATIONS

You will certainly enjoy yourself here by indulging in a harmonious blend of natural beauty and adventure, cultural attractions and culinary delights. A haven for wine lovers, this destination boasts some of the world's finest wines. Taste these exquisite wines in acclaimed wineries or welcoming farmhouses. Discover the rich history of the museums, galleries, mansions and enchanting castles.

Official Nova Gorica & Vipavska dolina website

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Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley

The land of unique vines and first-rate cuisine between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea

Brda

Sun-Kissed Wine Country between the Alps and the Mediterranean

Karst

The world of underground wonders, stunning natural phenomena and unique tastes.

Soča Valley

Escape on an active break in the picturesque world of the Julian Alps, the Triglav National Park and the emerald River Soča.

Slovenia – inspiring stories of art, heritage and culture

Medieval castles on the one hand, and modern architecture on the other. Traditional ethnological festivals followed by contemporary dance or street art festivals find a place on the calendar of events. The richness of historic towns and the treasures of young city centres. Classical music concerts at Plečnik's Križanke, or concerts by world-famous bands at Arena Stožice. Slovenia is a destination where everyone can find something to fill their culture- and art-craving soul.

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NOVA GORICA AND GORIZIA – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2025

NOVA GORICA AND GORIZIA = INTERTWINED CITIES, A BORDERLESS NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CREATIVITY

ECoC DISTRICT – A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CREATIVITY

#BORDERLESS PROJECTS: from dance to fashion, from the culinary arts to sport