Slovenia Weekly: A future that unites

On 8 February, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday, Nova Gorica and Gorizia will shine together as the first cross-border European Capital of Culture. The opening of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025, titled "From Station to Station", will be the first and largest event of the European Capital of Culture programme.

During the 14-hour ceremony, more than 2,000 performers will take part across five locations in Nova Gorica and Gorizia. The highlight of the official opening will be at 16:00 with speeches in Trg Evrope (Piazza Transalpina). Resting on the border between the two countries, the square unites the two cities and holds great symbolic significance for the residents of both Nova Gorica and Gorizia. In addition to the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, and the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, addresses will be delivered by other high-level representatives of Slovenia, Italy and the European Commission, with joint police orchestras of both countries performing the Slovenian, Italian and European anthems. The artistic spectacle of the GO! 2025 opening in Trg Edvarda Kardelja in Nova Gorica will begin at 18:00 with a welcome address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob.

This unique union of two intertwined cities has become a symbol of integration, shared identity and rich cultural exchange. The message of the cross-border European Capital of Culture is that culture breaks down barriers. Its programme is not only borderless, but also builds bridges that will remain after 2025. The aim is to transcend borders, embodied in the slogan GO! Borderless.