From 9 to 12 October, Nova Gorica and Gorizia will host the traditional gathering of the ‘family of European Capitals of Culture’, the Ecoc Family Meeting, in cooperation with Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture in Germany, which will also be an ECOC in 2025. The meeting will bring together more than 90 international guests, representatives of 28 past, present and future European Capitals of Culture. In addition to the presentation of programmes for 2025, Go! 2025 will also present the historical, geopolitical, cultural, natural and culinary highlights, demonstrating the importance of borderlessness in the Nova Gorica-Gorizia region.

The meeting will be mainly of an operational nature and behind closed doors. The representatives of the European Capitals of Culture will exchange experiences and advice, focusing on future challenges and opportunities in view of the 40th anniversary of the ECOC project next year. The event will also include the presentation of research on the impact of the European Capitals of Culture on the development of cities and their cultural venues. The Slovenian and German Capitals will present the main points of the programme.

Participants will also learn about the work of the EGTC GO, the two municipalities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, and visit some of the key sites and partners of the European Capital of Culture 2025 programme, including the EPIC Project, the Piccolo Opera Festival Castello di Spessa, the Rafut Park in Nova Gorica, the Villa Vipolže in Goriška brda, the Darko Bratina court, the Borgo Cinema in Gorizia, and the sites and projects in Tolmin and Caporetto.

On Friday 11 October at 9 p.m. at the Mostovna in Solkan (Salcano), as part of the CEC meeting, there will be a party open to the public. The Slovenian-Croatian duo Freekind. and the Lithuanian DJ DJ Moteris will perform. Admission is free.