Although borders once divided them, Nova Gorica, the youngest city in Slovenia, and neighboring Gorizia, Italy, come together to co-host the first-ever cross-border European Capital of Culture. With the slogan Go! Borderless, this celebration breaks boundaries with a vibrant celebration of art, culture and heritage.

A year-long celebration officially kicks off with an opening ceremony Feb. 8 in alignment with Slovenia’s Day of Culture. The ceremony begins with the From Station to Station procession, which will symbolically link Nova Gorica with Gorizia. Other highlights include the cross-border March for Europe (May 1–9) and Tastes Without Borders Festival (Sept. 26–28). This year’s celebrations come to a close with the Enlightened Closing Ceremony (Dec. 1–3), which showcases breathtaking light installations across both cities.

The cultural stage offers everything, including fashion, exhibitions, performances, music, concerts, theater, ecology, sustainable development, film, architecture, cuisine, technology, sports and more. The official program, Go!2025, will showcase a diverse range of creative and innovative installations, exhibitions and events, all centered around thought-provoking themes: War and Peace, exploring the history and reflecting on the impacts of war; The Creation of New, showcasing ambitious projects; Smugglers, examining intersections of history, mobility and identity; and Very Green, addressing environmental awareness and sustainability.