Suzana Žilič Fišer, the head of Institute Maribor 2012, the main organiser of the event, stressed that the ceremony would be open to the public, as the organisers wanted to conclude the year-long project with a thank-you to the citizens and everybody who helped along the way.

Despite the official closing ceremony, exhibitions and several other events will be held as part of the culture capital project until the end of the year.

Portugal's Guimaraes, which held the title alongside Maribor, will hold the closing ceremony on 21 December.