Overview
- Kassel held its city New Year reception inside the Staatstheater’s new Interim venue, the first time the event has taken place in a theater.
- Mayor Sven Schoeller presented the Interim as a joint city–state project delivered in 13 months within budget and used his address to stress international responsibility, deterrence, and solidarity with Schytomyr.
- About 850 attendees found seats after advance criticism over invitations, as the city added outdoor screens and stands; the program featured the Staatsorchester, the Cantamus youth choir, and a demo of the robot Navel.
- Schoeller mixed civic updates with lighter notes, including a quip about Minister‑President Boris Rhein and the line that Kassel is the "center of the universe."
- Elsewhere, Bruck’s mayor hosted a personal reception with roughly 80 guests, Miesbach awarded its culture prize to Stefan Baumgartner and called for cohesion, and Unterschleißheim drew 500‑plus guests, outlined project timelines, and honored brothers Sebastian and Thomas Schweißgut.