Cypriot Council Presidency’s Cultural Programme, a landmark in the country’s history, involves more than 500 cultural professionals, activities in 31 countries and reaches a total cost of €4.4 million, linking cultural heritage with contemporary creation and cultural diplomacy.
By Creatives Unite Newsroom
As Cyprus assumes Presidency of the Council of the European Union, aiming at “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World”, culture is represented as a conscious policy choice with strategic depth, institutional substance and a clear European footprint.
“[...] At a time when Europe is being tested, transformed and is in quest of solid value references [...] culture is emerging as an essential tool of cohesion policy and as the most important manifestation of our common European identity” said Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus.
Like the visual identity of the Cyprus Presidency, the Cultural Programme weaves bridges between peoples and cultures. At its core lies the thread, fragile on its own, yet strong and cohesive when woven together with others. A metaphor for the coming together of people, states, ideas and cultures.
The aim is for Cyprus to speak to Europe through a polyphonic yet unified cultural identity, bridging past, present and future, through memory that illuminates and creativity that opens new paths. Find the calendar of events here.
Cyprus as a living cultural landscape
The Cultural Programme is not limited to emblematic international actions. It is embedded in the cultural life of the country itself, transforming Cyprus into a multicentred space of cultural experience.
Major temporary exhibitions, artistic interventions in high-traffic public spaces, actions in museums, cultural institutions and communities, as well as the main events of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus for the first half of 2026, form a rich cultural ecosystem.
“MEMORY – PRESENT – META”: The Opening Ceremony
A focal point of the Programme is the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency, directed by Kostas Silvestros, which took place on 7 January 2026 at the Main Stage of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation. More than 100 Cypriot artists and cultural professionals will participate in a high-standard production entitled “MEMORY – PRESENT – META”.
Actions in 31 countries – Cultural diplomacy in practice
The international dimension of the Programme includes cultural actions in 31 countries, with flagship initiatives in 11 countries and a parallel programme of events implemented through the Embassies of the Republic of Cyprus in an additional 20 countries.
Indicative actions include:
21 January 2026: Opening Gala of the Cyprus Presidency – Concert by Stavros Lantsias with a five-member ensemble, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels.
22 January 2026: Inauguration of the decoration of the Justus Lipsius & Europa buildings with works by Cypriot artists and furniture design by Michael Anastassiades.
27 January 2026: Opening of the photography exhibition “Nicosia International Airport” by Andros Efstathiou, European Parliament.
Cyprus as Guest of Honour at BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts:
26 March 2026: Immersive VR experience “Lost Spaces: Inside the Nicosia Buffer Zone”. Curated by the CYENS Centre of Excellence.
27 March 2026: Contemporary dance performances by Lia Haraki and Panos Malaktos.
11 April 2026: Concert by Monsieur Doumani.
13 April 2026: Contemporary dance performances by Alexandra Waierstall and Elena Antoniou.
17–19 May 2026: Contemporary dance performances by Maria Hassabi.
Exhibitions abroad:
10 February 2026: Archaeological exhibition “Cyprus at the Louvre”. Scientific curators: Prof. G. Papasavvas and Dr A. Georgiou – Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus. Technological curators: Kleanthis Neokleous and P. Charalambous – ITICA/Museum Lab and PULSE Centre of Excellence, CYENS
10 February 2026: Chypre à la Bibliothèque nationale de France – BnF, Paris. Co-organized by: Deputy Ministry of Culture, Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, National Library of France. Curators: Dr Yiannis Toumazis and Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou.
27 February 2026: Archaeological exhibition “Cyprus and Italy: shared cultural identities”, Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome. Co-organized by: Deputy Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Culture of Italy. Curator: Dr Anastasia Christophiloulou.
10 March 2026: Exhibition “Sector 2: Nicosia”, former Public Tobacco Factory – Hellenic Parliament Library and Printing House, Athens. General curators: Tzeni Lymperopoulou and Maria Patsalosavvi.
12 March 2026: “George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus” exhibition, Hellenic Centre, London. Curator: Leventis Gallery. Curators: Loukia Hadjigavriel and Katerina Stephanides.
17–18 March 2026: “Performing collections, performing archives”: Presentation of action/performance, Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm. Organizer: Department of Antiquities. By Dr Ellada Evangelou and Dr Despo Pasia.
19 March 2026: Concert “Cypriote” by Alexia Vassiliou, Kennedy Center, Washington. Artistic direction: Alexia Vassiliou.
21 March 2026: Exhibition “Beauty in Question”, Andreas Murkudis Project Space, Berlin. Curators: Savvas Christodoulides and Pavlina Paraskevaidou.
14 May 2026: Exhibition “Picasso and Cyprus: Encounters with Mediterranean Ceramics”, Museu Picasso, Barcelona. Curators: Eftychia Zachariou and Dr Andri Gavriel.
9 June 2026: Artistic exhibition “Crafting Nature”, Copenhagen. Curator: Thalea Stefanidou
Activities in Cyprus:
17 Janurary 2026: Inauguration of the renovated permanent galleries of the Cyprus Museum. Curator: Department of Antiquities.
29 January 2026: Art exhibition: “Agropoetics: Soils/Bodies”, State Gallery of Contemporary Art-SPEL. Curator: Dr Elena Parpa.
Exhibition displayed during the Cyprus Presidency: “Encounters: Worlds of Cyprus”. Curator: Dr Christina Lambrou.
Exhibition displayed during the Cyprus Presidency: Art works installed at Larnaka International Airport “Glafkos Clerides”. Curator: Deputy Ministry of Culture.
Find more here
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