Paris is currently immersed in “A Journey to Ukraine,” a Franco-Ukrainian cultural season that began in December 2025 and will run until March 2026. This initiative, spearheaded by the French Institute and the Ukrainian Institute with the support of both countries’ Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs, aims to showcase contemporary Ukrainian creation across various artistic disciplines.
Culture as a Response to Conflict
In a period marked by ongoing conflict, this cultural season serves as a powerful response to present-day divisions. Volodymyr Sheiko, director of the Ukrainian Institute, emphasized the season’s goal: “To provide illuminating testimony to the indestructible character of the Ukrainian spirit and the strength of its culture.” The program encompasses a wide array of events, including exhibitions, concerts, projections, debates, and artistic residencies, hosted in iconic Parisian venues. This deliberate effort seeks to leverage culture as a tool for understanding, resistance, and exchange.
A Diverse Artistic Panorama
The “A Journey to Ukraine” season highlights a diverse Ukrainian art scene, blending heritage with contemporary creations. It offers a sensitive interpretation of ongoing cultural transformations while addressing fundamental questions about the role of art in troubled times and the voice culture can project. Key events are scheduled across the capital, covering theatre, cinema, literature, music, digital arts, and intellectual debates, making the program accessible to all audiences.
Prominent Parisian cultural institutions participating in the season include the Théâtre de la Ville – Sarah Bernhardt, the Cinémathèque française, the Palais de Tokyo, the Forum des Images, and the Gaîté Lyrique. The overarching motto for the season is “Culture Strikes Back!”, a slogan that encapsulates the dynamic creative spirit driving the four-month program.
Featured Events in Paris:
- Opening Night of the Season – Théâtre de la Ville – Sarah Bernhardt – December 1, 2025
- “Ukraine, a Breath of Freedom” – Théâtre de la Concorde – December 10 to 13, 2025
- Exhibition “Rubble Flower” by Nikita Kadan – Galerie Poggi – Until December 20, 2025
- Exhibition “Freedom Under Fire: Voices and Communities of Ukraine in Wartime” – Théâtre de la Concorde – December 10 to 21, 2025
- Debate “Repairing the Living” – Auditorium de France Télévisions and Mairie du 15e arrondissement – January 19 and 20, 2026
- Oleksandr Dovzhenko Retrospective – Cinémathèque française – January 21 to 30, 2026
- “Ukrainian Night: A Sensitive Geography of War” – Bibliothèque Françoise-Sagan – January 24, 2026
- High-level meeting on the protection and reconstruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage – Ministry of Culture – January 2026
- Screening-debate “To the Victory!” – CNC – February 4, 2026
- “GENERATION UKRAINE” Weekend – Forum des Images – February 7 and 8, 2026
- Concert “Break the Rock” – Dakh Daughters – Théâtre du Rond-Point – February 10, 2026
- Conference “Ukrainian Art and the Emotional Infrastructures of War” – Palais de Tokyo – February 11, 2026
- Screening “Queens of Joy” (Everybody festival) – Carreau du Temple – February 21, 2026
- Caligula – La Scala Paris – March 24, 2026
- Conference “Being Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko” – Inalco (Amphi 6) – March 25, 2026
- “The Soul of Ukraine” (musical tribute) – Basilique cathédrale Saint-Denis – March 26, 2026
- Round Table “Ukraine and Crimea in Europe. Diplomacy of the Modern Era, Historical Memory and Knowledge” – Inalco (Amphi 5) – March 27, 2026
- CREDO: exceptional concert by the Shchedryk choir – Eglise Saint-Merri – March 27, 2026
- Closing: “Digital Ukraine” – Gaîté Lyrique – March 28, 2026
- Meetings on Decolonization – Cité internationale des arts – March 2026
- Tour of the contemporary circus show Mons la Girafe – Nanterre and Bezons – March 20 to April 8, 2026
By confronting Ukrainian artistic narratives with contemporary European challenges, the season fosters collective reflection. It also invites audiences to discover a different image of Ukraine, beyond the war and media portrayals, with the underlying goal of promoting exchange, building lasting connections, and rethinking the role of culture in societies under tension.
Source: sortiraparis.com
