In Kyiv, the “Season of Ukraine in France: Voyage to Ukraine” was presented, scheduled to run from December 2025 to April 2026. It will be the largest cultural project since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and France.
The “Season of Ukraine in France: Voyage to Ukraine” will run from December 2025 to April 2026 under the slogan “Culture fights back.” The program reflects the resilience and creativity of Ukrainian society and its cultural community during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Events will take place in several French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lille, Toulouse, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, and Lyon, with a special focus on cooperation between twin cities.
“Voyage to Ukraine” aims to deepen professional and artistic connections between French and Ukrainian cultural communities. Participants from other countries are also involved, highlighting the European dimension of the initiative and promoting closer ties between Ukrainian culture and other European cultures. The season will feature over 30 literary, theatrical, artistic, musical, and film events, professional and academic exchanges, and discussions on civil society, human rights, war crimes, memory preservation, cultural heritage, health and mental well-being, media, and disinformation.
The season is jointly organized by the French Institute and the Ukrainian Institute under the patronage of the foreign ministries of both countries and with support from their ministries of culture. Organizers work closely with government institutions, local authorities, cultural institutions, and civil society organizations supporting resistance to Russian aggression and Ukraine’s recovery.
Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the French Institute, emphasized the strong interest among the French public to learn more about Ukrainian culture and realities. She explained that, given current travel restrictions, the programme offers an “imaginary journey” highlighting creativity and the resilience of Ukrainian society.
The Ukrainian Institute is a state cultural diplomacy institution aimed at improving understanding and perception of Ukraine worldwide and developing its cultural connections with other countries. Founded by the Government of Ukraine, it operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has had a representation in France since 2023.
The French Institute is a key agency of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of France, responsible for implementing the country’s external cultural policy. Its missions include supporting and coordinating the network of French cooperation and cultural activity abroad, promoting the development of French artists and representatives of cultural and creative industries internationally, strengthening dialogue between cultures and societies, and promoting the French language and multilingualism.
