Ukraine Season – “Journey to Ukraine”: culture strikes back

A season to celebrate Ukrainian resistance and creativity

Announced jointly on 3 June 2025, and presented in Kyiv on 29 October, this initiative marks a new stage in the French-Ukrainian relationship. It places culture at the heart of European solidarity, resilience and dialogue, to a backdrop of war where creating art becomes an act of resistance.

On the programme are some fifty events across France, unprecedented dialogue between artists, intellectuals and civil society actors, and strong themes such as human rights, combating disinformation, health, remembrance and heritage.

A high-profile launch, a symbol of engagement

The season will be launched on 1 December in Paris, at an inaugural evening in the Théâtre de la Ville, with the Ukrainian First Lady, Olena Zelenska, and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in attendance.

This opening night, entitled “Culture Strikes Back”, will pay tribute to the Ukrainian cultural forces – artists, thinkers, field actors – who, despite the war, continue to defend freedom of speech and look towards the future.

In the morning, a special sequence at the French Foreign Ministry (Quai d’Orsay) will be dedicated to the “Bring Kids Back” initiative supported by France, in the presence of Ms Zelenska and numerous personalities who are working to bring about the return to Ukraine of deported children.

A diverse programme across France

The season will take place across all of France, from Paris to Marseille, Lille, Toulouse, Rennes, Caen, Valenciennes and Biarritz, reflecting the wealth of ties between French and Ukrainian local governments.
Some highlights:
• 1 December – Paris/Théâtre de la Ville: inaugural night, “Cultural forces in Ukraine”, artistic events and performances.
• 10-13 December –¨Paris/Théâtre de la Concorde: “Ukraine – The Winds of Freedom”, four days dedicated to the resistance of civil society, with the participation of Oleksandra Matviichuk (2022 Nobel Peace Prize).
• 11 December – Toulouse: Concert in tribute to composer Valentin Sylvestrov by the Orchestre National du Capitole.
• 30-31 January – Marseille/Friche Belle-de-Mai: Events bringing together European cultural centres and spotlight on Ukrainian gastronomy
• February 2026 – Lille: “Portrait of Kharkiv”, hybrid programming of visual arts, music and debates.
• March 2026 – Nantes/Musées d’Arts: presentation of Ukraine’s contemporary art scene, with plastic artist Alevtina Kakhidze.

All local governments, cultural institutions and associations that wish to become official partners of the Ukraine Season may apply, in liaison with Ukrainian partners. This official partnering process will enable support for communication and networking between actors in both countries, in particular via the association Stand with Ukraine. Criteria for becoming an official partner are available on www.levoyageenukraine.com.

Lasting cultural cooperation

Journey to Ukraine, the result of a partnership on equal footing between France and Ukraine, demonstrates the shared will to support the survival and independence of the Ukrainian language and culture, and build lasting cultural cooperation in Europe.

“This Season is not a culmination, but rather a milestone”, says Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the Institut Français. “It is essential that cultural exchanges play a key role in this process of rapprochement.”

For Volodymyr Sheiko, General Director of the Ukrainian Institute, “the Journey to Ukraine is the most important Cultural Season organized by the Ukrainian Institute abroad. Culture is an excellent vehicle for getting together and exchanging views on the issues that mobilize us.”

Practical information

• Dates: 1 December 2025 to 31 March 2026
• Official launch: 1 December, Théâtre de la Ville, Paris
• Organization: Institut Français & Ukrainian Institute
• Full programme: www.levoyageenukraine.com
• Applications for official partners: open from 3 November 2025