From December 2025 to March 2026 France is hosting the large-scale international cultural project “Journey to Ukraine – Voyage en Ukraine”, also known as the Ukraine Season in France. The initiative has become one of the most complex and ambitious presentations of Ukrainian culture abroad. It combines art, intellectual and social discourse, humanitarian initiatives, professional exchanges, and instruments of cultural diplomacy amid russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The Season is not positioned as a series of isolated cultural events but as a comprehensive strategic project, aimed at enhancing the visibility of Ukrainian culture in Europe, supporting its resilience during wartime, and simultaneously strengthening long-term Franco-Ukrainian ties at the level of institutions, professional communities, and civil society.

Organization and International Support

The Season is implemented by the French Institute and the Ukrainian Institute, with support from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, the French Ministry of Culture, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. Numerous state institutions, local authorities, cultural organizations, associations, civil society and charitable organizations from both countries are involved in its implementation.

The concept, key objectives and strategic priorities of the Season were officially presented on October 29, 2025, in Kyiv during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute and Eva Nguyen-Binh, President of the French Institute, with delegations from Ukrainian and French partner organizations.

At this stage, the Season’s vision was clearly formulated as a tool for long-term influence, working with perceptions of Ukraine, contemporary Ukrainian identity, and the role of culture during wartime. It was emphasized that culture, in this context, is not a background element but an active agent of resistance, understanding reality and shaping the future.

Official Opening in Paris

The official opening of the Season took place on December 1, 2025, in Paris. On that day, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, and the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, inaugurated the Season in the presence of Brigitte Macron, Olena Zelenska, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the heads of the French and Ukrainian Institutes.

Symbolic events of the day took place both on the Quai d’Orsay and in key cultural venues in Paris, highlighting the official yet publicly accessible nature of the initiative. The culmination of the official launch was the ceremonial opening at Théâtre de la Ville. Leading political, cultural and intellectual figures from France and Ukraine participated, including ministers, first ladies, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, and representatives of cultural institutions.

The evening unfolded under the motto “Culture Strikes Back!” (Culture Strikes Back) – the Season’s guiding programmatic call. It defines culture as a space for resistance, dialogue, solidarity, and identity preservation during war. The event aimed not only to showcase Ukrainian art but also to provide its public interpretation within a broader European context.

Interdisciplinary artistic encounters on stage combined cinema, music, literature, and intellectual discourse. Participants included Juliette Binoche, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Michel Hazanavicius, Raphael, Philippe Claudel, and from Ukraine — Andrii Kurkov, Mstyslav Chernov, Iryna Tsilyk, Olga Gibelindiu, Volodymyr Voit, Bohdana Pivnenko and the Dakh Daughters ensemble. Moderators of the evening were Tetiana Oharkova and Fabrice Puchault (ARTE).

A key component of the opening was the symbolic and humanitarian dimension. The theatre foyer featured a collection of Vasylkiv ceramic roosters, which became an internationally recognized symbol of Ukrainian resilience after the 2022 events in Borodianka. Before the ceremony, representatives of the “Pivnyk” Foundation presented authentic roosters from Borodianka to France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo as a gesture of gratitude for their support of Ukraine.

Representatives of the Ukrainian Media League also contributed to this part of the opening, participating in the presentation of the roosters and attending the Season’s inauguration. Their role consisted of expert and communications support, ensuring that the symbol, its origins and its humanitarian context were accurately and clearly conveyed to French and international audiences.

The rooster, which is also a historical national symbol of France (le coq gaulois), in this context became a point of cultural intersection, linking Ukrainian wartime experience, French cultural tradition, and tangible humanitarian action. The “Pivnyk” Foundation, founded by physician Ivan Grynko, runs a program to restore hearing for Ukrainian soldiers and has already assisted over 140 Ukrainian defenders and veterans.

Nationwide Program

The opening in Paris marked the start of a four-month program, encompassing approximately fifty events across many French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lille, Rennes, Metz, Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes, Cannes, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, and others. The geographic breadth underscores the Season’s national scale and local engagement.

The program is interdisciplinary and includes:

• Visual arts and contemporary exhibition projects;
• Live performances, theatre, and performance art;
• Screenings of feature and documentary films;
• Literary events and public discussions;
• Digital creativity and new media;
• Professional meetings among cultural institutions;
• Discussions of memory, heritage, and ideas.

Key thematic areas include human rights, healthcare, combating disinformation, memory, and cultural heritage, making the Season a platform for social and political dialogue.

“Journey to Ukraine – Voyage en Ukraine” is not a one-off festival or symbolic gesture, but a long-term cultural diplomacy initiative. The Season creates opportunities for new partnerships, professional exchanges, and joint projects in culture, heritage, architecture, and creative industries.

According to the organizers, the Season is not a final point, but a step in a long-term process of Franco-Ukrainian rapprochement, in which culture plays a key role in identity protection, countering disinformation, and shaping a shared European future.

About the Institutions

Ukrainian Institute – a public state institution of cultural diplomacy, established by the Ukrainian government to enhance understanding and the image of Ukraine worldwide, develop international cultural ties, and promote Ukrainian culture abroad. It operates under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, coordinates international cultural projects, and supports collaboration between artists, cultural institutions, and civil society. Since 2023, it has offices in France and other countries.

French Institute – the Institut français is France’s key state cultural operator, working within the country’s foreign cultural policy. Its mission is to support the French cultural and creative sectors, promote the French language and culture, strengthen cultural dialogue between countries, and organize international artistic and cultural programs. The French Institute is a major tool of France’s cultural diplomacy and international cooperation, particularly in Europe and worldwide.

 

⇒ Use of materials from this text is allowed only with reference (for online publications – a hyperlink) to the “Ukrainian Media League”.