One of the most important museums in the world, the Louvre Museum in Paris, hosts as of 10 February 2026 the archaeological exhibition entitled “Cyprus at the Louvre”, as part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Wednesday, 10 February 2026, by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, in the presence of the First Lady of France Brigitte Macron, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marilena Raouna, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of France, Ms Rachida Dati, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr Khaled El-Enany, as well as by prominent figures from France’s cultural sector.
The exhibition, which will be open to visitors until 22 June 2026, is the outcome of the cooperation between the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, the University of Cyprus, the CYENS Centre of Excellence and the Louvre Museum, which have joined forces and have temporarily transferred a number of Cypriot antiquities from the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus to Paris, such as picrolite figurines and terracotta votive statues. In halls 300 and 316 of the Museum, the Cypriot antiquities of the permanent collection are juxtaposed in a creative manner with 16 selected ancient objects that travelled all the way from Cyprus.
At the same time, the exhibition is accompanied by new, scientifically documented information material, through which the antiquities are integrated into their historical and cultural context, as this has emerged from recent archaeological research. The long and pioneering contribution of the French archaeological missions in Cyprus has a special place in the narrative of the exhibition.
The visitor experience is further enriched with innovative digital applications – 3D representations, interactive screens and augmented reality experiences – which shed light on aspects of ancient life, writing and language, worship practices, as well as exchange networks, medical knowledge and the intangible cultural heritage of Cyprus, transforming knowledge into a personal experience.
Poems by renowned Greek poets, who were inspired by the island, such as Giorgos Seferis, as well as traditional Cypriot songs, are incorporated into the exhibition through digital technology, bridging the past with the present and inviting the audience not only to observe, but to “listen” and experience the cultural memory, and to realise its deep roots.
It is noted that during the exhibition, public lectures will be held, aiming to disseminate the results of archaeological research in Cyprus to the public internationally.
The exhibition is accompanied by a trilingual edition, featuring contributions from 37 archaeologists, historians and scientists from diverse fields, who provide insights on multiple aspects of the exhibition, Cypriot archaeology and the Cypriot collection of the Louvre.
The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the ancient culture of the island on a European and international level.
Τhe cultural heritage and history of the Republic of Cyprus is hosted until 14 June 2026 at the National Library of France, in Paris, as part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The exhibition entitled “Chypre à la Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)” was inaugurated on Wednesday, 10 February 2026, by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, during an official ceremony held in the presence of the President of the Republic of France, Mr Emmanuel Macron, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marilena Raouna, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou.
The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of France, Ms Rachida Dati, the Minister of Culture of the Hellenic Republic, Dr Lina Mendoni, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr Khaled El-Enany, as well as by prominent figures from France’s cultural sector.
This is a unique occasion, as it is the first time that BnF is organising an exhibition in collaboration with an external body and hosts exhibits provided by an external partner. The overall exhibition is a high-level cultural event. At the same time, it serves as a bridge of dialogue between Cyprus and France, as a result of the excellent cooperation and bilateral relations developed between the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the BnF.
The exhibition, co-organised by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus and the BnF – curated by Dr Gilles Pécout on behalf of the BnF and Dr Yiannis Toumazis and Dr Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou on behalf of the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus – aims to highlight the long history, cultural richness and timeless European dimension of Cyprus. Precious antiquities, manuscripts, drawings, engravings and archival documents narrate the island’s journey from antiquity and Byzantine heritage to Frankish, Venetian and modern times, illuminating the ties with France and Europe.
A special place is held by the works of Louis François Cassas, as well as the post-Byzantine icons of the 17th-18th century that demonstrate the importance of the Orthodox Byzantine tradition on the island. The Cypriot collections of the BnF – the largest collection of manuscripts in the world, along with coins, maps, archaeological artefacts and works of art of the 19th century – highlight the continuity and brilliance of Cyprus’ cultural identity.
The photographic exhibition “Nicosia International Airport” by Andros Efstathiou was inaugurated on 27 January 2026 at the European Parliament, in Brussels. It was presented alongside artworks from the Parliament’s permanent collection, “Growing Self” by Maria Leonidou.
This is the third event to be held in Brussels as part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.
The exhibition, organised by the European Parliament in collaboration with the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, was inaugurated by the Quaestor of the European Parliament, Mr Marc Angel, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, at the Altiero Spinelli building of the European Parliament.
Through this photographic exhibition, Andros Efstathiou transforms the abandoned airport into a symbol of memory, endurance and hope, highlighting the power of collective historical consciousness. Adopting a theatrical approach, the photographs revive the last commercial flight before the Turkish invasion of 1974, linking material reality with collective memory and inviting viewers to engage in reflection and remembrance.
From memory to a shared future of solidarity and culture
Drawing inspiration from the past, Maria Leonidou’s “Growing Self” brings together technology and imagination and contemporary identity to create a new perspective for the future, in which art functions as an act of regeneration and transformation.
“The Cyprus Presidency seeks to strengthen the bonds of the Union by using culture as an essential tool for political cohesion, as it is the most important expression of our common European identity and the thread that holds member states together.”
Vasiliki KassianidouDeputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus
In her address, Dr Kassianidou noted that the two exhibitions engage in dialogue with each other and with Europe itself, reflecting the journey from memory to displacement and from the past to the collective shaping of our shared future. The Cyprus Presidency aims to continue this dialogue by strengthening cultural cooperation and striving to protect cultural heritage. This confirms that Europe continues to draw strength from memory as it moves towards a shared future based on solidarity, democracy and culture.
The inauguration was honoured by the presence of the Cypriot Members of the European Parliament, Mr Loucas Fourlas, Mr Michalis Hadjipantela, Mr Costas Mavrides and Mr Fidias Panayiotou, as well as the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Alexis Vafeades, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marilena Raouna, the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Nicholas A. Ioannides, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Kostas Koumis, and many others.
Andros Efstathiou’s exhibition discreetly conveys the tragic events of the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and its consequences at the heart of the European Parliament in Brussels.
In the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026, the exhibition of the artistic intervention “WEATHER”, designed and curated by the internationally acclaimed Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades, has been officially inaugurated.
The intervention features furniture, lighting and artworks that will decorate the Justus Lipsius and Europa buildings, in Brussels, throughout the six-month term of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026. This will transform the heart of the EU Council into a space for cultural exchange, reflection and artistic expression.
The artistic intervention “WEATHER” is part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, and the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Ms Thérèse Blanchet. The rationale behind the selection of the works was presented by the exhibition’s curator and designer, Michael Anastassiades.
In her address, Dr Kassianidou underlined that assuming the Cyprus Presidency is a historic moment for the Republic of Cyprus and an opportunity to promote the Cypriot creativity within the two emblematic buildings at the core of the Council. In addition, she stressed the pivotal role of culture as a unifying element of the European identity and as a means of fostering dialogue, cooperation and solidarity.
Reframing space as a field of dialogue, transition and collective memory
Michael Anastassiades developed a comprehensive proposal that goes beyond simply selecting artworks. Instead, he focuses on the overall visitor experience within a strictly institutional environment of high symbolic value. Guided by subtlety, abstraction and precision, the intervention offers motivation for observation, thought and dialogue with respect to the space and the multiple interpretations that art can inspire.
The focal point of “WEATHER’’ is not merely a reference to climate, but to the “weather” as a living system through which time, memory, culture and the exchange of ideas constantly pass. The notion of “weather” is also connected to the idea of a critical “opening” and a critical “momentum” that allows for new connections and one common observation: As Cyprus “arrives” in Brussels, Europe is invited to “look back” at the island and recognise it as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
As the project curator explained when presenting the rationale of his proposal, the spatial narrative begins with an illuminated passageway – an “avenue” – which guides visitors from the public realm into the interior space. This transition creates a symbolic bridge between the “outside” and the “inside”, and between different geographical areas and climate conditions. It introduces the theme of “WEATHER” as a source of inspiration: “weather” is not merely a meteorological phenomenon, but a living field through which time, memory and cultural exchange flow.
A broad array of artistic talents take part in the intervention. Specifically, the participants include: Stelios Kallinikos, Joanna Louca, Marietta Mavrokordatou, Polys Peslikas together with Michael Anastassiades Studio. The accompanying publication was produced in collaboration with Clio Hadjigeorgiou (graphic design) and Penelope Ioannou (text/editing).
On 21 January 2026, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU celebrated its official launch with a gala event at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels. The event was attended by numerous officials and distinguished guests from the European Council and the European Commission.
The Gala, which formed part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026, was opened by the Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Ms Marilena Raouna, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou.
In her welcoming address, Ms Raouna stressed Cyprus’ commitment to the Presidency, emphasising the country’s ability to act as a bridge between member states and institutions, and between Europe and its wider region.
On the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency, Ms Raouna underlined that not only is it intended to share Cyprus’ remarkably rich culture and history with the rest of Europe and beyond, but also to burnish the threads of our common European tapestry.
Attendees enjoyed a concert by the Cypriot composer and pianist Stavros Lantsias, entitled “Echoes – Music and Thoughts Beyond Borders”, accompanied by a five-member band and an artistic performance by creator Stella Lantsia.
The concert featured a contemporary musical narrative that combined elements of jazz, improvisation and the musical traditions of the Mediterranean. It showcased the creative dynamics of contemporary Cypriot artistic expression and its international dimension, highlighting the role of culture as a space for dialogue and collective European expression.
Stavros Lantsias’ artistic proposal symbolised modern-day Cyprus: a country with deep historical roots that plays an active role in shaping the European cultural and political landscape. The concert emphasised the importance of the Cyprus Presidency in promoting cultural diplomacy and spotlighting Cyprus’ creative contributions to the European dialogue.
The concert presented Cyprus’ contemporary cultural expression as an integral part of the European cultural landscape, reflecting both its European orientation and its Mediterranean character. In doing so, it not only highlighted our national cultural identity, but also focused on the Presidency’s broader objective to promote dialogue, exchanges and cooperation across the EU.
The event sought to emphasise Cyprus’ role as a bridge between Europe and its neighbouring regions.
