The historic Hamburg City Hall (Rathaus) hosted a ceremony held within the framework of the 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Fall Festival, coordinated by the EU-LAC Foundation. Under the motto “Bridge Between Regions,” this year’s edition celebrates the cultural ties between the European Union, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The Festival runs from 6 September to 22 November across various venues in the city. This year’s programme features more than 130 activities, including concerts, workshops, film screenings, and literary events, consolidating Hamburg’s role as a meeting point between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
The ceremony brought together local authorities, diplomats, artists, and members of the community, including Liv Assmann, State Secretary and Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federation, the European Union and for Foreign Affairs; Rosa Vásquez Orozco, General Consul of the Republic of Ecuador; and Alberto Brunori, Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation, who delivered the opening remarks.
In his address, Alberto Brunori highlighted the connection between the Festival and the broader bi-regional agenda, noting its coincidence with a key political milestone: the IV EU–CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, in November.
“The spirit of the Festival reflects the objectives of the upcoming EU–CELAC Summit, by building bridges that connect our regions not only politically and economically, but also socially and culturally,” Brunori stated.
For her part, Liv Assmann remarked that “in times of increasing threats to our peace and stability, we must hold on to what unites us: the shared values between Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Germany, and the City of Hamburg.”
Meanwhile, Rosa Vásquez Orozco underlined that “the 2025 Festival aims to connect communities, showcase bi-regional artistic talent, and establish Hamburg as a prime venue for global cultural initiatives.”
The ceremony was accompanied by live Latin American music performed by the group Tambores del Diablo, which filled the Rathaus with rhythms and sounds representing the diversity of the region.
The Latin American and Caribbean Fall Festival began on 6 September with the concert “Latin American Rhapsody”, held at the Elbphilharmonie (Kleiner Saal). Artists Alexis Cárdenas (violin), Andrés Beeuwsaert (piano), and Manuel Sánchez (double bass), together with Michelle Candotti and Jorge Glem, offered a musical journey through works by Astor Piazzolla, Alberto Ginastera, Manuel de Falla, and other great composers.
