The historic Hamburg City Hall (Rathaus) hosted the opening ceremony of the 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Fall Festival, an event coordinated by the EU-LAC Foundation which, under the motto “Bridge Between Regions,”celebrates the cultural ties connecting Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean
The event marked the official opening of the 12th edition of the Festival, which runs from 6 September to 22 November in various venues across the city. This year’s programme features more than 130 activities, including concerts, culinary workshops, film screenings, and literary encounters — 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 Alberto Brunori, Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation; Rosa Vásquez Orozco, Consul General of the Republic of Ecuador; and Liv Assmann, State Secretary and Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federation, the European Union, and for Foreign Affairs, 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 inauguration was accompanied by live Latin American music performed by the band Tambores del Diablo, which filled the Rathaus with rhythms and sounds from across the region.
In addition, the opening day was preceded by the concert “Latin American Rhapsody”, held at the Elbphilharmonie (Kleiner Saal), where renowned 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.
