UK / Brazil Season of Culture Launches in London
Historic Cultural Year Marks 200 Years of Diplomatic Relations
January 12th, 2026
The UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26, a year-long programme of artistic exchange and collaborative cultural events, was officially launched in London on 15 October 2025 in a reception hosted by the Brazilian Embassy. The launch marked the beginning of a series of more than 100 events scheduled to run through June 2026, commemorating 200 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Brazil.
The reception brought together figures from diplomacy, the creative industries, and cultural institutions. Among those attending were MP Chris Elmore, Chris Bryant, Minister of State at the UK Department for Business and Trade, Marco Antonio Nakata, Director of the Instituto Guimarães Rosa, Paul Thompson, Chair of the British Council, and representatives from Frieze.
In remarks delivered at the event, Brazil’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Antonio Patriota, described the Season as a celebration of “our friendship and history through the lens of art” and an opportunity for both Brazilian and British audiences “to have a glimpse of the beating creative heart of our countries.”
The Brazilian cultural institute Instituto Guimarães Rosa and the British Council, co-hosts of the Season, emphasised the initiative’s role in strengthening long-term artistic partnerships. Ambassador Marco Antonio Nakata underlined that the Season was “carefully designed to portray the cultural closeness of our two peoples” and to promote “greater integration through knowledge of each other’s culture.”
Cultural festivities at the London launch included a menu crafted by London-based chef Ixta Belfrage, whose contemporary Brazilian cuisine drew on influences from Northern Brazil, the Northeast, and Minas Gerais. Music for the evening was provided by the DJ duo SPF2000, composed of Rafa Perazza and Sergio Takahata.
Now officially under way, the UK/Brazil Season of Culture will schedule a diverse range of concerts, exhibitions, screenings, discussions, and collaborative artistic programmes throughout the UK and Brazil. The Season invites audiences and creators alike to engage with urgent global themes, such as environmental challenges, diversity, and collective joy, through the arts.
One key feature of the cultural programme is Breeze, an annual initiative dedicated to promoting contemporary Brazilian art internationally. In partnership with Frieze, the Breeze Curator Travel Grant selected five Brazilian curators for specialised programming during Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2025, fostering connections between Brazilian and UK art institutions through visits, debates, and meetings.
In addition to London’s events, the UK/Brazil Season of Culture has featured a variety of regional engagements, including screenings of Brazilian cinema such as Central Station with post-screening discussions, in collaboration with local partners like Global Cultures at Jesus College.
For Berlin Global’s audience, the launch of this bicentennial cultural programme in London underscores how embassies and cultural organisations are leveraging arts and creative exchange to reinforce diplomatic ties. By presenting collaborative projects that span music, visual arts, film, and dialogue, the Season illustrates that diplomacy encompasses not only political engagement but also shared cultural experiences that bridge communities across continents.
