A list of upcoming events organized or supported by Baltimore Sister Cities and our sister city committees (Changwon, South Korea; Gbarnga, Liberia; Kawasaki, Japan; Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt; Odesa, Ukraine; Piraeus, Greece; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Xiamen, China) and our affiliates. Events include:
April 10, 2026
Arab American Heritage Month Celebration
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
More info & to register
Join us in Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month in Gaithersburg! This special event is free and open to the public, offering a wonderful opportunity to honor Arab American culture, heritage, and contributions to our community. The event includes a fashion show and cultural display tables.
The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee will have a table at this event.
Event is hosted by the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP), Arab Americans of Montgomery County, the City of Gaithersburg Multicultural Affairs Committee, and Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAAG).
Japanese Film: House (Hausu)
Time: 9pm ET
Location: SNF Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
Room: Parkway 1. Part of Maryland Film Festival 2026
More information & tickets: Maryland Film Festival website
The one-of-a-kind cult classic HOUSE from 1977 invades the Maryland Film Festival for a special presentation on the big screen. Part psychedelic carnival ride, part snapshot of spiritual malaise in post-war Japan, HOUSE is a genre-defying horror movie, Screening includes the premorer of a new short documentary ”A TAPE: The American History of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s HOUSE” and filmmaker discussion. Come early to mingle in the Parkway Lounge and connect with local organizations, HOUSE fanatics and 1970’s Japanese rock selections specially curated by WFMU DJ Chris Crash!
April 19, 2026
Kōdō 香道 : The Way of Fragrance
Kōdō is a classical Japanese art form: the art of appreciating Japanese incense. Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee is partnering with Johns Hopkins University’s JASA (Japanese American Student Association) for a special private workshop on April 19 at the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore. A trained expert, Nishinari-san, will visit the campus to give a talk on Kodo —”the way of the scent” — helping participants appreciate incense and focus on “listening” to the aroma of aromatic woods. The event is by invitation only.
April 23, 2026
B’more Taiko and Arugakki performance at Patterson Park
Time: 6pm
Location: Cedar House at Patterson Park in Baltimore
Admission: Free
Arugakki (Kris Bergstrom and Minh Ngyuen) present their newest production on tour: Tricky Left. Over three years in the making, “Tricky Left” is a dynamic and emotional powerhouse of original music and choreography, featuring taiko, percussion, synthesizers, and home-made instruments enmeshed with movement.
Baltimore’s own B’more Taiko (photo above) is performing with Arugakki. B’more Taiko is a Baltimore-based group dedicated to Japanese group drumming (kumi daiko style), that fosters community and fun. Carissa Aoki and Kate Megineux, co-founders, have been artists-in-residence with Making Space in Baltimore since 2024, where they focus on Japanese and Japanese-American traditions and offer classes and workshops.
Pre-Concert Workshop: The night before the performance, Kris and Minh will be giving a workshop at Making Space in Baltimore on Kris’s composition “Jack Bazaar,” featuring B’more Taiko’s performing ensemble, who are midway through learning the piece.
April 24, 2026
Elevating Baltimore’s Asian Community Stories
Time: 1-2pm ET
Location: Online Event
More information & to register: www.eventbrite.com/e/bnha-hands-on-history-series-elevating-baltimores-asian-community-stories-tickets-1979746224250
Some of the least known and understood communities across the Baltimore region are those with roots in Asia. They are also some of the most diverse and complex communities in greater Baltimore in terms of history, culture, and art. Dr. Joanna Pecore, Director of the Asian Arts & Culture Center (AA&CC) at Towson University, introduces some of these communities and the intersecting initiatives that AA&CC leads and participates in to promote, document, and share knowledge about them with a broader public.
An event brought to you by the Baltimore National Heritage Area and hosted by The Peale community museum. Towson University Asian Arts & Culture Center is an event partner.
Maryland event for SelectUSA
International Visitors to SelectUSA are invited to join Maryland Department of Commerce for an exciting SelectUSA Spinoff program in College Park with curated site visits across Maryland, April 30 – May 1, 2026. The Spinoff will highlight Maryland’s innovative leadership in “lighthouse” industry sectors that are guiding Maryland toward a new era of economic growth including: Life Sciences, Aerospace, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Artificial Intelligence. Experience Maryland first-hand through site visits and virtual reality experiences. The event is free but registration required.
More information: business.maryland.gov/maryland-selectusa-2026-spinoff-tour/
May 1–31, 2026
Asia North Festival
The annual ASIA NORTH festival, co-produced by Towson University Asian Arts & Culture Center and Central Baltimore Partnership, celebrates Baltimore’s Charles North – a.k.a. Station North – neighborhood’s constantly evolving identities as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative hub. Baltimore Sister Cities’ Asian sister city committees (Changwon, South Korea; Kawasaki, Japan; Xiamen, China) are providing programming during this festival. Program includes:
Asia North art exhibition
Shoes at the Door, curated by Dylan Kaleikaumaka Hill
Dates: Friday May 1 – Sunday May 31
Exhibition locations: SNF Parkway Theatre (5 West North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201) and Currency Studio (18 W North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201)
More information
Asia North 2026 Opening Event
Date: Friday May 1, 5-9pm
Location: SNF Parkway Theatre
Program includes food provided by Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee; taiko drumming sponsored by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee. Program includes Korean samulnori percussion performance.
More information and to RSVP
The Past, Present, and Future of Baltimore Koreatown
Date: Sunday May 17, 4-7:30pm
Starting Location: SNF Parkway Theatre
Program includes Walking Tour, Korean Traditional Dance, Panel Discussion, and Reception. Organized by Baltimore-Changwon Sister City Committee.
Advance registration required.
More information and to register
And much more! See the details and the complete schedule at the Asian Arts & Culture Center website. Registration for most of these events is available via their Eventbrite page.
The 2026 Asia North Exhibition and Festival is co-produced by Asian Arts & Culture Center and Central Baltimore Partnership.
June 5, 2026
Baltimore Immigration Summit
Time: Friday, June 5 at 8am-4pm ET
Location: Morgan State University, 1700 E Cold Spring Ln Baltimore, MD 21202
More information: www.baltimorecity.gov/mima/event/13th-annual-baltimore-immigration-summit
The annual Baltimore Immigration Summit is a one-day event that brings together academics, policymakers, service providers, activists, community leaders, and others working with and for New Americans (immigrants and refugees) in our region. Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs represent an area with a growing and diverse New American population, and local governments view New Americans as essential to the region’s ongoing resurgence. The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA), Baltimore County, and Towson University host the summit. This year’s theme is Harbors and Bridges: Holding Ground and Uniting Communities.
June 6, 2026
Music: AniBand Matsuri Vol. 2
Time: 7-10pm
Location: Le Mondo, 406 N Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
More info & tickets: www.lemondo.org/events/music-aniband-matsuri-vol-2
A night of anime music, J-pop and Japanese Rock from our Mid-Atlantic neighbors: HIBIKORD (NoVA), Eternal HOSHI (Jersey), and Kumori (DC), bringing their high-energy sets full of anthems and deep cuts to Baltimore.
June 20, 2026
Film screening: Humanity and Paper Balloons (人情紙風船 Ninjo Kami Fusen)
Time: 1pm ET
Location: Towson University Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, Room 2032, 7700 Osler Drive, Towson, MD 21204
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Admission: Free; advance registration required. To register, go to the film program webpage and click the RSVP link next to the film.
This bold, 1937 historical anti-military melodrama is a gem of Japanese cinema. While following Edo-era slum residents—debilitated samurai, peasants, and petty merchants—and their struggles to survive, it exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty of high society. (black and white) Directed by Sadao Yamanaka. 82 minutes.
The Japan Film Program is organized by the Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) in partnership with Towson University College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Dean’s Office , along with the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University. Films are hosted by and from the private collection of Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC.
June 21, 2026 – June 27, 2026
Sister Cities International’s Youth Leadership Summit
Dates: Week of June 21, 2026
Location: Washington DC
This year, Sister Cities International (SCI)’s Youth Leadership Summit will take place in Washington D.C., which is located close to Baltimore. The Youth Leadership Summit is an immersive program for young leaders, ages 14-18, from across the globe. Designed to inspire the next generation of citizen diplomats, the Summit equips participants with essential leadership and professional development skills. Through interactive sessions and activities, students will address global challenges, fostering a commitment to peace, mutual respect, and cross-cultural cooperation. Several Baltimore Sister Cities youth members are participating in this program.
Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of Sister Cities International.
July 18, 2026
Film screening: Like Father Like Son (そして父になる Soshite Chichi ni Naru)
Time: 1pm ET
Location: Towson University Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, Room 2032, 7700 Osler Drive, Towson, MD 21204
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Admission: Free; advance registration required. To register, go to the film program webpage and click the RSVP link next to the film.
A ten-minute standing ovation followed the premiere of Like Father Like Son at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Two couples—from different classes and with contrasting parenting styles—discover that their six-year-old sons were switched at birth and embark on journeys of soul-searching, impossible decisions, and coming to terms with the meaning of family. (color) Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. 120 minutes.
The Japan Film Program is organized by the Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) in partnership with Towson University College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Dean’s Office , along with the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University. Films are hosted by and from the private collection of Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC.
July 22-25, 2026
Sister Cities International 70th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
Sister Cities International’s 70th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration, taking place July 22–25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (located close to Baltimore), will unite global leaders, citizen diplomats, and community partners to honor seven decades of international cooperation and cultural exchange. This milestone underscores the organization’s enduring mission to build bridges across borders and strengthen people-to-people connections. It serves as both a homecoming and a launchpad, celebrating our past while inspiring a new era of global connection through storytelling, partnership, and dynamic engagement. Participants will play a key role in supporting meaningful dialogue, innovative collaboration, and the next generation of global engagement.
The event includes:
- 2026 SCI Annual Awards
- 2026 SCI Annual Business Meeting
- Citizen Diplomacy Educational Plenary Sessions
- Embassy Visits
- SCI Outgoing & Incoming Board Meetings
More information: sistercities.org/what-we-do/sci-events/70th-anniversary-homecoming/
Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of Sister Cities International.
July 31 – October 2, 2026
We Know Who They Are: Artworks and Narrative From the Invasion of Ukraine
Location: The Peale, 225 Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21202
Opening reception: Friday, July 31, 6-8pm
We Know Who They Are… (WTWTA) is a comprehensive exhibition project featuring the artworks and wartime artifacts of over 20 Ukrainian artists. The traveling exhibition comes to Baltimore July 31–October 2, 2026 at The Peale museum. There will be several companion events during this time, hosted by The Peale in collaboration with the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee and Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
More information
August 14, 2026
Film screening:
The Porcelain War: Art, Resistance, and the Human Story of Ukraine
Date/time: Friday, August 14, 2026 at 6pm
Location: The Peale museum, 225 Holliday Street Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21202
More information
In times of war, what role does art play? Can creativity protect identity, preserve culture, and offer hope amid devastation? Join us for a screening of The Porcelain War, an intimate documentary that follows Ukrainian artists creating and preserving beauty in the midst of invasion.
A collaboration with Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC) and The Peale museum.
August 15, 2026
Artists Panel Talk
Date/time: Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 2-4pm
Location: The Peale museum, 225 Holliday Street Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21202
More information
An interactive discussion with the curators of the “We Know Who They Are” exhibition and local artists that have ties to Ukraine.
A collaboration with Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC) and The Peale museum.
August 16, 2026
Ukrainian Arts and Crafts Afternoon
Date/time: Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 2-4pm
Location: The Peale museum, 225 Holliday Street Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21202
More information
An afternoon of activities for families and kids.
A collaboration with Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC) and The Peale museum.
September 16 – November 28, 2026
International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR)
IABR emphasizes the value of research by design. Central to this approach is a sustained commitment to fostering healthy and just cities that exist in balance with their surrounding ecosystems. Every two years, IABR presents its biennial manifestation in Rotterdam: an extensive public cultural program comprising exhibitions, debates, lectures, workshops, and guided tours. On this international platform, the imaginative power of architecture is explored and celebrated. The 2026 theme is Systems of Support – Building Shared Values. More info: IABR website
Promoted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
September 17, 2026
Date/time: Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 12pm ET (Baltimore time) – 19.00 EET (Ukraine time) – 18.00 CET (Netherlands time)
Location: Online
More information
This virtual panel convenes museum professionals, cultural workers, and heritage advocates to explore the urgent question: How do we preserve and maintain cultural heritage in times of conflict?
Centering on the ongoing war and occupation of Ukraine, this program brings together international voices to examine the role of museums and cultural institutions in safeguarding collections, protecting sites, and sustaining cultural identity during crisis. The discussion will feature live-streamed presentations from speakers across multiple time zones, followed by a live, moderated Q&A session to encourage dialogue and exchange among participants.
A collaboration with Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC), Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC), and The Peale museum.
Oct 6-7, 2026
ONE Conference
The annual ONE Conference, held in The Hague in the Netherlands, is Europe’s prime cybersecurity event. A leading platform for sharing knowledge, best practices and research results. Topics range from highly technical subjects and law enforcement cases to less technical subjects, such as partnerships between the public and the private domain, governance and recent cybersecurity research.
Conference website: one-conference.nl
Promoted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
Nov 13, 2026
Stadmakerscongres 2026 (Citymakers Congress)
An annual 1-day congress that brings together Rotterdam neighborhood residents, professionals, students, and others to do workshops and discussions on specific themes, initiatives, and neighborhoods in the city. Coordinated by AIR (Architecture Institute Rotterdam) in partnership with the city government and other partners.
Congress website: stadmakerscongres.nl
Promoted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
