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:
September 9 – December 12, 2026
Encounter 해후(邂逅) exhibition by Myungsook Ryu Kim 류명수 (柳明秀)
Location: Asian Arts & Culture Center, Center for the Arts CA 2038, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252
Admission: Free
Myungsook Ryu Kim reveals a world of harmonious connections across cultures, art, and life. She brilliantly merges classical East Asian art and philosophy with media techniques of the West. Through a profusion of colors, textures, and dimensions, the works explore change and impermanence, illuminate the interdependence of heaven and earth and humans and nature, interpret experience and spirituality, embrace the juxtaposition of poetry and painting, and celebrate Korean history.
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.
October 24, 2026
Baltimore-Rotterdam event at SNF Parkway during Doors Open Baltimore
Date/time: Wednesday October 24, 2026 between 1-5pm
Address: 5 W North Avenue, Baltimore MD 21201 (at the intersection of North Avenue and Charles Street)
Admission: Free.
More info: https://baltimoresistercities.org/doorsopenbaltimore2026/
Stop by SNF Parkway Theatre between 1-5pm on October 24 during Doors Open Baltimore — to tour a beautifully restored historic theater building, and to learn about the ongoing architecture and urban design exchanges between Baltimore and and its sister city of Rotterdam!
Baltimore-Rotterdam committee members will be at the theater that day to chat with visitors, and a presentation about the exchanges will be showing in the main theater room on the first floor, with lots of photos of Rotterdam and the adventures that people from Baltimore have in that city. If you have never been to Rotterdam before, this is a great way to get a taste of the city!
Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee is grateful to SNF Parkway Theatre, Baltimore Architecture Foundation, and AIA Baltimore for this opportunity to show a presentation at the theatre.
October 24, 2026
Asian Community Processions at Great Baltimore Lantern Parade & and Dia De los Muertos Festival
Time: 4pm Festival, 7pm Parade
The free community event features family activities, food trucks, an artisan market, and illuminated evening processions, including special cultural showcases like Asian community participation and performances.
November 1, 2026
Ukrainian music: Maryna Krut
Location: The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Times: Two performances scheduled at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Tickets: Early bird pricing was $39 through July 31, with standard general admission starting at $44. Tickets and event updates can be checked directly via the Strathmore Event Page.
Maryna Krut blends traditional 64/65-string bandura playing with expressive vocals, indie-folk, jazz, and pop elements. She gained a national following in Ukraine via The X Factor, The Voice, and the Eurovision national selection finals.
November 5, 2026 – January 22, 2027
Exhibition: Right and Wrong Undone
Opening reception & performance: Thursday November 5, 4-8pm. Performance at 7pm
Location: Bond Window Gallery at Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204
Artist Xin Ni explores what happens when objects, gestures, and cultural meanings move between contexts—and the familiar systems used to interpret them begin to break down. Co-presented by Goucher Art Galleries, OTS Productions, and Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center.
More information: https://www.
November 13, 2026
In the Stacks: Celebrating Ukrainian Music
Time:6:30pm – 7:30pm
Location:George Peabody Library, 17 E Mt Vernon Pl, Baltimore, MD 21202
Tickets: Required
Discover the richness of Ukraine’s musical heritage through a program of classical art songs, opera selections, and folk-inspired works. Sopranos Alina Cherkasova and Marie Herrington, with pianist Myroslav Mykhailenko, will bring this vibrant repertoire to life while celebrating the depth and diversity of Ukrainian music.
The performance will be accompanied by a display of rare Ukrainian books from the Sheridan Libraries collections, available for audience members to explore.
Registration for this performance will open at 10:00am on October 23.
- Up to two tickets per person may be reserved prior to the program.
- Registration is confirmed by email. Please cancel your registration if your plans change so that others may register.
- If the program is sold out, walk-ins will be able to join a standby list on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Doors open at 6:00pm. Unclaimed tickets (regardless of registration) will be released to standby 10 minutes prior to the start of the program. Preregistered guests should arrive early to secure their seats.
- Most standby patrons are able to be accommodated.
- If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please email with as much advance notice as possible.
For additional information email inthestacks@jhu.edu.
Events webpage: https://jhu.libcal.com/event/17711590?hs=a
Promoted by Baltimore-Odesa-Sister City Committee
November 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.
November 21, 2026
Film screening: Kwaidan (怪談)
Time: Saturday, November 21, 1pm
Location: Towson University Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
FREE Registration Required
Be spellbound by an afternoon of Japanese ghost stories rendered masterfully in this 1964 film comprised of four distinct stories depicting vengeful spirits, supernatural warriors, and eerie apparitions. These enchantingly surreal tales stir every emotion, leaving viewers to contemplate the boundaries of existence. (color) Directed by Masaki Kobayashi. 3 hours, 3 minutes. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.
December 2, 2026
Maryland State of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase
Time: 3:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) – Rita Rossi Colwell Center, 701 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Tickets: $50 for WTCI members, $95 for non members
Link for tickets: https://wtci.org/events/state-of-the-ports/register-state-of-the-ports/
Once a year, leaders from the Mid-Atlantic come together to learn about the challenges and opportunities at Maryland’s ports. It all takes place at the Annual State of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase. Beyond getting the lowdown from port leaders, attendees will have the chance to:
- Sample wines and food from around the world at the Global Flavor Showcase
- Learn about key challenges impacting international trade at our breakout sessions
- Network with the influential leaders driving economic growth in our region
- Hear the State of the Ports address directly from Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation
Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of World Trade Center Institute.
January 24, 2027
Ukrainian music: DakhaBrakha
Location: The Music Center of Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda Maryland 20852
Time: Sun, January 24, 2027 | 7pm
Ticket/entrance: $28 – $78
DakhaBrakha is a quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine, known for its self-described “ethno chaos” sound. Blending Ukrainian traditional music with influences from around the world, the group creates a style shaped by rhythm, vocal harmony, and experimentation.
Formed before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, their work now carries added urgency, reflecting both cultural preservation and contemporary experience. As performers, educators, and cultural ambassadors, they present Ukraine as a dynamic, evolving culture rather than a single narrative.
The group’s name—meaning “give/take” in old Ukrainian—speaks to this exchange. DakhaBrakha draws from global influences while contributing its own voice, situating Ukrainian music within a broader international context.
For more information visit https://visitmontgomery.com/events/dakhabrakha/
March 18, 2027
One Earth Tour 2027: Luminance
Kodo – Taiko drumming masters from Japan
Location: The Music Center of Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda Maryland 20852
Time: Thu, March 18, 2027 | 8pm
Ticket/entry:$28 – $86
For more than four decades, the taiko drumming masters of Kodo have traveled the globe, channeling the elemental power of rhythm and sound and demonstrating how taiko transcends borders and cultures.
In Luminance, Kodo reflects on its past while illuminating new creative paths forward. The program features signature works alongside a tribute to Monochrome, the seminal composition by Maki Ishii, whose influence on taiko performance continues to resonate as the piece approaches its 50th anniversary.
Kodo also introduces new compositions shaped by the cultural experiences, encounters, and inspirations of today’s ensemble members, including original works by guest artists from diverse musical backgrounds that expand the expressive possibilities of taiko.
For more information visit https://www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/in-the-music-center/kodo-one-earth-tour-2027-luminance/
