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:
July 31 – October 2, 2026
We Know Who They Are: Artworks and Narrative From the Invasion of Ukraine
Location: The Peale museum, 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 of 21 Ukrainian artists, and wartime artifacts. The traveling exhibition comes to Baltimore July 31–October 2, 2026 at The Peale museum. There are several companion events during this time, organized by The Peale in collaboration with the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee and Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
More information
September 9 – December 12, 2026
Encounter 해후(邂逅) exhibition by Myungsook Ryu Kim 류명수 (柳明秀)
Location: Asian Arts & Culture CenterTowson, MD
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.
September 17, 2026
Virtual event:
Preparing Museums for a Crisis: Lessons from Ukraine
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 crisis?
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. Panelists include: Milena Chorna from Association of Ukrainian Museums; Kateryna Chuyeva, former Ukrainian Vice-Minister of Culture; Kateryna Kulai from Odesa National Fine Arts Museum; Arnoud Odding, Strategic museum advisor from the Netherlands; and Ihor Poshyvailo from the Maiden Museum. Moderated by Glen Davis, retired Foreign Services Officer.
This event is a collaboration with Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC), Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC), and The Peale museum. It is a companion event to the ‘We Know Who They Are… (WTWTA)’ exhibition project featuring the artwork from Ukrainian artists.
September 17th, 2026
Art to Dine For — Resilience: Sunflowers & SHABO
Time: 6pm
Location: Severna Park
Admission: Tickets. Limited seats.
More information & tickets: https://creativealliance.org/event/art-to-dine-for-ukrainian-resilience-sunflowers-shabo/
This event is part of Creative Alliance’s special annual Art to Dine For series. Proceeds benefit the Creative Alliance.
Celebrate Ukrainian Resilience by tasting Ukrainian wines from SHABO vineyards near Odesa, and learn how to paint sunflowers, a symbol of Ukrainian resilience, hope, unity, and national identity. Enjoy some light snacks as you paint and sip some familiar as well as some new varietals, including Telti Kuruk, Ukraine’s noble grape, which was recently recognized by Forbes as one of “8 Unexpected Bottles Every Curious Wine Lover Should Try.” Participants will have an opportunity to pre-order SHABO wines for pickup later.
September 18-20, 2026
Washington Ukrainian Festival
Dates/times: Friday, September 18 (5-8pm ET); Saturday, September 19 (11am-9pm ET); Sunday, September 20 (11am ET – dusk)
Location: St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 15100 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20905
Admission: Tickets sold at the door (Under 21 is free admission)
For more info: https://www.ukrainefestdc.com
Come and enjoy Ukrainian artists and dancers, crafts, children’s activities, delicious Ukrainian food, and a Kozak beer garden.
NEW this year:
A special collection of 50 Ukrainian rushnyky — traditional embroidered runners — spanning from the mid-19th century to today.
Kozak Barbecue — fresh off the grill.
Promoted by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC).
September 27th, 2026
Insun Park & Generals
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: Member Discount covers the cost of the service fees
General admission – $33
Front row – $51
Location: Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
Experience a groundbreaking fusion of rock, Korean traditional music, and mask dance rhythms.
A master of the Gangnyeong Mask Dance, designated as Korea’s National Intangible Heritage, Park leads the quartet, blending her dynamic vocal and dance performances with the talents of Donghyuk Heo (composer/guitar), Hyunmo Yang (drums), Johyun Kim (taepyeongso/flute), and Hahyungki Baek (bass guitar). Together, they create a dynamic blend of ancestral art and contemporary sound, seamlessly merging traditional rhythms with modern rock influences.
Insun Park stands out as one of the few female masters of the Gangnyeong Mask Dance, a tradition historically dominated by men. Renowned for her innovative spirit, she reimagines age-old songs and performance styles to connect with modern audiences. Continuously exploring new creative directions, Park has become a leading force in shaping the future of Korean traditional performing arts.
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.
Oct 7, 2026
Brew for Ukraine: A Checkerspot x Odesa Collaboration
Time: 6:30-8:30pm ET
Event is limited to 75 attendees max.
Location: Checkerspot Brewing Company, 1421 Ridgely Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
More info & to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brew-for-ukraine-a-checkerspot-odesa-collaboration-tickets-1998957490665
Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee connected Baltimore brewer Judy from Checkerspot to Odesa brewer Olga from Nizasho Mila — and then the two brewers collaborated to make a new special pale ale! Please join us in an exclusive beer tasting and celebration fundraiser in support of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Guests will also be invited to suggest names for the new beer. The evening includes brewery tours and Ukrainian folk songs.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Stay With Ukraine, a 501(c)(3) delivering medical assistance to those defending Ukraine.
October 8, 2026
Netherlands National Library Collections Conference
Event website: https://www.
Liz Sundermann-Zinger, Executive Director of External Affairs & the Central Library at Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL), is a speaker at this conference. Liz will be talking about EPFL’s “Library of Libraries” initiative — an International exchange of books between libraries.
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.
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.
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 2nd 2026
Maryland Sate of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase
Time: 3:30pm – 7:30pm
location: Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) – Rita Rossi Colwell Center
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/
