Lima has been designated the 2026 Ibero-American Capital of Cultures

Lima Mayor Renzo Reggiardo, together with Almudena Maíllo del Valle, Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI), presided over the opening ceremony of the 41st Meeting of the UCCI Sectoral Committee on Culture, an international gathering hosted by the Peruvian capital.

This gathering brings together officials, cultural managers, and specialists from 18 cities across Ibero-America, who exchange experiences and best practices to strengthen cooperation among these cities and promote public policies focused on cultural development.

During the ceremony, Renzo Reggiardo emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for cities in the region to come together and highlighted the role of culture as a means to foster social cohesion and generate opportunities.

“Lima welcomes you with open arms and with the certainty that these gatherings are much more than just working meetings. They are spaces where our cities have the opportunity to get to know one another, share what we have learned, and develop common responses to the challenges that lie ahead,” said the mayor.

Meanwhile, Almudena Maíllo del Valle, secretary general of the UCCI, expressed her gratitude to Lima for hosting the event and highlighted the excellent organization of the scheduled activities. “Thank you for opening the doors of this wonderful city to us and for putting together a program that combines technical work, heritage, creativity, gastronomy, and, above all, fellowship,” she said.

“We are aware that cities are the level of government closest to the people and, therefore, also the place where culture is experienced most directly—in a plaza, a library, a market, a theater, a school, or a museum. I am convinced that Lima will enable us to move forward in this direction,” she emphasized.

This event takes on special significance as Lima was recognized as the 2026 Ibero-American Capital of Cultures, a distinction presented to Lima’s mayor, Renzo Reggiardo, by UCCI Secretary General Almudena Maíllo del Valle. This award highlights the cultural diversity, historical and heritage richness, and the Peruvian capital’s contribution to the development of artistic and cultural expressions in Ibero-America.

The committee also serves as a forum for strengthening cooperation networks among Ibero-American capitals and promoting the exchange of proposals and best practices that help create greater opportunities for artists, institutions, cultural managers, and cultural industries.

The UCCI promotes these meetings as part of its efforts to foster cooperation among Ibero-American capitals, advancing actions and policies aimed at sustainable development, regional integration, inclusion, and cultural enrichment in cities.

For the Peruvian capital, hosting the 41st Meeting of the Sectoral Committee on Culture represents an opportunity to showcase its heritage, identity, and cultural diversity; strengthen ties with other capitals; and share experiences that contribute to strengthening the cultural agenda in Ibero-America.

Also in attendance throughout the ceremony were Luciana Binaghi, executive director of the UCCI; Borja Fernández-Pita, council president of the Moncloa-Aravaca district; Fabiola Morales, deputy mayor of Lima; Alejandro Jiménez, general manager of the Municipality of Lima; and Miguel Molinari, director of Culture, among other officials and representatives from the participating cities.